When does a tram have priority? Warsaw’s Lauto driving school highlights common mistakes drivers make.

December 11, 2025

When does a tram have priority? Warsaw’s Lauto driving school highlights common mistakes drivers make.

A heated discussion was underway in the office of a Warsaw driving school. A father (a driver with thirty years of experience) and his son (a student preparing for the driving test at the Warsaw Driving School) were discussing the driving profession. The head of the Driving School (OSK) was listening in.

„What do you know about being a driver?” his father asked ironically, adding after a moment: „I’ve been behind the wheel for more than a quarter of a century. You’re just learning how to drive…”

The son’s blood boiled, especially since this remark was made in front of another man.

„But I know the rules better than you!” the student replied. „With your knowledge, it’s a miracle you survived on the road…”

The driver just laughed.

„If you’d like, gentlemen,” the center’s head replied conciliatorily, „I can ask you a few questions about tram priority. We’ll have a mini-quiz to determine who has the most knowledge. Are you in?”

Both men nodded in agreement, and a roguish smile lit up their faces. Which of them demonstrated greater knowledge? More on that in a moment. First, let’s examine the questions posed by the center’s director.

Tram Quiz. A Warsaw driving school lists the questions answered by the driver and student.

Who has priority: car or tram?

• Question 1. We arrive at a parallel intersection. A tram is approaching from the opposite direction. We turn right, and the tram turns left, meaning our paths intersect.
• Question 2: We arrive at an intersection with signs. We have priority, and a tram is coming from our right and has a „Yield” sign. We both go straight ahead, and our paths intersect.
• Question 3. We are at an intersection with signs. Both we and the oncoming tram have priority. We turn left, and the tram turns right, meaning our paths intersect.
• Question 4. We’re at a traffic light intersection. The light is green and we’re going straight ahead, but the tram in front of us also has a green light but is turning left, crossing our path.
• Question 5. We’re at the intersection with traffic lights again. A tram is coming from the opposite direction and has a green light, just like us. However, we turn right, and the tram turns left, crossing our path.
• Question 6. We are entering a circular intersection (also known as a roundabout) without „Yield” signs or traffic lights. Just as we enter the roundabout with priority, a tram pulls off the island, crossing our path.
• Question 7. We are passing a roundabout with a „Give way” sign. Suddenly, we encounter a tram entering the roundabout where we are.
• Question 8. We are entering a roundabout with traffic lights. Suddenly, a tram pulls out of the roundabout island, crossing our path.
• Question 9. On our right, a tram is leaving the depot, wanting to join the traffic.
• Question 10. We turn left at the intersection with traffic lights and a tram crosses our path.
• Question 11. We are on a road with a so-called broken right-of-way. Thus, both we and the tram coming from our left have the right of way. Each of us is going straight ahead, and our paths intersect.

Tram priority rules. A driving school in Warsaw explains the rules that apply in traffic.

When does a tram have priority?

• A level crossing. Here, regardless of which direction the tram is approaching from, it always has priority.
• An intersection with signs. If a tram has a „Yield” sign, it must yield to us, while we have a „Priority Road.” However, if we are in an equal situation with a tram, because we have either a „Yield-Yield” sign or a „Priority-Priority,” then—if the tram turns, crossing our path because we are going straight—we must yield to it.
• An intersection with traffic lights . If the light is green and we’re going straight, we have priority over a tram that’s turning and crossing our path. However, if the light is green and we’re turning left or right, the tram has priority over us, even if it’s also turning and crossing our path. This is the easiest way to collide with a tram, because we think we can safely go ahead…
• Roundabouts without a „Yield” sign. Here, regardless of whether the tram is coming from the right or left, or whether it is entering or exiting the roundabout, it always has priority.
• A circular intersection with a „Give Way ” sign. When a tram enters this roundabout, it, like other users, does not have priority, contrary to popular belief among many drivers. However, when it exits the roundabout (leaving the island), you must yield to it.
• A roundabout intersection with traffic lights . Trams, like other vehicles, obey the traffic lights and have no priority here. However, if there are no separate signals for rail vehicles, a tram leaving the roundabout—coming off the island—has priority over us. However, if there were a signal on the island prohibiting trams from proceeding, they would have to yield to us.
• Leaving a terminus or depot. If a tram is entering traffic, it must yield to us.
• A stop with access across the road. If the tram stops at the stop, we must stop before the zigzag in the road. Even if the tram is close to stopping and people are already entering the road, we should also stop before the zigzag, without waiting for the tram to signal.
• Becoming a „tram driver.” If we don’t want to become a „tram driver,” we must be careful not to turn right too quickly and enter a road with rails intended for trams. We should pay attention to vertical or horizontal signs that indicate we should turn further.

Answers to quiz questions. Warsaw driving school shows correct answers

What are the correct answers to the tram quiz?

• Question 1. Answer: tram.
• Question 2. Answer: car.
• Question 3. Answer: tram.
• Question 4. Answer: car.
• Question 5. Answer: tram.
• Question 6. Answer: tram.
• Question 7. Answer: car.
• Question 8. Answer: tram.
• Question 9. Answer: car.
• Question 10. Answer: tram.
• Question 11. Answer: tram.

Who was the winner: the driver or the student? A Warsaw driving school reveals who got the most correct answers to tram quiz questions.

A quiz was taking place at the OSK office regarding tram priority rules. The center’s director posed 11 questions, and a father (the driver) and his son (the student) answered them. It soon turned out that the former had eight correct answers, while the latter had… 11!

„Dad, don’t worry,” said the student, patting the driver on the shoulder, „there’s no shame in not knowing all the rules…”

“The boy is right,” the center manager interjected, “because the driver doesn’t use all of them on a daily basis, so he might forget.”

„I’d be happy to give you some roadside training,” the son continued, „but on one condition: that you also give me some roadside training. That way, we can combine our new knowledge with our extensive roadside experience!”

In the office of the „Lauto” Warsaw driving school , there was a loud laugh from the men.