Four Way Stop Question

I'm curious about the right of way in a certain situation.

A
... C
B

Car "A" gets to the intersection first. Then car "B" arrives, then car "C".

Car "A" stops, proceeds through. Is it now B's turn or C's? B thinks it's his because he got there before C, but C thinks it's his because he is on the right of B.

 

Is it not first come first go?

 

The vehicle to your right always has the right of way.

 

And that's the problem....drivers really don't know what to do at a four way.....it's always been the vehicle to your right has the right of way. However, not many people know that...

 

I always thought that it was first come, first go too. Most people adhere to this @ 4ways.

 

Correct, from the Virginia State Drivers Manual:

It does not mean that whoever stopped first goes. It also does not mean that because the traffic heading north (south of intersetion)is crossing, the traffic heading south (north of intersection) can go. NO, it means that the driver on the East side of the intersection goes next, then south, then west... AROUND the intersection.

This usually is interpreted that if two cars stop at the intersection at the same time, the left yields to the right.

Oy!!


Neil Z.
Resident since 1999

 

From the Virginia Driver's Manual:

Right-of-Way

When two vehicles approach an intersection not controlled by traffic lights or signs, neither vehicle has the right-of-way. Generally, Virginia law states that when two or more vehicles approach an uncontrolled intersection from different directions at the same time, the driver on the LEFT must yield to the driver on the right.

If the traffic lights at an intersection are not functioning, all vehicles approaching the intersection must stop. The driver on the left must yield to the driver on the right.

The law does not give the right-of-way to anyone. It only states which driver must yield to another.

Yield also means to stop if you cannot merge safely into the flow of traffic

 

Neil - you beat me to it.

 

i've always driven as first come, first go. then for simultaneously arrival- car to the right has right of way. this is from the Maryland Motor Vehicle Website:

"Yield to the Right at 4-Way Stop Signs.
At all intersections controlled with 4-way stop signs in Maryland, the vehicle that arrives first may proceed through the intersection. Drivers must first stop at the stop sign. If more than one of you arrive at the stop signs at approximately the same time, you must yield to the vehicle to your right. That motorist proceeds first."

VDOTs website doesn't specifically cover 4 way stops signs- THAT must explain the lack of knowledge of what to do at them around here! lol

Ciao,

Redon1

 

Why are there 4-way stop signs at 2-way intersections?

 

Check again, that quote is from the Virginia Driver's Manual, found on the website.



Neil Z.
Resident since 1999

 

Eh ??

Neil Z.
Resident since 1999

 

OK, here is a question, and a statement. We all talk about how bad the broadland blvd & Claiborne intersection is, how many people run the stop sign etc. But what do you do when the other person hesitates, repeatedly. Its like they are epileptic drivers. They get to the stop sign, wait, then they think it is their turn, then no wait, it isn't. So the hit the brakes, then change their mind again, thinking they were right the first time, nope, wrong again, hit the brakes.

People like this drive me crazy, and make it very difficult to get through the intersection.

So, to clear up the who goes first question, when does the light get turned on, realistically?

 

there are 2 roads that intersect, but each road has 2 directions, so that makes for different directions of traffic when 2 roads intersect.

 

OK, so you're approaching an intersection, two cars to the left, two cars to the right, a cat runs across the intersection and catches a mouse, cat bites down on the mouse killing it, then the mouse gets caught in the cats throat, cat chokes and dies, "who killed who"?

 

But only one direction on each side of the road (N-S-E-W) is actually heading toward the intersetion. The other direction of that side is heading away from the intersection.


Neil Z.
Resident since 1999

 

OK everyone, this is my attempt at being funny...

That's interesting...What happens if 4 cars, approaching the 4 way stop, stops at the 4 way stop at the same, exact time? Does Everyone yield to the car their right (like that will ever happen around here!)? Do you You have a never ending Yield loop and no one moves? Also...what's the sound of one hand clapping?
If a Tree falls in the woods and no one is a around hear it fall...
Which came first, the chicken or the egg?
Too many questions that will never be answered

Mike

 

That's when I keep idling forward and basically call the other person a bloody idiot !!

Realistically? To paraphrase Michelangelo when Pope Julius II asked "When will you make an end ??" "when it's finished" !!

I've given up trying to get any sort of date. I have no idea if Van Metre let the contract with a 'drop dead date', or with any sort of performance bonus. The HOA is not privy to that info.

All the HOA (and I'm assuming Van Metre, for they're as tired of this as we are) can do is keep asking the contractor "When will you make an end?" .



Neil Z.
Resident since 1999

 

neilz- there's nothing to recheck, I got my quote from THIS website:
http://mva.state.md.us/AboutMVA/RULES/default.htm

if it also exists on a VA site or in a manual- great! I only checked this link for VA- http://www.dmv.state.va.us/webdoc/citizen/drivers/vadm/vadm2-6.asp

a full time job, teaching aerobics, family, must see TV and other interests kept me from doing exhaustive research of all things related to VA driving... lol <read playful sarcasm>

Glad it's addressed wherever you found it- I stand corrected: NoVan's have no excuse not to know how to handle a 4 way stop.

Ciao,

Redon1

 

State laws differ ... Maryland does not require you to move to the right if someone in back of you flashes their headlights or beeps their horn to pass on a highway. Virginia does ... what amazes me, is that the right-of-way in a traffic circle can be different from state to state !!

Yea .. I noticed that the HTML version of the manual only gives the highlights, the PDF full version gives all the rules one is expected to find on the exam and, supposedly, in real life.



Neil Z.
Resident since 1999