A blind intersection is a crosswalk, or roundabout, where you can’t see for 100 feet in either direction during the last 100 feet before crossing. Such intersections typically have no stop signs or traffic signals.
When approaching a blind intersection, it’s crucial to slow down, check your surroundings, and yield to any vehicle that got there first. Here’s what to do to stay safe and avoid a ticket.
What Is a Blind Intersection?
A blind intersection is a type of road junction where a driver’s view of cross traffic is obstructed or severely limited. In other words, it’s an intersection you may be entering “blind.” Typical obstructions include buildings, fences, trees, parked vehicles, or natural terrain. These make it difficult or impossible to see approaching vehicles, cyclists, or pedestrians until you’re already very close to the crossing.
Blind intersections pose a serious hazard because they:
- Prevent drivers from spotting cross traffic in time.
- Reduce reaction time and stopping distance.
- Increase the risk of side-impact (T-bone) crashes.
A blind intersection, or blind junction, may have warning signs, but that doesn’t necessarily make it safer. If your view is obstructed, you can crash into another vehicle coming from another direction. There’s also a risk that other drivers enter the intersection without seeing you and collide with your car.
Blind intersections are often found in residential neighborhoods, rural areas, and older cities with narrow streets. You may also see them in remote locations like mountain roads.
For instance, the image below shows a blind intersection in Oakland, California, at the junction of Mountain Boulevard and Avoca Avenue.
People often get confused about the difference between blind intersections and uncontrolled intersections. Uncontrolled intersections lack traffic signs and signals, too, but you can still see clearly in all directions. In other words, they’re not blind!
Traffic school can help you keep a clean driving record, prevent insurance increases, and more!
Rules for Driving in a Blind Intersection
CVC 22352 requires drivers to lower their speed to 15 mph when approaching blind intersections. This rule is meant to:
- Allow for sufficient reaction time: Drivers need extra time to react when they can’t anticipate what’s around the corner or beyond an obstruction.
- Keep pedestrians safe: A lower speed gives drivers a better chance to spot and yield to pedestrians crossing the intersection.
- Prevent accidents: High speeds in areas of limited visibility can lead to severe collisions, putting both drivers and pedestrians at risk.
At blind intersections, the rules of the road aren’t just guidelines but crucial safety measures. Here’s what you need to do:
- Reduce your speed: Slow down and be prepared to stop as you approach the intersection.
- Listen for oncoming traffic: Sometimes, sounds can provide a heads-up even before you spot the oncoming vehicle or pedestrian.
- Signal early: Signal your intention to turn left or right early on. This simple act can give other road users valuable time to react appropriately.
- Scan the road: Use your side mirrors to check your surroundings for pedestrians, bicycles, and motorcycles. Look left, right, and left again before you proceed further.
- Yield the right-of-way: Enter the intersection only after yielding to:
- Traffic approaching from your right
- Pedestrians or cyclists crossing your path
- Any vehicle already in the intersection
- Oncoming traffic if you’re turning left, even if you arrived first
- If you’re ever uncertain about who has the right-of-way or if you can safely proceed, it’s always better to yield. This simple precaution could save your life.
Get more details on the rules for yielding in uncontrolled intersections in 21800 CVC: Failure to Yield.
Blind Intersection Tickets: What Happens When You Violate CVC 22352
Driving too fast in a blind intersection can lead to a CVC 22352 ticket or a CVC 22350 ticket for violating the “Basic Speed Law,” which requires drivers to adjust their speed to road and weather conditions. You can be cited under either code, depending on the officer’s judgment.
These traffic violations carry similar penalties, and the fine varies by how much you exceed the limit, among other factors.
| Violation | Base Fine | Total Cost* | Demerit Pts** | Impact |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| $35–$500 | $234–$2,216 | 1 |
|
|
Notes: * Base fine plus court costs and assessments. ** Speeding over 100 mph will result in 2 points for first-time offenders. *** If you already have several points on your license. | ||||
For example, exceeding the speed limit (15 mph) by just five miles is punishable by a base fine of $35 and one demerit point. That may not seem like much, but the final cost is significantly higher.
- First, add an extra $199 in administrative and court fees.
- Second, consider the increase in car insurance premiums, which could cost you around $530 per year for three consecutive years.
Once you consider the impact of the ticket on your insurance, be prepared to shell out a whopping $1,824 (fine + insurance) for a mistake you could have avoided.
