Traffic question

June 13, 2024, 05:37 PM

dsiets

Traffic question

I ran into this today. I was the only one at the STOP and wanted to turn left. Once opposing traffic cleared there was a vehicle positioned going straight, opposite me.
I prefer them to proceed strait as I also enter the intersection and then I turn left right after they clear me. Two vehicles moving at the same time.
I feel this is the most efficient use of a two stop intersection but they waved me and I went.

June 13, 2024, 05:38 PM

220-9er

I'm guessing the law could vary by state.
When I'm in that situation I assume the driver going straight has the option unless they wave me through.

June 13, 2024, 06:14 PM

cas

They have the right of way.

Everyone who isn't you has the right of way.

They get to go first because they want to. That seems to be the way it works.

June 13, 2024, 06:16 PM

P250UA5

quote:
Originally posted by cas:
They have the right of way.

Everyone who isn't you has the right of way.

They get to go first because they want to. That seems to be the way it works.

Sometimes, that's the case exactly.

June 13, 2024, 06:50 PM

mark123

quote:
Originally posted by LS1 GTO:
"Stopped" at the same time, in the situation OP notes as they were both "stopped" at the same time to allow cross-traffic, means the vehicle turning left yields.

If the OP arrived at the stop sign first, and does not need to wait for cross-traffic, he had the right of way.

The optimal words here (and in the state laws noted it) are, "stopped at same time." Not "stopping at the same time."

In this case, both the OP and other driver were stopped at the same time to yield to the cross-traffic. Just as if they were both stopped at the same time to wait for a traffic light.

Nuances of words which could be better defined in the situation which the OP was faced with.

Yes. That is correct.

June 13, 2024, 07:43 PM

scratchy

LS1 GTO is correct in most states. The left turner yields and turns behind the car passing straight through. This drives me nuts at 4 way stops since the abandonment of drivers ed.

June 14, 2024, 07:20 AM

4MUL8R

The OP scenario has at least two dimensions...legal and practical.

Given the number of unlicensed, uninformed, unpolite, unnice, and unbelievable drivers on the road, I would yield to avoid MVA, regardless of the legal status I hold.

June 14, 2024, 08:57 AM

sourdough44

Just to make it a little easier, say the left turner comes to a stop 15 seconds before the vehicle going straight gets there. After stopping the left turner is waiting for cross traffic, no stop sign, to clear.

In this scenario I don’t see any way where the vehicle going straight should expect to go first, ahead of the one turning left.

Of course, it’s always best to avoid swapping paint. At times you have to drive so as to make up for the deficiencies of others.

OBTW, I drive a motorcycle also, that keeps me on hyper alertness.