Oh, I know, I know: When it happens at a traffic light.
All of my life -- and if you live in the U.S., probably all of yours, too -- the rule has been that a traffic light that is out becomes a 4-way stop.
But never assume that. Especially when it happens where a major road intersects one of lesser imprortance. The drivers on the main road just zoom through.
We had a power outage downtown Sunday and I had the misfortune to be driving through the affected area. Had to keep changing my route to avoid nightmare intersections.
The intersecting roads becoming 4 way stops during a failure of traffic lights is not universal, sometimes the main road has the right of way.
ReplyDelete"Michigan law gives the right of way to drivers on state highways and major roads."
The only thing wrong with this is that most drivers don't know this and I believe this rule is not consistent throughout the states.
Seems like it would be safer to assume that the intersection is a 4-way stop than to assume that the more major artery has the right of way, regardless of whatever the law might be.
ReplyDeleteThat way you avoid potential damage to your own major arteries, etc.
"Seems like it would be safer to assume that the intersection is a 4-way stop than to assume that the more major artery has the right of way, regardless of whatever the law might be."
ReplyDeleteThat depends if you're on the major artery or the side street.
"Rules?!? In a knife fight?"
ReplyDeleteBecause that's how too many drivers view their commute. The rest tend to view it as an opportunity to do anything other than drive (talk, text, read, apply makeup, brush their teeth - yes, I saw that once, and other things that would make this NSFW.
The area of Oklahoma City is rife with 4-way stop sign intersections, many of them on 2 lane each way roads. Because of this, there is also there a scattering of car fragments, broken glass, and swelp me, spark plugs.
ReplyDeleteA hefty percentage of drivers here (particularly the college students) don't know how to handle an actual 4-way stop, let alone a presumed one.
ReplyDelete