Who Has Right of Way ?

Question

If a Firetruck, Ambulance, Police Car, and Mailman come to a four way stop at the same time who goes first?

In California?

Answer 1

Really Good Question!!

As an Expert Driving Instructor in California for over 25 years, I have your answer.

NOBODY!!!!!

The California Vehicle Code does not give anybody the Right-of-Way, it requires someone to Yield the Right-of-Way to another vehicle.

At a 4-way stop, the Vehicle Code states:

"When two vehicles arrive at the same time at a 4-way stop, the car on the left shall yield to the car on the right", it doesn't give the right-of-way to anyone.

This scenario you presented is actually not addressed in the Vehicle Code but I would say the police officer would go first because everyone else would be afraid of getting a ticket (joke).

Even emergency vehicles have to observe right-of way rules.

Answer 2

Firetruck is first,
because they have the equipment to get the patient out of the car or house that has them trapped and at risk of further injury... The ambulance could only take the patient to the hospital only after the patient is free from the bent-up car or the burning house, the ambulance would have to wait for the the firetruck to bring the "jaws-of-life" and the trained team to use it, and to make sure the disaster site is made safe for the ambulence staff to get the patient...police could be third, because they could investigate without getting in the way of the rescuers trying to save lives...The postal truck should go last, because mail arriving minutes later than normal has the least harsh consequences

Answer 3

Oh, come on this is an easy question.

The ambulance goes first because if the siren is running there is a life at stake. The Fire Truck goes next because if its siren is blaring then there is property and possibly lives at stake. The Police Car should go third because if his siren is blaring then the crime has happened or is progress and a few extra seconds may not matter. The mail truck should go last, since there are no mail emergencies.

If you are talking about normal rules of the road then the law says to yield to the person on your right so which ever person arrived a fraction of a second first has the right of way and the person on their left has the next right of way.

Personally I would yield to the firetruck because in a collision it would hurt more, but that's just me.

Answer 4

It would go Police, Fire, Ambulance because the police need to get to the scene to secure the scene for the firemen so they can get to the victim for the ambulance. The mailman is government but not of the same branch as the Medical and safety. Only if their sirens are on.
I also agree with roaddrvr43. He is correct!!

Answer 5

Are the emergency vehicles running light's and siren's? you left that out. In a normal setting the vehicle entering the intersection from the right would have the right of way. At a four way stop the first vehicle to get there and make the stop, would then proceed through the intersection. I don't have any Idea why a mailman would have the right of way over emergency vehicle's except in California.

Answer 6

that depends on the situation, who is running code 3(lights and siren). if all three are, the likely the firetruck goes first, but they are all likely going to be heading to the same location.

Answer 7

The ambulance goes first

Answer 8

Technically, emergency vehicles are bound by the same rules regarding right of way as all other vehicles. It is merely that other drivers feel that they should let them through.

I'm struggleing to work out how the post van would be considered to have right of way, unless it is on the major road.

Answer 9

The Right of Way would have to go the the Firemen.
Reason being they have a greater responsibility to save life and property

Answer 10

The mailman always has the right of way. The postal service never stops in this country no matter what.