Traffic Rule Questions?

Question

Picture a four way traffic light where a neighborhood street ends ("T"s) into a major street. Across from the neighborhood street is a business that has a parking lot exit. The neighborhood street does not continue across into the business. It ends, there is a curb (ramped for cars to enter and exit the business) and the sidewalk is continuos (at the same height across the business entrance).

This light has traffic from the major road (back & forth and turning onto the neighborhood street and into business), neighborhood street (turning onto major road and continuing across into business), and business (turning onto major road and continuing across onto neighborhood street).

Question Is this a "T" intersection (where the light just happens to line up with the parking lot exit) so the cars exiting the parking lot should always give way?
Or is it a 4 way intersection? all car "rules of the road" apply and walkers in front of business should be stopping if their light is red.

Answer 1

As a safe, defensive driver, you should treat it as a 4-way intersection because the business entrance/exit has a controlling traffic light.

Even if your city/town legally regards it as a private driveway, I would not want to make that point my primary defense in court in the event of an accident with a pedestrian. In the court of popular opinion, most juries side with pedestrians - no matter how careless they are - not car drivers.

Drive defensively - assume the other person doesn't know what they are doing. Works for me.

Answer 2

It seems to me that due to the parking lot having a traffic light, this is treated as a four-way intersection. If the parking did not count as a street, they would not have to abide by the traffic light (ie: turning left or going straight out of the parking lot regardless of light color). If the cars coming out of the parking lot must abide by the light, then all car "rules of the road" apply. They waited for light, so other traffic can wait for them when the light turns green.

Answer 3

I have just what you are explaining in my town\city.
It's similar to a three way intersection.
1) The parking lot has one light.
2) Cross traffic to the left and right of the parking lot share lights and right of ways.
3) The secondary road across from the parking lot has it's own light.

All three turn green at different times.
The pedestrians do have the right of way legally, but who wants to argue. It's called courtesy.

Answer 4

My opinion - if there is a 'light' involved then it is the SAME rules as if it were a four way and NOT a business. Becareful....a lot of people treat that type of intersection like 'every man/woman for himself' and may cause an accident.

Answer 5

it's a T-intersection. But walkers should still stop. and of course - the most improtant rule of all - you must always yield the right of way to prevent an accident IREEGARDLESS

Answer 6

It should be a four way light. it should be all car rules of the road should apply.

Answer 7

i would thank the peds. would have the right of way of course then treat it like a 4 way