Knowledge base Road rules Updated 14 Oct 2026 11 min read

Junction priority and turning in Singapore

Highway Code guidance and statutory give-way rules for ordinary junctions, turning movements, and roundabouts, plus a route-specific restriction at Woodlands Checkpoint.

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Primary source: https://sso.agc.gov.sg/SL/RTA1961-R11?DocDate=20240301&ProvIds=pr69A-%2Cpr70-%2Cpr71-%2Cpr72-%2Cpr73-%2Cpr74-%2Cpr75-&WholeDoc=1

Approaching a junction

The Highway Code gives movement-specific priority guidance: traffic going straight gives way to traffic going straight from the right; a driver turning right gives way to traffic from all directions, including vehicles turning right from the right and vehicles turning left from the opposite direction; and a driver turning left gives way to traffic going straight from the right (Singapore Statutes Online, Highway Code, para. 69A).

When approaching a junction with a major road, slow down gradually and give way to traffic on that road. If there is a STOP sign, stop at the major road. Where there are no traffic lights, give-way signs, or stop signs, the Code says to give way to all traffic on the right, including cyclists. At a junction, look right, then left, then right again, and move only when sure it is safe (Singapore Statutes Online, Highway Code, paras. 70–72).

When approaching any traffic lights, slow down and be prepared to stop if the light turns amber or red (Singapore Statutes Online, Highway Code, para. 110). The separate signal rules explain what each light requires; see regulatory-traffic-signs.

At a controlled junction, a vehicle that is not turning right or left must, when released, proceed straight across without obstructing other vehicles proceeding in the same direction on either side (Singapore Statutes Online, Road Traffic Rules, r. 6).

Bus Give-Way Boxes

When a bus is entering a Bus Give-Way Box from a bus stop or bus bay, or is waiting to enter after signalling that intention, the driver or rider of a vehicle approaching the box within its controlled area must stop before the Bus Give-Way Line and give way. A vehicle must not remain in the box so as to obstruct a bus entering or about to enter (Singapore Statutes Online, current Road Traffic Rules, r. 26A). The related road markings and signals are covered in Bus lanes and Bus Priority Boxes.

Turning

Before turning right, take account of traffic behind, signal early, and move cautiously towards the centre of the junction. Give way to approaching vehicles and crossing pedestrians beside you; wait until it is safe to cross or for the green arrow. Complete the turn into the correct lane while watching for pedestrians crossing (Singapore Statutes Online, Highway Code, para. 73).

For a left turn, keep left, signal in good time, and do not swing out to the right before or after the turn. When turning either way, give way to vehicles going straight and to pedestrians (Singapore Statutes Online, Highway Code, paras. 74–75). The Code separately states that, when turning, drivers must give way to through traffic and to pedestrians who are crossing (para. 114) (Singapore Statutes Online, Highway Code, para. 114).

At an intersection or junction with a pedestrian crossing, a driver turning a vehicle must stop to give way to any pedestrian, cyclist, mobility-vehicle user or PMD rider who is crossing or starting to cross (Singapore Statutes Online, current Road Traffic (Pedestrian Crossings) Rules, r. 4).

Pedestrians, cyclists and crossings

The Road Traffic (Pedestrian Crossings) Rules require every driver approaching a pedestrian crossing to travel at a speed that allows the vehicle to stop before reaching it. At an uncontrolled crossing, a driver must allow free and uninterrupted passage to any pedestrian, cyclist, mobility vehicle user or PMD rider who is crossing or starting to cross. At a controlled crossing, drivers must allow those road users free and uninterrupted passage even if they have already received a proceed signal (Singapore Statutes Online, current Road Traffic (Pedestrian Crossings) Rules, rr. 5–7).

At a zebra crossing, a vehicle must not stop within the crossing’s limits except where the rules allow stopping to avoid an accident or due to circumstances beyond the driver’s control. A driver generally must not stop in a zebra controlled area. The exceptions include stopping to comply with the crossing rules, to avoid an accident or due to circumstances beyond the driver’s control, for specified road works or services, or to turn left or right. A driver must not overtake another vehicle proceeding towards the zebra crossing within that area (Singapore Statutes Online, current Road Traffic (Pedestrian Crossings) Rules, rr. 9–11).

