4-way intersection paradox--who has the right of way?

**Jenna** · 06-03-07, 12:16 PM

Four-way intersection, stop sign on each of the four roads. Who has the right of way if 4 cars arrive at exactly the same time, one from each of the 4 directions?

If traffic from the right always has the right of way, does it mean that none of the cars have the right of way, since each of the cars has another car to the right of it? Are they all doomed to stay at the intersection for eternity, none daring to move forward since none has the right of way?

I rarely drive, and can only imagine such a situation as a hypothetical. Has anyone actually encountered such a situation? If so, how did you handle it?

**Ducky** · 06-03-07, 12:18 PM

Around here, someone is generally polite enough to wave others through first. It's no big.

**Standard Dave** · 06-03-07, 12:19 PM

4 way intersections do not exist here one route is the primary route and has priority at junctions or there is a roundabout or traffic light signals.

**chris2001** · 06-03-07, 12:22 PM

Most of the time a driver will either inch forward to say that he/she is going to go, or as Ducky said someone will start pointing or waving at a car for them to go ahead and go. Either way its not a big deal as long as someone takes the bull by the horns and goes.

**Claude Baulz** · 06-03-07, 12:24 PM

I don't think my state's vehicle and traffic law takes a situation like that into account! If mine was one of the cars I would just proceed slowly after making the full stop. If someone else was that insistent on going first I say go ahead! Hand gestures and eye contact make things easier here (another black mark on tinted windows!).

If you're talking about an enforcement situation/accident, then an appropriate charge would be "failure to yield after stopping". Let's face it, if two (or more) cars start to move into the intersection somebody better be stopping to yield.

**Crimebytes2** · 06-03-07, 12:31 PM

I encounter this situation at my college. Like Ducky said, it's no big deal. I ALWAYS assume the other drivers will proceed first. If not, I will wave them through or vice versa. It's called driver courtesy.

**SANDMAN** · 06-03-07, 12:34 PM

Thats where roundabouts come in handy. Means all vehicles can arrive at the intersection then each one can then precede in turn around it

**Lazy Fed** · 06-03-07, 01:04 PM

You mean you stop at stop signs

**TacticalII** · 06-03-07, 01:08 PM

Around here, whoever has the biggest truck gets the right of way.

**AITG** · 06-03-07, 01:20 PM

Actually, all four drivers are required to remain in place until one of them dies. At that point, the car to the right of the dead guy has the right of way.

Somehow, most folks work this out among themselves.

**Jackalope** · 06-03-07, 01:40 PM

Originally Posted by AITG

Actually, all four drivers are required to remain in place until one of them dies. At that point, the car to the right of the dead guy has the right of way.

No, no, you got it wrong. The car to the left of the dead guy goes first. Since the dead guy is no longer in play, the guy to his left is actually to the right of both remaining living drivers.

**Caveman** · 06-03-07, 01:40 PM

Originally Posted by Jenna

Four-way intersection, stop sign on each of the four roads. Who has the right of way if 4 cars arrive at exactly the same time, one from each of the 4 directions?

If traffic from the right always has the right of way, does it mean that none of the cars have the right of way, since each of the cars has another car to the right of it? Are they all doomed to stay at the intersection for eternity, none daring to move forward since none has the right of way?

I call it a Mexican StandOff.

Deff: A stalemate or impasse, a confrontation that neither side can seemingly win.

**Emily** · 06-03-07, 01:43 PM

Around here, the right of way goes to whoever has the biggest truck.

**countybear** · 06-03-07, 01:49 PM

Around here, the driver with the largest caliber weapon has the right of way...

**NavLaw** · 06-03-07, 01:56 PM

Interesting question. Not easy to explaine, but I will give it a shot. The viehicles going streight thru have the right of way over turning vehicles. Right turns have right of way over left turns, vehicle on your right has right of way over you. This is all provided you got there at the same time.
Solution: all 4 drivers exit their vehicles, go to middle of intersection and play rock, sissiors, paper untill you get a winner, they can go first.

**Motorwaycop** · 06-03-07, 03:03 PM

4 way intersection?, exactly the same time?

My brain hurts!

**conalabu** · 06-03-07, 03:18 PM

Originally Posted by TacticalII

Around here, whoever has the biggest truck gets the right of way.

Originally Posted by Emily

Around here, the right of way goes to whoever has the biggest truck.

Way to be a follower, Em.

**Jks9199** · 06-03-07, 03:21 PM

In Virginia -- nobody has the right of way if all stop simultaneoulsy at an all way stop. Of course, when you work the crash, the car that hit the other one will always claim they had the right of way!