The right-hand rule in Lithuania
The right-hand rule is a cornerstone of the Road Traffic Rules that every driver knows. Learners meet it in their very first lessons — yet after the exam many forget it. In plain terms: if a vehicle approaches an uncontrolled junction from your right, you must give way to it.
Key Road Traffic Rules provisions — driving through junctions
154. At a junction of unequal roads, the driver on the minor road must give way to vehicles approaching on the main road.
155. At a junction of equal roads, the driver must give way to vehicles approaching from the right when trajectories cross.
156. If the main road changes direction at the junction, drivers on the main road must follow the equal-junction rules between themselves; the same applies between drivers on the minor roads.
157. When turning left (or making a U-turn), the driver must give way to vehicles travelling on the equal road from the opposite direction straight ahead or turning right — and, at junctions where overtaking is allowed, to overtaking vehicles as well.
158. When turning left or right at a junction, the driver must give way to road users (cyclists and others) crossing the lanes of the carriageway being entered. When turning onto a road with one lane in each direction, the driver must give way to road users crossing any lane of that carriageway.
159. If the driver cannot determine the road surface and there are no priority signs or the signs "Junction with a minor road", "Minor road from the right" or "Minor road from the left", they must act as if driving on the minor road.
160. It is prohibited to enter the intersection of carriageways if there is an obstruction in or beyond it that would force the driver to stop inside the junction and obstruct other traffic.
161. When the green light comes on, the driver must give way to vehicles completing their passage through the intersection (if they began the manoeuvre on their own green) and let pedestrians finish crossing.
162. A driver who entered the intersection on a green signal may proceed in the intended direction regardless of the signal at the exit. However, if stop lines or "Stop line" signs stand before intermediate traffic lights inside the junction, every signal must be obeyed.
163. When driving in the direction of an arrow lit in an additional traffic-light section together with a yellow or red signal, the driver must give way to road users moving on green from other directions (except in the case of point 163.1).
163.1. When making a U-turn at a light-controlled junction, the driver must give way to road users moving on green from other directions.
165. On a prohibiting signal, the driver must stop before the "Stop line" sign and/or the stop line, or, absent those, before the traffic light, the crossing or joining carriageway, the pedestrian crossing or the cycle crossing — without obstructing traffic or pedestrians.
166. A driver who, when the yellow signal comes on (or the controller raises a hand), could stop at the places listed in point 165 only by braking sharply, may continue.
167. Where traffic is controlled by lights, the driver must obey the signals regardless of priority signs. If the lights are off or flashing yellow, road signs apply.
What is a junction of unequal roads?
An uncontrolled junction where the crossing roads are marked with priority signs and/or have different surfaces. The driver on the minor road must give way to vehicles on the main road; when turning left (or making a U-turn), they must also give way to oncoming vehicles on the equal road going straight or right.
What is a junction of equal roads?
An uncontrolled junction where the crossing roads carry no priority signs and share the same surface. Here drivers must give way to vehicles approaching from the right. Such junctions usually connect low-traffic roads with comparable flows; in Lithuania there are relatively few of them, since busier roads normally have priority signs or lights. When traffic is controlled by lights, the signals override priority signs; if the lights are off or flashing yellow, follow the signs.
Worth remembering
Approaching any junction, always look for priority signs first. If a junction is clearly one of equal roads, extra caution never hurts — even when turning right with priority, glance to the other side and make sure it is safe to go.