Where a pedestrian crossing has a central refuge, each half is a separate crossing and is to be treated separately (Singapore Statutes Online, Highway Code, para. 20).

At pedestrian crossings, pedestrians have the right of way. Slow down on approach and do not overtake other vehicles. Be ready to slow or stop to give way to pedestrians, pedal cyclists, PAB and PMD riders, and mobility scooter or motorised wheelchair users; signal to other drivers if slowing or stopping, and allow more time to stop on a wet road (Singapore Statutes Online, Highway Code, paras. 77–79).

At a crossing controlled by light signals or a police officer, give way to those same road users crossing when the signal to stop is given. When a school patrol sign is extended at a crossing, vehicles in both directions must stop and remain stationary until the crossing is clear and the sign is removed (Singapore Statutes Online, Highway Code, paras. 80–81).

Watch for pedestrians, cyclists, PAB and PMD riders, and mobility scooter or wheelchair users who may emerge from behind stationary vehicles or other obstructions. Be especially careful near schools and bus stops, and when turning at a junction give way to these road users if they are crossing (Singapore Statutes Online, Highway Code, para. 82).

Crossings may be difficult to see: the Code warns that an unfloodlit crossing may not show clearly at night and that its markings may be almost invisible to an approaching driver on rainy nights. It also says pedestrians should not step onto a crossing until approaching vehicles have stopped (Singapore Statutes Online, Highway Code, paras. 15–16). In these conditions, slow down and look out for road users at crossings, as para. 78 directs (Singapore Statutes Online, Highway Code, para. 78).

The Code also advises pedestrians crossing at junctions to look out for vehicles negotiating the corner. Drivers should therefore check the crossing path around the corner while turning, including for a pedestrian who may be crossing the side road (Singapore Statutes Online, Highway Code, para. 21).

Uncontrolled junctions and roundabouts

The Road Traffic Rules provide a statutory priority rule for uncontrolled junctions: give way to a vehicle approaching from the right. At an uncontrolled junction of a one-way road, the applicable side depends on whether traffic flows left-to-right or right-to-left. At a roundabout, give way to a vehicle or stream of vehicles immediately approaching from the right (Singapore Statutes Online, Road Traffic Rules, r. 11).

The Highway Code also advises drivers to slow down on approach to a roundabout and give way to traffic on the right (Singapore Statutes Online, Highway Code, para. 76).

The same paragraph explains that if the correct lane for a destination is overcrowded, a driver may use another lane to reach it, provided they signal their intention clearly and in good time, follow the right-hand rule, do not inconvenience other drivers, and use the mirror to avoid obstructing traffic behind (Singapore Statutes Online, Highway Code, para. 76).

Route-specific turn restriction

LTA says vehicles other than buses and authorised vehicles must not turn right from Woodlands Centre Road into Woodlands Checkpoint via Woodlands Crossing (Johor). The restriction applies at all times, including public holidays, and took effect on 17 July 2023. LTA directs other vehicles to enter the checkpoint using the Bukit Timah Expressway or Woodlands Road; follow the signs on the approach (LTA OneMotoring, Driving Rules and Information).

Scope

The Highway Code describes itself as a code of conduct, not a digest of traffic laws. This article combines its driving guidance with separate statutory duties from the Road Traffic Rules, which are cited as such (Singapore Statutes Online, Highway Code, para. 1). It covers general junction priority and turning guidance; signal-specific rules, including red-amber-green arrows, are covered in regulatory-traffic-signs.

Related Highway Code guidance

This article focuses on junctions and crossings. Broader pedestrian crossing and bus-stop conduct, cyclist road conduct, and following-distance guidance are summarized in Following distances and sharing the road safely; other Highway Code driving topics are tracked in the open ordinary-driving-conduct audit in the research queue. The audit remains open for paragraph-by-paragraph verification.