4-way stops: just go when it's your $%!@ turn!

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Whisper

Diamond Member
Feb 25, 2000
5,394
2
81
Agreed. Following the rules of the road should always trump being "polite." What REALLY irks me is when people will come to a complete stop in the middle of the road just to try and let in someone who's making a right turn onto said road. I still have yet to fathom how anyone could possibly think this to be a good idea.
 

waggy

No Lifer
Dec 14, 2000
68,143
10
81
Originally posted by: mpitts
Originally posted by: waggy
Originally posted by: mpitts
I get more upset when someone sits there until I stop to go. It's not like I am going to ram into them. JUST GO!

yeah. until that one idiot decides to blow a stop sign and they get in a wreck.

i will wait until the car comes to a stop. if it pisses them off ohwell.

Even if it is abundanty clear that the other person is stopping?

but they do not always stop. i have seen it someone decide to go enough times that i now wait.
 

xSauronx

Lifer
Jul 14, 2000
19,582
4
81
Originally posted by: mugs
Yes, this is one of my bigger pet peeves when driving.

im more aggravated by people who want to try and half-stop and follow behind someone else when its *not* their turn
 

jadinolf

Lifer
Oct 12, 1999
20,952
3
81
Originally posted by: johnjohn320
Four-way stops are not all that complicated. You go in the order you arrived. If two cars arrive simultaneously, the car on the right has the priority. That's it--all there is to it. So I am completely baffled at how often I pull up to a 4-way stop intersection, see another car who *clearly* arrived long before I did, then who sits there and looks around, then waves me through.

If you're one of these people, please stop. You're not being polite by waving someone else through when it's obviously your turn to go. You're only stopping up traffic, creating momentary frustration and confusion, because you weren't paying attention and have no idea that it's your turn (or don't "trust" the other cars to wait for theirs).

[/weak rant]

Just go when you feel it's your turn.

Don't be a wuss.:laugh:
 

Pandamonium

Golden Member
Aug 19, 2001
1,628
0
76
Originally posted by: her209
At the intersection of Main Street and Oak Lane, four vehicles approach. A fire truck comes from the south, a police car from the west, an ambulance from the north, and a federal mail truck from the east. Which car has the right of way? Assume all cars which have sirens have them on.


IIRC, police gets legal right of way. Lights & sirens on an ambulance legally "requests" right of way (at least in the St. Louis metro area). IE: If an ambulance collides with ANYONE in an intersection, the ambulance company would lose the lawsuit.

I'm not sure if fire trumps ambulance or vice versa, but these guys are 2/3.

Finally, no mail truck driver in his right mind would try to claim right of way against three vehicles with lights & sirens blaring. He'd be the last to go.
 

txrandom

Diamond Member
Aug 15, 2004
3,773
0
71
Originally posted by: johnjohn320
Originally posted by: preslove
I was taught that simultaneous arrivals = right of way for the driver on the left.

You're not serious, are you?

I guess he doesn't know why they call it right of way.
 

smack Down

Diamond Member
Sep 10, 2005
4,507
0
0
Originally posted by: Whisper
Agreed. Following the rules of the road should always trump being "polite." What REALLY irks me is when people will come to a complete stop in the middle of the road just to try and let in someone who's making a right turn onto said road. I still have yet to fathom how anyone could possibly think this to be a good idea.

Then of course the person making the turn sits their wondering what the idiot who stopped is doing when they are the only car on the road.
 

johnjohn320

Diamond Member
Jan 9, 2001
7,572
2
76
Originally posted by: Whisper
Agreed. Following the rules of the road should always trump being "polite." What REALLY irks me is when people will come to a complete stop in the middle of the road just to try and let in someone who's making a right turn onto said road. I still have yet to fathom how anyone could possibly think this to be a good idea.

The only time that's ok (in my mind) is when traffic is thick and stopping anyway....in other words you should stop in such a way that someone turning can get in, as opposed to stopping right in front of them to block them.
 

mugs

Lifer
Apr 29, 2003
48,920
46
91
Originally posted by: johnjohn320
Originally posted by: Whisper
Agreed. Following the rules of the road should always trump being "polite." What REALLY irks me is when people will come to a complete stop in the middle of the road just to try and let in someone who's making a right turn onto said road. I still have yet to fathom how anyone could possibly think this to be a good idea.

