4 Way Stop Signs Is It a Language Problem

[pharmer]

Over by the local hospital is a very busy intersection "controlled" by 4 way stop signs. Hospital West, School South, Main road East, Medical plaza North. Not rocket science but when there are 6 or 7 vehicles stacked it gets testy fast. "On yer left is usually yielded to and North-South or East-West going opposite go together. Like a dance except it's "A-one, A-one, A-one......and so forth." Keep'er moving. Today a cop happened in and everybody froze, nobody went for almost a minute. After he cleared, everybody went at the same time. Comedy. Some folks say: "They oughta put a light!!!" In this formerly 2 stoplight town, today there is a stoplight every 50 feet. Some folk just can't handle "independent human action." Joe

 

[pasound]

I was taught in driver training that the driver turning your left (his right) had the right-of-way when you both met at a four-way, facing. Right angles, and it's first come, first served.

 

[Eric300]

You think motorists can't figure out how a 4-way stop works? You should be at these 'Roundabouts' they're putting in all around Michigan. Some people should be deemed 'Too stupid to drive!' It's like bumper cars at the State Fair.

 

[steelslaver]

It is an intelligence thing, Half of the people are below average and those significantly lower than average really make life difficult for the rest.

or

What shouldn't be difficult for most of us is made difficult by a few of us.

 

[kaaskop49]

Frankly, I'm handier with a 64HB than a steering wheel. I despise the intersections where only 2 of the approaches have stop signs. That means while I've waited appropriately and then entered the 'box,' a driver w/o a stop sign doesn't have to stop and can drive straight through T-bone-ing you...

Kaaskop49
Shield #5103

 

[soFlaNative]

Frankly, I'm handier with a 64HB than a steering wheel. I despise the intersections where only 2 of the approaches have stop signs. That means while I've waited appropriately and then entered the 'box,' a driver w/o a stop sign doesn't have to stop and can drive straight through T-bone-ing you...

Kaaskop49
Shield #5103

That is how it works, sometimes we just have to wait our turn.

 

[WCCPHD]

The "new engineering" must be like the "new math." In NC today they are putting roundabouts anywhere they can squeeze one in. Then next insanity is the "Diverging Diamond Intersection" where they route traffic to the left over a bridge and then back to the right. Then the prize goes to the no left turn intersections where you have to go down the road and do a U turn at a special U turn lane, and they put a stop light there. All confusing and of no real value.

But, its all about SAFETY and that makes it wonderful.

 

[moosedog]

In Michigan, the driver on the right has the right of way on a tie.

 

[Bald1]

Yes this drives me nuts. The most aggravating is the people that are clearly there before you and have the right of way yet sit there and wave you through. Just go. You’re messing up the whole works and screwing the guy behind you. I’ve gone so far as to slow down quicker than normal to insure the other person stops before me. Yet they sit there and wave me through.

 

[Yendor357]

And the massive influx of illegals that have no clue how to drive, have no license nor insurance has exacerbated the problem. Be vigilant.

 

[NYlakesider]

Four ways stops can make some interesting scenarios, thats for sure.

We have a lot of stop sighs but not many light controlled intersections. Also a lot of the roundabouts but that for another thread!

For the most part the stop signs work reasonably well. With that said you make a legal stop and if the the other driver balks at moving well thats what the right hand side pedal is for. He who hesitates is lost.

Back when I was CDL driving large trucks many times I would give up the right of way and let a vechicle move ahead of me! That was a courtesy as I was in a very slow accelerating commercial vechicle and many times looking for my delivery spot!

 

[lihpster]

I despise the intersections where only 2 of the approaches have stop signs. That means while I've waited appropriately and then entered the 'box,' a driver w/o a stop sign doesn't have to stop and can drive straight through T-bone-ing you...

Kaaskop49
Shield #5103

That's how it works. A stop sign doesn't mean wait an "appropriate" amount of time and then go. It means wait until you can safely travel through the intersection. That means waiting for those who have the right of way, I.E. no stop sign. Only after the traffic with right away is gone and the path is clear can you then enter the intersection. If there's a lot of cars you may have to wait awhile.

 

[30-30remchester]

There is two things you can never tell anyone. How to drive and how to shoot. They will scream at the top of their lungs. "I have been doing this all my life. How dare you suggest that I don't know what I'm doing". My grandfather said the same as his kids forcible took his driver's license away. He protested that he had never had an accident. Which is true, but he caused dozens of them as he seldom stopped at a stop sign or red light.

 

[gmarshall99]

I thought the driver with the biggest, crapiest vehicle got tomgo first.

 

[H Richard]

On any drivers test the correct answer is yield to the driver on the right.

 

[JohnRippert]

They took out about a half dozen stopsigns and put in roundabouts on a short stretch of road through our tiny little city. I avoid it like the plague. Everyone is supposed to yield to whoever got there first but the main road drivers almost never yield to the side roads. The city could get rich on failure to yield tickets if they wanted.

 

[Denverd0n]

...but the main road drivers almost never yield to the side roads.

Sounds like the roundabouts are too small to function the way they are supposed to. We have a couple of those in our town, also. If the roundabout is the right size, then you yield to those who are in the circle. Problem is when you are out of the circle almost before you are even fully into it.

Of course, then you also have the people who think a roundabout is just a big, 4-way stop. So they sit and wait for people who are clear around on the other side of the circle, when there is no conflict at all. Or the ones who are in the circle, and have the right of way, but stop anyway (those are the REALLY stupid ones!).

A roundabout is specifically and deliberately NOT a 4-way stop. Just like a yield sign is specifically and deliberately NOT a stop sign. Amazing (in a very sad sort of way) how many people cannot understand these very simple things.

 

[Muss Muggins]

Roundabouts and diverging diamonds are the greatest thing since sliced bread and canned beer . . .

 

[Onomea]

Then there's jug handles. Make a right to turn left. On a highway, no problem. On a local road with stoplights and such, confusing if you are not from the area, or have returned to the area but don't know they've been put in.

 

[dave1918a2]

The little town I live in has several 4 way stops. 4 stoplights in town. We have idiots here that have no clue how to act at or approach a 4 way stop. And most are taught in drivers ed.