The rules from an interesting blog HERE:
When you pull up to a four-way stop the first person to arrive at the intersection gets to go first. But what if two, or even three, cars pull up at the same time? Well, I'm glad you asked because I'm convinced that only fifteen or twenty percent of the driving population knows the answer. (In fact, in a pamphlet for European drivers learning new road rules for North America, it states that most U.S. drivers do not understand how to use a four-way stop.)
The car to the right goes first. No, it doesn't matter who's going straight, who's turning right, or who's turning left. The car to the right always goes first. Always. I'll provide a diagram for you if there's still any question about how this works (car C goes first):
14 comments:
Thank you! Drives me nuts that many people seem to have no clue about that!
Even I knew that - and I haven't driven regularly in 16 years.
People are stoopid...
XOXOXOXO
I think it works better than lights. everybody has to stop and think and become aware of everybody else at that intersection. at one we have, four cars approach consistently...the right as right of way just doesn't work.Unless the drivers are complete jerks, we are aware of who arrived first. ut we often do a lot of starts and stops in the process....somebody is always willing to wave on somebody else.and there are the impatient ones, we are all willing to spare lives to tolerate their rush.
There seems to be an unspoken language here too...the ones making a left turn really should wait because they could hold up everybody. And the right turn ones, we all sort of understand and don't mind sneaking around the corner.
It seems the greatest offenders of any kind of courtesy are people at the lights.
The problem with that diagram is that car C is to the right of car B also, so that could be very confusing for everyone concerned.
that rule doesnt work in chicago. half the time people dont even stop, and if you hesitate too long, people start honking at you
Deb, I think C goes first because there is no one to the right of it.
D'oh! You're right--I misread the answer and thought they meant for car B to go first...
Ypu remind me about going to the dmv in LA.
Well now in Argentina I can tell you that is certainly not the case, they will hit you for sure if you are not really alert, and it doesen t matter if your a top model or a beautiful actress, they just want to go first
Our town decided to put in a roundabout a few years ago. For the first couple of years, it was like people thought there was a demolition derby track put in right in the middle of town!
Oh Gawd, I'm going to pass on this one. The last thing you need is someone blogjackin you.
Joy I do want to say one thing.
I'm very much guilty of waving on the women at the 4 way stop.
this is really a pet peeve of mine!!!! and what about "yield signs"....we still haae yield signs in my neighborhood, and people do not know what it means to "yield"!!!!!!
ACCCKKKKKKKKK!!!!!!!!!!
Oh yes about the yield signs, Beth! That's another one!
Sam, blogjack all you want. I do that sometimes (and you know whose blogs I've done this on - sorry), so it's fine with me. I do appreciate the courtesy when men do that, but it's easier to figure out at a door.
Pseudonymph, I could never drive in Australia or the UK unless I were the only one on the road. In an emergency situation, I'd swerve over into the right lane and kill us all.
Welcome, Mariana! Glad to have you here and would love to hear about your LA DMV experience compared to Argentina.
I can see that happening in Chicago, Dan. It's not as bad as Boston, though! I'd never drive there. Riding in the car with someone who lives there was more than enough for me.
Interesting, Charlie.
Thanks, Rusty Driver David!
What would Lyle do, Howard? :-)
My dad, who taught Driver's Ed in college and who was an excellent teacher to my sister and me when we were Student Drivers (except for a few failed attempts at the manual transmission thing about which I shall say no more), would be so proud of you.
Is there a way you can send that diagram to EVERY DRIVER in the City of Chicago?? Every single 4-way stop is an experience in assholism + stupidity + obliviousness (are you listening, Lincoln Park Trixies??). Infuriating . . . although I must admit to exhibiting all of the above every now and then, so thank you for the excellent reminder.
This "to the right" thing makes no sense...everybody says "the car to the right"...well everybodys "right" is not the same car. What am I missing here? #2...if you are at a 4 way stop with wide lanes, is it wrong to make a get in the right side of the street (without a actual lane being marked on the ground) at the same time the car next to you goes strait?
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