right of way
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right of way
The right in road traffic to drive before another road user, especially at intersections or junctions.
An dieser Kreuzung ohne Ampel gilt die Regel „rechts vor links“, also achten Sie auf Ihre Vorfahrt.
At this intersection without traffic lights, the rule 'right before left' applies, so pay attention to your right of way.
'Vorfahrt' (right of way) is a compound noun made up of 'vor' (before/in front of) and 'Fahrt' (drive/journey). It literally describes the right to continue driving 'before' someone else.
Ein Vorfahrtsschild zeigt an, dass du vor den anderen fahren darfst.
A right-of-way sign indicates that you may drive before the others.
The most common verbs used with 'Vorfahrt' (right of way) are 'Vorfahrt haben' (to have the right of way) and 'Vorfahrt gewähren' or 'Vorfahrt achten' (to yield/give someone else the right of way).
Hier musst du dem Bus die Vorfahrt gewähren.
Here you have to give the bus the right of way.
The expression 'jemandem die Vorfahrt nehmen' (to cut someone off / to take someone's right of way) is fixed. The person whose right is disregarded is always in the dative. This is a common source of mistakes.
Der LKW hat mir an der Kreuzung die Vorfahrt genommen.
The truck cut me off at the intersection.
priority / right of way
'der Vorrang' and 'die Vorfahrt' can mean the same thing in road traffic: someone is allowed to drive before someone else. 'Vorfahrt' is the normal and very common word for this, especially at intersections and junctions. 'Vorrang' can also be used in traffic, but it sounds a bit more general and is also used outside traffic for priority. For this reason, the words can be confused. When the context is clearly road traffic, 'Vorfahrt' is usually more natural. 'Vorrang' also works, but especially when you are speaking generally about a right or a rule.
Der Fahrer hat an der Kreuzung die Vorfahrt des Radfahrers beachtet.
The driver respected the cyclist's right of way at the intersection.
An dieser Stelle hat der Bus Vorrang vor den Autos.
At this point, the bus has priority over the cars.