Resource guide
Give-way rules, explained
Give-way rules are one of the most commonly missed topics in the Learner licence theory test. This guide walks through the core rules, three ways to study them, and links straight to the official Road Code sections they come from.
69%
Of Class 1 learner licence theory tests were passed first time in the period covered by Waka Kotahi NZTA's own released figures — give-way and intersection questions are consistently among the rules candidates get wrong. Source: NZTA OIA release, OIA-12485.
How to study give-way rules
Tip 1
Learn the priority order, not just the shapes
At an uncontrolled intersection, priority runs by turn and position, not by who arrives first or who's bigger. Memorise the give-way sign meaning before the road-marking meaning — the sign is the rule, the paint is the reminder.
Tip 2
Practise the T-intersection case separately
The most commonly missed give-way question in the Learner test is the uncontrolled T-intersection: traffic on the terminating road must give way to all traffic on the continuing road, regardless of turn direction.
Tip 3
Say the rule out loud before you answer
"I am turning right, so I give way to oncoming traffic going straight or turning left" — narrating the rule catches the questions that look right at a glance but aren't.
Quick check
Marks instantly — this is a taste of the same instant-explanation format used throughout Passit Drive practice.
1. At an uncontrolled T-intersection, who must give way?
Traffic on the terminating (side) road gives way to all traffic on the continuing road
Correct — The terminating road always gives way at an uncontrolled T-intersection — this holds regardless of which direction either vehicle is turning.
Whoever arrives at the intersection first has priority
Not quite — The terminating road always gives way at an uncontrolled T-intersection — this holds regardless of which direction either vehicle is turning.
The larger vehicle always has priority
Not quite — The terminating road always gives way at an uncontrolled T-intersection — this holds regardless of which direction either vehicle is turning.
2. You're turning right at an uncontrolled crossroads. Who do you give way to?
Only vehicles turning left
Not quite — A right-turning driver gives way to oncoming traffic continuing straight or turning left, and to traffic approaching from the right.
Oncoming traffic going straight ahead or turning left, and traffic on your right
Correct — A right-turning driver gives way to oncoming traffic continuing straight or turning left, and to traffic approaching from the right.
Nobody — right turns always have priority
Not quite — A right-turning driver gives way to oncoming traffic continuing straight or turning left, and to traffic approaching from the right.
3. What does a give-way sign require you to do that a stop sign doesn't?
Nothing — they mean exactly the same thing
Not quite — A give-way sign means slow down and be ready to stop; a full stop is only legally required at a stop sign, or at a give-way sign if traffic is present.
You don't have to come to a complete stop if the way is clearly clear
Correct — A give-way sign means slow down and be ready to stop; a full stop is only legally required at a stop sign, or at a give-way sign if traffic is present.
You must always stop even with no traffic in sight
Not quite — A give-way sign means slow down and be ready to stop; a full stop is only legally required at a stop sign, or at a give-way sign if traffic is present.
Official sources
Passit Drive practises you against the official NZ Road Code, not a paraphrase of it. Below is the underlying Waka Kotahi, NZTA, NZQA and WorkSafe documentation for each licence type, organised so you can consult the primary source directly.
Dangerous Goods (NZQA 16718)
Passit Drive is a practice layer built on top of these official rules, not a replacement for them. If a question here ever reads differently from the source it links to, the official source is correct — email hello@passit.co.nz and we will fix it.