who yields at a four way intersection when the lights are out?

Question

I think that when the stop lights are out, the first person there has the right of way, and if two people arrive at the same time, the person on the left yields to the person on the right. I've read it on the internet on a few sites. But my mom says that the person on the right yields to the person on the left, and the state driving laws for az are different than other states. are there any sites that will prove who is right? i cant find any!

Answer 1

1. Everyone stops.
2. The first person who arrives does get the right of way.
3. If two people are there are the same time the person on the RIGHT does go first, that is why it is called "Right of Way"

Also if two people are across from each other, and one wants to turn the person going STRAIGHT has the right of way.

4. I'm not sure if these are in law book, maybe road etiquette? I don't think the right and left is different in different states, since I have traveled in many different states and never noticed a difference. But it might be different in the UK or any where they drive on the opposite side of the street.

5. In some states, like California waiving someone through is illegal. It has been cited as the cause of some accidents in the last 10 years so they put a law on the books.

-Basically: you wave, they don't move, You start to move, just at the same time they move, then they wave you, and you apologetically wave them through, He does not want to move because of the confusion, neither do you wait like 30 seconds and decide to go, at the exact moment he decides he has waited a safe amount of time...Crunch.

-Or someone is trying to be nice and wave a truck through, another car doesn't see it coming past the landscaping, and thinks you are waving him, and Crunch.

Answer 2

Well, I'm only answering for CA where I live, but to me a light being out would operate the same way as a four-way-stop (all four streets have stop signs.)
1. The car who gets there first has the right of way.
2. If two cars get there at the same time, the person on the left yields to the person on the right.
3. The directions take turns - in other words, the N-S cars go, then the E-W cars go, subject to the first two rules.

So basically I am saying that you are right, at least for CA.

Answer 3

When the traffic light is out, the intersection is to be treated as a 4-way stop (i.e., as if everybody had a stop sign).

As far as I know, the law is the same in all states for two vehicles arriving at the intersection at the same time. The vehicle on the left yields to the vehicle on the right. This is because it is easier for the driver on the left to see the driver on the right, because they can see in through the passenger side of their windshield. For the driver on the right, the windshield post blocks vision.

Answer 4

If the person on the left yields to the person on the right, and all four people got there at the same time, then who goes? I don't think this rule is correct because left and right are all relative depending on what direction you're facing.

I think the correct answer is you treat it like a four-way stop. Everyone stops and everyone gets to go in the order that they got to the stop.

Answer 5

it's called the right of way for a reason person on the left yields to the person on the right

Answer 6

just politely extend your arm out the window and, in a waiving motion, let the other guy out first, don't beat yourself up over this, if you waive the guy and he doesn't move or you both waive each other at the same time, then you both pause then both go and have to slam on your brakes at the same time and keep repeating this, then again, politely extend your arm out the window and lovingly flip up your greeting finger at this freak of nature!! man, i'm glad you didn't ask about who had the right of way at a four way stop out of a postal truck and a firetruck and some police and a nun and the arch bishop, i never know the answer to that, i can tell you though, if patrick swayze wer at the intersection waiting to cross, i would gladly get out of my car to throw my jacket over a mud puddle for him to walk over!! i mean gross!!

Answer 7

You are right about coming to an intersection, but your mom is right about yielding if the lanes are merging.

Answer 8

It becomes a four-way stop. For more information on it, you might want to try www.safemotorist.com and click on Arizona. It has all kinds of traffic laws for every state. I hope this helps!

Answer 9

it goes the same as it says in your drivers manual it is always the person to your right

Answer 10

Yes, it is to be treated as a 4 way stop.... you described it correctly.