[tturedraider]

I thought about making this a poll, but decided to just go for comments.

What is y’all’s experience with other drivers and four way stops? I feel pretty confident virtually 100% of forum members understand how four way stops work. I really hope that is the case!!

Specifically I’m wondering about two cars at right angles arriving at the intersection simultaneously. One car on the left of the other, the other car on the right of the other. The car on the left yields to the car on the right. Chicagoland has tons and tons of four way stops. Way more than any other place I’ve lived. Roughly 98% of all stop sign controlled intersections are four way stops. And yet, to my surprise, somewhere between 25% - 40% of drivers I encounter do not understand what to do. To their credit they are more inclined to yield the right of way that is actually theirs rather than pull out in front of you. But that’s the rub. Even when they unequivocally have the right of way they just sit there, because they don’t understand I’m waiting for them to go.

Does anyone else experience this to such a high degree?

The other thing I notice that happens less frequently is when two cars coming in opposite directions arrive at the same time and one of them is turning. Many of these folks don’t seem to understand the car that is crossing traffic is the one that yields.

A little side note. I actually like that most of the stop sign controlled intersections here are four way. It is quite a bit safer than when you have to judge the speed of an oncoming car that does not have a stop sign to be sure it is completely safe to pull out in front of them to cross the intersection.

[M_Six]

The worst ones are the 4-way stops with two lanes in each direction.

[Pauly Wauly]

I get to a 4 way stop and most of the time I am always the first one out. People are clueless about 4 way stops, so I`m not waiting around for them to figure out who`s 1st or who`s 2nd.

[dscabra]

When I learned ro drive many years ago, four-way stops were addressed as a one-car-at-a-time in a clockwise order. Colorado laws actually state that you go in the order of arrival. Colorado also just changed their very simple roundabout rule that says cars entering must yield to those in the circle to now be based on the size of the vehicle. So now we get to see how well people are able to measure the size of their ... vehicles against others. This should be interesting.

[sygazelle]

I live in California and 4 way stops confuse people here too. The law here is like you mentioned; the car on the right has the right of way when cars arrive at a 4 way stop at the same time. But, many drivers are confused and just sit there.

I try to avoid this situation a couple of ways. If I see a car arriving at a 4 way stop at the same time and it is to my right, I slow down a little early so that car gets there first. Less confusion. They go more quickly and since it's their right of way anyway.

When I do arrive at the same time and they won't go, I wave for them to go ahead of me. I love it when they look surprised that I would be so kind.

[MassWholeBimmer]

Almost was hit at a 2 way stop intersection the other day. I was driving through the intersection and the cross "stopped" vehicle, actually rolling through the intersection, almost hit me. I guess he thought it was a 4 way stop and I was going to stop.

So now I see some 4 way stop intersections with signs under the stop sign saying "Cross traffic does not stop".

So I guess some people think that if u are at an intersection that does not have that cross traffic sign, then it must be a 4 way stop.. and the cross traffic need to stop. Not...

Then there is the confusion on "who got here first, what happens on a tie... "

4 way stops should not be used as speed control means, which many seem to be used for that purpose.

It created a bunch of bad drivers.

[M-technik-3]

Roads in Taxachusetts are the wild wild west these days. The rule is 4 way stop the car to the right goes first. The cross traffic does not stop means you yield to them. My town just adds more traffic lights for speed control which only makes it worse.

[hubbahubba]

Originally Posted by sygazelle

I try to avoid this situation a couple of ways. If I see a car arriving at a 4 way stop at the same time and it is to my right, I slow down a little early so that car gets there first. Less confusion. They go more quickly and since it's their right of way anyway.

That's a great idea. Will be putting it to practice ASAP.

[Joebie]

I think the issue is that people know how its supposed to work, its more complex than just "the car on the right has right of way" in reality.

and this is because in reality

-no one really ever comes to a complete and total stop for stop signs, at least not where i live.
-if youre not coming to a complete stop, then who is actually "stopped" first?
-"at the same time" is subjective and technically impossible.
-people perceive themselves to be "stopped" earlier than an outside observer would



So imagine a scenario in which 2 cars are approaching a 4 way stop intersection. The car on the right is arriving 1 second before the car on the left, but the car on the left's driver is more willing to doing a rolling stop. The driver of left car perceives himself as "stopped" earlier than the car on the right due to his willingness to roll a stop sign, and takes the right of way. Technically it wasnt his to take but it worked out. No one did anything terribly wrong and traffic continues to flow better than if they both did a full stop, flash the lights, wave the hand, etc.

End of the day i just play each situation like that by ear. If the other driver is hesitant, im going to very intentionally take the right of way whether its mine or not, as long as my car language is clear to the other driver. If the other driver is in a Nissan Altima, its their right of way we all know this.

[infinitekidM2C]

I treat four way stops like a game of chicken.

[erickonphoenix]

In Texas typically the biggest truck goes first.

[MassWholeBimmer]

Yes. I'm a bit more aggressive in the F150 than the BMW...

[infinitekidM2C]

Originally Posted by erickonphoenix

In Texas typically the biggest [dickhead] goes first.

ftfy

[M_Six]

I much prefer the roundabouts in the UK. Of course getting the average American driver to use one properly would probably be impossible.

[MassWholeBimmer]

..we have plenty of roundabouts as well.. aka rotaries.. in Mass

[Lady Jane]

[infinitekidM2C]

Originally Posted by M_Six

I much prefer the roundabouts in the UK. Of course getting the average American driver to use one properly would probably be impossible.

[Alfisti]

I've been in this country for damn near 20 years and other than the plastic bags to hold milk ( I mean for fuck's sake), nothing drives me more insane than the absolutely preposterous amount of 4 way stops. 95 percent of them should be 2 way or roundabouts.

Just fucking fix it, it's a blight on the entire fucking continent. Jesus.

[M_Six]

Originally Posted by MassWholeBimmer

..we have plenty of roundabouts as well.. aka rotaries.. in Mass

Indeed. I was born and raised in MA. They're similar, but not the same. The UK folks have a better system for them, I think.

[UncleWede]

TECHNICALLY, the right of way belongs to the vehicle that enters the intersection first. Yes, you should yield to the right, but when they hesitate, *I* go. If I'm 3rd, but everyone is waving hello to each other, I go.

[Rocket455]

Originally Posted by sygazelle

I live in California and 4 way stops confuse people here too. The law here is like you mentioned; the car on the right has the right of way when cars arrive at a 4 way stop at the same time. But, many drivers are confused and just sit there.

I try to avoid this situation a couple of ways. If I see a car arriving at a 4 way stop at the same time and it is to my right, I slow down a little early so that car gets there first. Less confusion. They go more quickly and since it's their right of way anyway.

When I do arrive at the same time and they won't go, I wave for them to go ahead of me. I love it when they look surprised that I would be so kind.

1000% this! I do the same exact thing; less confusion, everyone gets on with their journey.

[freakystyly]

Originally Posted by Alfisti

I've been in this country for damn near 20 years and other than the plastic bags to hold milk ( I mean for fuck's sake), nothing drives me more insane than the absolutely preposterous amount of 4 way stops. 95 percent of them should be 2 way or roundabouts.

Just fucking fix it, it's a blight on the entire fucking continent. Jesus.

Lol, stay away from Montreal if you hate 4 ways. I'm not sure if they do it because of snow banks in the winter or maybe there is a traffic sign mafia but every road and driveway seems to have a 4 way stop. Most people just roll them because of how useless they are, and of course are open to be ticketed.