I'll do it anyway. Topic: traffic laws

Can anyone tell me why one is supposed to yield to the car on the right?

If I approach a three way intersection on the side road and want to turn left onto the 'main' (straight) road, what is the logic of making the driver on my left stop? I've always been amazed at this traffic law.

Because it makes the most sense.

This way, the priority is clear.

And it's not ALWAYS priority to the right here, especially outside of town.

Tom

Maybe it is because you cannot see the white lines in snowy weather? Maybe they save on road signs? Maybe then you only need to look ahead and to the right? Maybe it forces drivers to slow down? Maybe....

You're not if you had seen this sign prior to the intersection (priority road):

When you need to yield to the car from the right (end of priority road):

Also in any 30 kph area (often residential areas) you have to yield on the right.

Keep in mind that pedestrians have priority over cars in 30 kph areas. They can cross anywhere they want! Most 30 kph areas have done away with the official crossings.

Priorité à droit just goes to prove foreigners don't know how to drive.

However I accept there must be some rules about who has priority so I propose the following. Based on the British concept that priority is a privilege:
1. Foreigners always get the right of way at junctions because we're all ignorant of the rules here and never read the highway code. Trust me, this way is safer for everybody.
2. Among foreigners, all non EU citizens must yield to EU citizens.
3. Among EU citizens C permit holders get priority over everybody else, followed by B permit holders and so on down the chain.
4. If priority is still unclear, it should be determined by primogeniture, starting with first born sons.

No, I'm talking about streets that are not marked. It would seem most logical that the guy driving straight on a 'main' street should have the right of way. But on an unmarked street as soon as somebody appears on your right, you've got to jump on the binders and wait for him to pull out.

Never understood that. Still don't.

Your in a strange town on roads you've never driven before. As you say the streets are not marked. How do you know which is the main road??

There are zones, you have to pay attention to what zone you are in.

Generally, in towns, priority is to the right. Depends on the yellow square signs.

Worst was in France when people entering traffic circles had priority over those already in it! (this has since changed, but those were the days )

Tom

Except he who is carrying his swiss military automatic weapon in the car has automatic priority over everyone.

Reminds me of a BBC documentary about Beirut when they interviewed a traffic policeman. They asked him what was difficult in his job.
He said standing at a crossroads directing traffic armed with his regulation pistol when a pickup appears full of people waving Kalashnikovs & is driving down the pavement at high speed.

What about someone riding a moped with it strapped to his back? (this is usually the case around here)

Tom

You couldn't have said it better yourself. Just because you don't understand someting, internal combustion or nuclear fision for example, doesn't mean that it isn't the sensible way to go about things. It's pretty simple, actually. Simpler, even than "look both ways before you cross the street". It's called:

Rechts vor links.




Driving an old 928 on a race track

True
I have thought about this & I think the answer is all about "how well is it strapped on" - anything which inhibits a "fast draw" loses priority status.

Marton

Ratbert, you GROANED a newbie because you didn't agree with their complaint? In a complaints thread?

No, because he thinks he understands fission when he can't even spell it.

The initial post stands. None of my English-speaking expat friends can figure it out and frankly, neither can my Swiss friends. One's a cop; he doesn't know either but says it's a constant source of accidents.

It's a law. Doesn't mean it makes any sense. I think it was probably "we need a way to regulate rights-of-way that don't force us to spend sh*tloads of money on traffic signs".

Ende

It's neither new nor Swiss. Priority from the right was well and living in France when I first drove there prior to autoroutes in 1967.

It's very easy to understand - even the French get it...

This seems fairly standard procedure, no?

In Pratteln, there's an "end of priority" sign. About 50m further along, there's a road from the right... but it has white broken lines in front, so they have to give way anyway. Then there's a priority sign.

I blame Napolean. Though it seems to be even more widespread than I though.

I don't know how you drive here but I obey the international traffic laws and I'm always fine

What are international traffic laws? In the USA, for instance, traffic laws differ even from state to state, see "turn right on red" or the "Michigan left."