The only time that's ok (in my mind) is when traffic is thick and stopping anyway....in other words you should stop in such a way that someone turning can get in, as opposed to stopping right in front of them to block them.

As someone who lives on a road that is very heavily trafficked and that backs up past my driveway during rush hour... thank you. :)
 

QueHuong

Platinum Member
Nov 21, 2001
2,098
0
0
What I hate more is when I'm slowing down my approach to the stop sign and then a car 300 feet away accelerates to the stop sign, makes a token gesture of slowing down, and speeds off again. I prefer a timid or polite driver than a jack@ss any day. People who speed to the stop sign need to realize they've only reduced their drive probably 2 seconds, but at the same time accumulate damage to their brake pads and annoy courteous drivers.
 

nageov3t

Lifer
Feb 18, 2004
42,808
83
91
Originally posted by: Whisper
Agreed. Following the rules of the road should always trump being "polite." What REALLY irks me is when people will come to a complete stop in the middle of the road just to try and let in someone who's making a right turn onto said road. I still have yet to fathom how anyone could possibly think this to be a good idea.

I do that :eek: it's good karma... how much does it suck to have to sit and wait and wait and wait, completely backing up traffic behind you because no one can tap their brakes for a second and give you a break.
 

jackace

Golden Member
Oct 6, 2004
1,307
0
0
I'm one of those people that makes sure the other person is actually going to stop at the sign before going. I have seen way too many people california stop even with people there and just keep going. I have almost been in accidents because of it as well. It's just easier and safer to wait a couple seconds.

I am also someone who lets people in when traffic backs up. I won't let people change lanes, but I will let people enter traffic from small driveways, residential entrances, etc. If no one lets them in they could be there 20-30 min just to get into traffic.
 

smack Down

Diamond Member
Sep 10, 2005
4,507
0
0
Originally posted by: QueHuong
What I hate more is when I'm slowing down my approach to the stop sign and then a car 300 feet away accelerates to the stop sign, makes a token gesture of slowing down, and speeds off again. I prefer a timid or polite driver than a jack@ss any day. People who speed to the stop sign need to realize they've only reduced their drive probably 2 seconds, but at the same time accumulate damage to their brake pads and annoy courteous drivers.

Oh noes damage to brake pads that is like 50 dollars a year. Or about the same as a tank of gas. Yeah I will be crying about that later.
 

tokie

Golden Member
Jun 1, 2006
1,491
0
0
Originally posted by: smack Down
Originally posted by: QueHuong
What I hate more is when I'm slowing down my approach to the stop sign and then a car 300 feet away accelerates to the stop sign, makes a token gesture of slowing down, and speeds off again. I prefer a timid or polite driver than a jack@ss any day. People who speed to the stop sign need to realize they've only reduced their drive probably 2 seconds, but at the same time accumulate damage to their brake pads and annoy courteous drivers.

Oh noes damage to brake pads that is like 50 dollars a year. Or about the same as a tank of gas. Yeah I will be crying about that later.

I agree. I would probably be described as a jackass driver, but hey that 5 seconds accumulates over the course of a 30-minute drive. Who cares about damage to a car, it's just some measly amount of money.
 

QueHuong

Platinum Member
Nov 21, 2001
2,098
0
0
Originally posted by: tokie
Originally posted by: smack Down
Originally posted by: QueHuong
What I hate more is when I'm slowing down my approach to the stop sign and then a car 300 feet away accelerates to the stop sign, makes a token gesture of slowing down, and speeds off again. I prefer a timid or polite driver than a jack@ss any day. People who speed to the stop sign need to realize they've only reduced their drive probably 2 seconds, but at the same time accumulate damage to their brake pads and annoy courteous drivers.

Oh noes damage to brake pads that is like 50 dollars a year. Or about the same as a tank of gas. Yeah I will be crying about that later.

I agree. I would probably be described as a jackass driver, but hey that 5 seconds accumulates over the course of a 30-minute drive. Who cares about damage to a car, it's just some measly amount of money.

Which is why I say people like you and smack down are idiots. If you save 3 seconds at a stop sign in a 30 minute drive, then you'll still save 3 seconds at the end. Your saved 3 seconds doesn't accumulate unless you go through 20 stop signs during your 30 minute drive. You'll save more time if you don't have to bring your car in for brake pads replacement as often.

