You are driving on a priority road. In this situation, should you refrain from driving further, if necessary?

In the video you are driving on a priority road in a town; from a side street on the right, which is a minor road, a black car pulls out in front of you, crossing your lane. When driving on a priority road, you must hold back from driving on if necessary. The answer is: yes.

The Road Traffic Act states that a road user has the right to expect others to obey the rules, unless the circumstances suggest that they may behave differently - this is the principle of limited trust - and it requires everyone to avoid actions that could endanger road safety. Right of way is not a right to a collision: the driver pulling out of a minor road must give way to you, but once they have already entered your path, the only thing that will prevent an accident is your braking. A person who forces their right of way and causes a collision, even though they could have avoided it, also bears part of the responsibility. That is why, when driving on a priority road, you watch exits from gates, car parks and minor roads, keep your foot ready over the brake and slow down when you see that someone is not stopping. Giving way even though you have right of way costs you nothing, and a collision costs a lot.

Legal basis: Art. 4 and Art. 3 para. 1 of the Road Traffic Act (Prawo o ruchu drogowym)