elsobbseg

Elsőbbség, often written elsobbseg without diacritics, is the traffic-law concept that determines which road user may proceed first at intersections, merges, and other points where paths cross. It is central to traffic safety and efficiency, helping to prevent conflicts between vehicles, cyclists, and pedestrians.

How it is indicated and applied

Right of way is established by road signs, road markings, and traffic signals. Signs such as priority road or yield, as well as markings that designate a through road, define who has priority. In the absence of explicit signs, many jurisdictions rely on general rules that determine which road is primary or how to yield at crossings. At junctions, vehicles on the main road typically have the right of way over those entering from a side road. Vehicles already circulating in a roundabout generally have priority over those entering. Traffic signals override all other rules.

Pedestrians and other users

Pedestrians have priority on marked crosswalks, and drivers must yield to people crossing. Cyclists and other vulnerable road users share the same principle of yielding when necessary to ensure safety at crossings and in shared spaces.

Legal context and variability

The specifics of elsőbbség are defined by national traffic laws and, in many regions, harmonized by European or international conventions. While the core idea is consistent—priority to prevent conflicts—the exact signs, rules for priority roads, and exceptions (such as school zones or temporary traffic management) vary by country. The concept remains a foundational element of road safety and driver responsibility.