I'm a big advocate for additional testing for reasoning skills when teen kids go to get their driver's license.
 

johnjohn320

Diamond Member
Jan 9, 2001
7,572
2
76
Btw, same goes for pedestrians and cyclists. When you have the right-of-way, just GO! The other day I was about to walk a crosswalk with a gigantic, neon yellow "yield to pedestrians" sign in front of it. Another pedestrian was crossing from the opposite side. A driver yielded, as he should, and so I began to cross. The other idiot pedestrian waves the car to go through ON TOP OF ME. He stood there waving like a fucking idiot, wondering why the driver wouldn't run me over. Gargh. People!!!
 

JEDI

Lifer
Sep 25, 2001
29,391
2,738
126
Oooh, you've hit on one of my other pet peeves - people who don't think ahead and get in the lane they need to be in. Usually people get in whichever lane has the shortest line at a light, but then they go through the light and have to be in the other lane, so they ah heck up the whole works.

There is a traffic circle near where I live (Somerville, NJ). Because of the disparity in prominence of the roads feeding into the circle, the normal rules don't really apply. There is a yield sign ON the circle at one point so that people on the circle have to wait for people entering the circle off a major road. There is an overpass so people who are staying on that major road don't have to go through the circle, and their entrance to the circle is controlled by a light. Every lane in the circle is clearly marked with lines and arrows to indicate which way you can go. At some points, BOTH lanes may exit the circle and thus only one can continue around. At other points, both lanes may continue around the circle and thus only one can exit. It sounds complicated, but once you've gone through it once it's actually pretty simple. And yet it never fails that every time I enter the circle from a particular entrance, there is someone who tries to cross over the inner exit+continue lane and continue around the circle from their outer exit only lane. And the strange part is, the lane that joins the inner exit+continue lane from that entrance is ALWAYS shorter and moves faster. I have never seen it be the other way around. I always get in that lane, partly because it's shorter and goes where I want to go, and partly because I feel it is my duty to educate bad drivers with copious use of profanity and my horn. And I take great pleasure in doing so.

I think a diagram is required here.

tl;dr
 

notposting

Diamond Member
Jul 22, 2005
3,498
33
91
I was in the parking lot at the grocery store about a month ago, there is a Kroger, Bed Bath & Beyond, B&N, Office Depot, REI, etc, so decently sized shopping plaza.

On the way in, had the "right of way means my way" approach from an idiot in his oversized pickup. On the way out, first 4 way had a couple idiots not wanting to go, letting you start then they try to ram you, etc. Same at the 2nd 4-way.

Finally, trying to pull out on the service drive road, so the exit tee's into it. Some dude in a junker (who looked stoned out of his mind) was turning left from the road into the lot, but was waiting for me to turn out onto the road.

This topic strikes close to my heart :p I hate all of these morons on the road! Arghhh :D
 

BlackTigers

Diamond Member
Jan 15, 2006
4,491
2
71
I've adopted a new way to manage intersections with stop signs.

I arrive first, car on left FLIES up to stop sign, trying to beat me so they can go first (like that two seconds of wait mattered :whiste:). I proceed into the intersection, ruining their attempted move....and if there are no other cars. I stop my car in front of them. Asshats.

This also applies to stupid fucks in parking lots who try to pull out in front of you. I'm under the belief that stopping and staring at people who don't know how to drive makes them better drivers. .... or I'm just an asshole with no patience for idiots. Either way.
 

Meractik

Golden Member
Jul 8, 2003
1,752
0
0
ATOT, what do you think of this intersection?

http://maps.google.com/maps?q=san+d...DCWbY69BAxfgyj2e4esWaQ&cbp=12,345.82,,0,11.99

I get there everyday at around 7:20-7:25AM and end up in one of the two right hand turning lanes.... EVERY SINGLE DAY people neglect obey the sign stating "no right turn on red Monday through Friday from 7AM-9AM" and tons of people yield and make right turns from both the right lanes.

Its gotten to the point that yesterday everyone in front of me performed a right turn on red and when I got to the front I stopped and waited for a green light, a big truck behind me honked at me the entire time as though I was in the wrong, they slithered on the shoulder up to my passenger window and did some hand motions in my direction, i simply pointed at the sign and they turned right on red then the light turned green and I went...