Traffic laws governing 4 way stop signs

Discussion in 'Experienced Truckers' Advice' started by expedite_it, Aug 8, 2024.

  1. expedite_it

    expedite_it Road Train Member

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    I am on hometime right now as I type this. The scenario that I am about to describe happened in my car, but I believe that the laws governing the right away in this scenario are the same for cars and semi-trucks.

    So I pulled up to an intersection with 4 way stop signs in my car and stopped. There was no vehicle to my left the entire time. At the exact moment that I stopped at the stop sign, there was a car already stopped at the stop sign in front of me, and there was another car already stopped at the stop sign to my right. This car at the stop sign in front of me stopped about two seconds before I stopped. The car at the stop sign on my right stopped about three seconds before I stopped. So at the exact instant in time that I stopped, the car at the stop sign on my right was the first car to stop at the 4 way stop signs at the intersection.

    About one second after I stopped at the 4 way stop signs, the car to my right went forward across the intersection. The car at the stop sign in front of me had its left turn signal on. The motorist in the car in front of me wanted to make a left turn. I motioned for the car at the stop sign in front of me to go because the car at the stop sign in front of me stopped at the stop sign about two seconds BEFORE i stopped. But the driver in the car in front of me refused to drive forward for a long time. Then a car got behind me at the stop sign. The car behind me started honking its horn. The driver behind me seemed to be angry at me for not driving forward. I felt pressured to drive forward, and I didn't want to wait all day at that stop sign. So I started driving forward, and at the exact same time that I started driving forward, the car at the stop sign in front of me started driving forward. But then the driver of the car in front of me stopped again when she saw that I was pulling forward, and she motioned for me to go. So I finally decided to just drive forward through the intersection.

    It's my understanding that at a four way stop sign intersection, the right of way is determined strictly by who arrived at the stop sign first, unless two or more cars arrive at the stop signs simultaneously (simultaneously meaning, say, within about a quarter of a second of each other). I think that the motorist at the stop sign in front of me erroneously thought that because she was turning, and I was going straight, that I had the right of way. She would be right at a traffic light, but not at a four way stop sign.

    Is my understanding correct that at a four way stop sign intersection, the right of way is determined strictly by who arrived at the stop sign first (unless two or more cars stop at the stop signs SIMULTANEOUSLY)?

    Am I correct that the driver at the stop sign in front of me had the right of way?

    _____________________________________________

    P.S. If two or more cars stop at an intersection with four way stop signs simultaneously, then I would think that any car going straight would have the right of way over any car that is turning. And if two cars reach the stop sign at the same time and are adjacent to each other, the law dictates that one should yield to the cars on one's right. But that was not the scenario that happened to me today. The car at the stop sign in front of me stopped about two seconds before I stopped.
     
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  3. 2CAN

    2CAN Medium Load Member

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    First to stop is first to go, if everybody acts to timid to go, I will
     
    Magoo1968, jdchet, flood and 2 others Thank this.
  4. expedite_it

    expedite_it Road Train Member

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    I agree with you. But some motorists think that if they are turning left, they must yield to a vehicle at a stop sign in front of them that is going straight, even if the motorist turning left got to the stop sign first.
     
    GoneButNotForgotten Thanks this.
  5. nikmirbre

    nikmirbre Road Train Member

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    I just came for the comments.....
     
  6. tscottme

    tscottme Road Train Member

    Google your state name + 4-way stop.
     
  7. tscottme

    tscottme Road Train Member

    Your state CDL manual & passenger car license book is probably online. Have you looked for them?
     
    Kyle G. Thanks this.
  8. dosgatos

    dosgatos Medium Load Member

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    If you lived in Minnesota you'd all still be at the intersection
     
  9. Star Rider

    Star Rider Road Train Member

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  10. Kyle G.

    Kyle G. Road Train Member

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    I'm not touching this one LOL. If anyone needs me I'll be sitting in the back.

    [Leans back and lights a cigarette]
     
    01HFT, Oxbow, REO6205 and 7 others Thank this.
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