NC General Statutes

N.C. Gen. Stat. § 20-155 (2026)

Right-of-way

✓ current as of July 2026

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(a) When two vehicles approach or enter an intersection from different highways at approximately the same time, the driver of the vehicle on the left shall yield the right-of-way to the vehicle on the right.

(b) The driver of a vehicle intending to turn to the left within an intersection or into an alley, private road, or driveway shall yield the right-of-way to any vehicle approaching from the opposite direction which is within the intersection or so close as to constitute an immediate hazard.

(c) The driver of any vehicle upon a highway within a business or residence district shall yield the right-of-way to a pedestrian crossing such highway within any clearly marked crosswalk, or any regular pedestrian crossing included in the prolongation of the lateral boundary lines of the adjacent sidewalk at the end of a block, except at intersections where the movement of traffic is being regulated by traffic officers or traffic direction devices.

(d) The driver of any vehicle approaching but not having entered a traffic circle shall yield the right-of-way to a vehicle already within such traffic circle. (1937, c. 407, s. 117; 1949, c. 1016, s. 2; 1955, c. 913, ss. 6, 7; 1967, c. 1053; 1973, c. 1330, s. 20.)

Notes of Decisions

Cited in 65 cases (3 in the last 5 years), 1950–2023 · leading case: Shoe v. Hood, 112 S.E.2d 543 (N.C. 1960).

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Shoe v. Hood, 112 S.E.2d 543 (N.C. 1960). · cites it 7× “Defendants contend the court erred in reading G.S. 20-155 (a) to the jury and applying it to the factual situation in this case by instructing the jury as follows: “The plaintiff further insists and contends that if you believe his testimony that you should find that he…”

Daisy v. Yost, 794 S.E.2d 364 (N.C. Ct. App. 2016). · cites it 4× “" N.C. Gen. Stat. § 20-155 (b) (2015). While Plaintiff certainly had a duty to drive no faster than was safe under the circumstances, to keep his vehicle under control, to maintain a reasonably careful lookout, and to take reasonably prudent steps to avoid a collision, "he [was]…”

McEwen Funeral Serv., Inc. v. Charlotte City Coach Lines, Inc., 102 S.E.2d 816 (N.C. 1958). · cites it 6× “§ 20-140, that he shall operate with due care and circumspection so as not to endanger others by his reckless driving.”

Cucina v. City of Jacksonville, 530 S.E.2d 353 (N.C. Ct. App. 2000). · cites it 4× “N.C.G.S. § 20-155(a) (1999) provides: When two vehicles approach or enter an intersection from different highways at approximately the same time, the driver of the vehicle on the left shall yield the right-of-way to the vehicle on the right.”

Savage Towing Inc. v. Town of Cary, 814 S.E.2d 869 (N.C. Ct. App. 2018). · cites it 2× “at § 20-155(a). A person with the authority to release a towed vehicle must report to the location of the vehicle within two hours of a phone call by a person requesting *96 release of the vehicle, subject to exceptions for requests made between midnight and 6:00 a.”

Garmon v. Thomas, 85 S.E.2d 589 (N.C. 1955). · cites it 3× “) Even so, the driver of the vehicle on the left has the right of way if, when he reaches and enters the intersection, the vehicle approaching on his right is far enough away so that, in the exercise of reasonable care and prudence, he is justified in the belief that he can pass…”

Wagoner v. Butcher, 170 S.E.2d 151 (N.C. Ct. App. 1969). · cites it 6× “G.S. 20-155 (c) may thus be construed to mean that the crosswalk right-of-way is not impaired when the movement of a pedestrian is in accord with the traffic lights.”

Kennedy v. James, 113 S.E.2d 889 (N.C. 1960). · cites it 5× “G.S. 20-155 (b). This Court said in the recent case of Carr v.”

Cogdell v. Taylor, 142 S.E.2d 36 (N.C. 1965). · cites it 3× “Ordinarily, when traffic lights are installed *429 at an intersection, the relative rights of motorists approaching on intersecting streets are determinable with reference thereto rather than by the provisions of G.S. 20-155. Absent such traffic lights, the relative rights of…”

Upchurch v. Hudson Funeral Home, Inc., 140 S.E.2d 17 (N.C. 1965). · cites it 2× “Emergency ambulances are expressly excepted from the requirements of G.S. 20-155, which provides rules for the determination of rights of way at intersections at which there are no traffic control signs or devices.”

Lonon v. Talbert, 407 S.E.2d 276 (N.C. Ct. App. 1991). · cites it 3× “City posits this contention on the principle that a driver who has the right of way, in the absence of anything which gives or should give notice to the contrary, is not under a duty to anticipate that a motorist approaching would fail to yield the right of way as required by…”

Price v. Gray, 97 S.E.2d 844 (N.C. 1957). · cites it 2× “20-141 (b) (2), G.S. 20-155 (a); Freeman v. Preddy, 237 N.”

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— N.C. Gen. Stat. § 20-155(a) — 20 cases

Cucina v. City of Jacksonville, 530 S.E.2d 353 (N.C. Ct. App. 2000). “N.C.G.S. § 20-155(a) (1999) provides: When two vehicles approach or enter an intersection from different highways at approximately the same time, the driver of the vehicle on the left shall yield the right-of-way to the vehicle on the right.”

Garmon v. Thomas, 85 S.E.2d 589 (N.C. 1955). “) Even so, the driver of the vehicle on the left has the right of way if, when he reaches and enters the intersection, the vehicle approaching on his right is far enough away so that, in the exercise of reasonable care and prudence, he is justified in the belief that he can pass…”

Savage Towing Inc. v. Town of Cary, 814 S.E.2d 869 (N.C. Ct. App. 2018). “at § 20-155(a). A person with the authority to release a towed vehicle must report to the location of the vehicle within two hours of a phone call by a person requesting *96 release of the vehicle, subject to exceptions for requests made between midnight and 6:00 a.”

Kennedy v. James, 113 S.E.2d 889 (N.C. 1960). “G.S. 20-155 (b). This Court said in the recent case of Carr v.”

U.S. Indus., Inc. v. Tharpe, 268 S.E.2d 824 (N.C. Ct. App. 1980).

— N.C. Gen. Stat. § 20-155(b) — 3 cases

Smith v. Stocks, 283 S.E.2d 819 (N.C. Ct. App. 1981).

Mims v. Dixon, 158 S.E.2d 91 (N.C. 1967).

Carmely v. United States (W.D.N.C. 2023).

— N.C. Gen. Stat. § 20-155(c) — 5 cases

Wagoner v. Butcher, 170 S.E.2d 151 (N.C. Ct. App. 1969). “G.S. 20-155 (c) may thus be construed to mean that the crosswalk right-of-way is not impaired when the movement of a pedestrian is in accord with the traffic lights.”

Anderson v. Carter, 158 S.E.2d 607 (N.C. 1968).

Barrow v. Sargent (N.C. Ct. App. 2021).

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