Tip: Use this speeding ticket cost calculator to estimate how much you’d have to pay based on your speed at the time of the offense.
Even if you’re driving within the speed limit, the police can still pull you over for failure to yield. This traffic offense comes with a $238 fine, court and administrative fees, and one point on your driving record.
What to Do About a Blind Intersection Ticket
Depending on your circumstances, there are three ways to deal with a ticket for violating CVC 22350 or CVC 22352. Let’s break down each option to help you make the right choice.
Pay the Fine
If you get a ticket at a blind intersection, you can just pay the fine and court fees. In this case, the violation — and the point that comes with it — will remain on your record for three years. During that time, you’ll pay higher insurance premiums, too.
This approach is best suited for drivers with a clean driving record who choose not to contest the charge. An even better option is to attend traffic school so you can mask the point associated with your ticket.
Read: Is Traffic School Worth It?
Contest Your Citation
Another option is to plead not guilty and contest your ticket in court. You can also request a trial by written declaration, which allows you to fight the charges without appearing before a judge.
In either case, you’ll need evidence in your favor, such as photos and witness testimony. For example, if you receive a CVC 22350 ticket, you may use dashcam footage to prove that your speed was safe for the conditions (e.g., visibility was better than the officer claimed).
If you go this route, consider reaching out to a traffic lawyer. A legal professional can gather supporting evidence, identify procedural mistakes, and help you build a strong case. These services are not cheap, but they might be worth it if you’re at risk of having your license suspended due to accumulated points.
Read: How Much Does a Traffic Lawyer Cost?
Go to Traffic School
Completing traffic school is a quick, easy way to deal with a traffic ticket and reduce their cost. With this option, you can “hide” the point associated with minor traffic offenses, such as a red light camera ticket, running a stop sign, or driving too fast for conditions – like at a blind intersection!
If the violation qualifies for traffic school, it will be mentioned on your ticket. What you should do next is check your traffic school eligibility with the court, plead guilty, and pay the fine. Once approved, choose a DMV-licensed course provider and complete the program online or in person.
At Best Online Traffic School, you can study from any device and finish in less than three hours. Our course is accepted by all California courts, including those in Orange County, Alameda County, San Diego County, and other jurisdictions.
Read: How Long Is Traffic School?
Why Choose Best Online Traffic School?
Best Online Traffic School makes it easy to keep points off your license. We offer interactive study materials, practice quizzes, audio read-alongs, and other resources that facilitate learning.
Our traffic school course is DMV-approved and covers relevant topics, such as the rules of the road, California traffic rules, safe driving techniques, and collision avoidance. Since we don’t use a timer, you can study at your own pace without feeling pressured. Plus, your progress is automatically saved, so you can take breaks and pick up from where you left off. (Learn more about How Traffic School Works.)
California drivers who choose our online school have a 99.9% pass rate on the first try. We provide the support they need before, during, and after the course, including:
✅ Free registration (pay nothing until you pass!)
✅ Free English, Spanish, and Chinese audio read-along
✅ Unlimited retakes
✅ Open-book exam
✅ Multi-device compatibility
✅ Free electronic certificate copy
✅ Same-day certificate submission to the court and DMV
✅ Live chat support around the clock
As far as pricing goes, our flat fee of only $27.99 covers everything you need to complete traffic school. The best part is, you can take the course for free and pay only after you finish.
A single traffic ticket can raise your annual premiums by thousands of dollars while bringing you closer to license suspension. Don’t let that happen.
Start traffic school for FREE today.
FAQs About Blind Intersections
Looking for more information on navigating blind intersections? Below are the answers to some frequently asked questions.
When you approach a blind intersection, what should you do?
When approaching a blind intersection, slow down to 15 mph and check your surroundings. Signal early on, yield the right-of-way, and then proceed with caution. Move forward gradually and be prepared to stop if another vehicle crosses your path.
How many feet is considered a blind intersection?
An intersection is considered “blind” if you can’t see at least 100 feet in either direction during the last 100 feet before entering. This limited visibility may be due to trees, buildings, parked vehicles, or other obstructions.
How fast do you go in a blind intersection?
In California, drivers entering a blind intersection cannot exceed 15 mph.
What do you call an intersection with no lights?
An intersection with no traffic lights or signs is called an uncontrolled intersection. If it also has limited visibility, it’s considered a blind intersection.
What is the difference between a blind and an uncontrolled intersection?
The main difference between a blind and an uncontrolled intersection lies in how much visibility you have.