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PhrasesCar AccidentLei non aveva la precedenza. Venivo da destra.
B2

Lei non aveva la precedenza. Venivo da destra.

You did not have the right of way. I was coming from the right.

Pronunciation

'Precedenza' = preh-che-DEN-tsah — four syllables; stress the third.

When to use it

Use in your statement when an accident occurred at an unmarked junction and the right-hand rule (precedenza a destra) gives you priority.

What it means

At unmarked intersections in Italy, the 'precedenza a destra' rule applies: vehicles coming from the right have priority. This is the opposite of roundabout rules, where vehicles already inside have priority. Many urban accidents occur from ignorance of this rule.

Variations

C'era un cartello di 'stop'. Lei era obbligato/a a fermarsi.

There was a stop sign. You were required to stop.

Stop signs (not just yield signs) require a complete stop in Italy — not just slowing down.

Avevo la precedenza perché venivo da destra.

I had the right of way because I was coming from the right.

States your own priority rather than the other driver's failure.

All'incrocio non regolamentato ho la precedenza.

At the uncontrolled intersection I have right of way.

Formal statement of the general rule — useful in a police report.

Mini Dialogue

— Chi aveva la precedenza? — Lei non aveva la precedenza. Venivo da destra. Non c'erano segnali. — Quindi si applica la regola della precedenza a destra? — Esattamente. Ho tutto il diritto di passare.

— Who had the right of way? — You did not have the right of way. I was coming from the right. There were no signs. — So the right-hand priority rule applies? — Exactly. I had every right to pass.

Cultural Note

The precedenza a destra rule is enshrined in art. 145 of the Italian Codice della Strada. Many Italian drivers and virtually all foreign visitors are unfamiliar with it — it is a frequent cause of disputes after urban intersection accidents.