Four Way Stop Sign Intersections

[Carmudgeon]

In my city, these four ways are being replaced by round a bouts. Problems solved.

The issue with roundabouts is that they require an additional degree of awareness, engagement, and judgement that the average driver is already lacking in.

Here, people still don't know how to use one that was installed a couple years ago, and ignore the rights of way just like stop signs, or in general.

And, many bicyclists believe they have carte blanche with respect to not obeying traffic controls, most often stop signs.

 

[The_Eric]

In my parts I have the opposite problem - it seems that no one is willing to enter an intersection,even if they have right of way. It seems to be a mix of Midwestern politeness - lots of folks waving others through even if they have the right of way, and straight fear. But sometimes I think that it's a self fulfilling prophecy.. some timmy pulls up and sees another driver approach so they fearfully wait to make ABSOLUTELY sure that driver won't blow the intersection (which means them waiting for the other driver to make a complete stop and wait to make sure that they'll stay there), which prompts the other driver to go anyway because they don't feel like participating in a 4 way standoff... Boom.. now the first driver feels justified - after all the other guy went anyway.. he would have hit me!

 

[Drifter]

I don't know where you live in Texas, but in Austin the police won't come even if the vehicle ran off the road and hit a tree. The reason I say this is that this exact thing happened at the end of my block. No injuries, no police, period. Even after one of the neighbors found out that the girl didn't have a driver's license and the car was stolen, still no police. Furthermore, the girl called her boyfriend to come and pick her up, when he arrived he threatened to kill my neighbor, still no police. To add insult to injury, the homeowner had to pay to have the car towed off of their property and have the lawn repaired. They got an "incident report" from the police dept. over the phone so they could turn the damage in to their insurance company. The damages/expenses weren't covered by their homeowner's policy unless the car had hit their house.

Thank you. My thoughts and experiences exactly. Its the Wild west in Austin now.

 

[John105]

I don't know where you live in Texas, but in Austin the police won't come even if the vehicle ran off the road and hit a tree. The reason I say this is that this exact thing happened at the end of my block. No injuries, no police, period. Even after one of the neighbors found out that the girl didn't have a driver's license and the car was stolen, still no police. Furthermore, the girl called her boyfriend to come and pick her up, when he arrived he threatened to kill my neighbor, still no police. To add insult to injury, the homeowner had to pay to have the car towed off of their property and have the lawn repaired. They got an "incident report" from the police dept. over the phone so they could turn the damage in to their insurance company. The damages/expenses weren't covered by their homeowner's policy unless the car had hit their house.

Maybe it’s a national problem. I am aware of PA. Accident and driver has no license, no registration, no insurance, their fault, they drive away. My understanding is if they have an outstanding warrant, they are arrested. Otherwise, let go. My buddy was told by a cop you’re free to pursue the person civilly if you want, but we don’t do anything “nowadays.”

Happened to a buddy in Lakeland FL.

Now you’re saying in TX.

This is why I’m insistent in saying best not to wind up involved in someone else’s life. Could get expensive when doing nothing wrong.

 

[ecotourist]

We have a strange 4 way stop practice here.

Three cars pull up to a 4 way stop. They arrive at almost the same time, in order #1, #2 and#3. The opposing cars are #1 and #3. #1 and #3 are both going straight through. Here #3 typically waits for #2 to go before proceeding. Polite, I guess. Time and traffic efficient, nope.

In Edmonton (where traffic is busy) #1 and #3 would both proceed. On Vancouver Island #2 will be annoyed (honks at) #3 if they go across with #1.

It seems there are different practices in different places but #3 waiting for #2 to go seems pretty dumb to me.

And if a cyclist came up they'd just blast right through. Cyclists here never stop at stop signs. "I am more important than you. I spit on your stop signs." [For best effect said with a Jacgues Clouseau accent.]

 

[vavavroom]

I saw another beauty today. 3-lane road, intersection. Cars were stopped in the left lane and right lane at a red light. A car came from behind in the middle lane and made a left turn. I have seen motorcycles and scooters do this maneuver in the past.

 

[Lubener]

The issue with roundabouts is that they require an additional degree of awareness, engagement, and judgement that the average driver is already lacking in.

Here, people still don't know how to use one that was installed a couple years ago, and ignore the rights of way just like stop signs, or in general.

And, many bicyclists believe they have carte blanche with respect to not obeying traffic controls, most often stop signs.

As long as you yield the right away to everyone coming from the left, some just sit there wondering what to do.