Driving question for you all.

[Sean Reynolds]

You're at a 2-way stop (busy road has no stop sign). You're turning left, waiting for the traffic clear for about 5 minutes. Three or so minutes into your wait a car comes up to the stop sign across the street (going across to the street you're on). Busy street clears and you start turning, JUST as the car across from you starts crossing the busy street. Who has the right away?

[opiate69]

1. The other guy.. sucks, but so it is.

[dflprincess]

2. The car going straight through the intersection

has the right of way. Even if they didn't, I'd yield to them anyway. Better to yield, even when it's your right of way, than get your car smashed.

[democracyindanger]

3. You have the right of way

The first car to arrive at the intersection has the right of way.

[Sean Reynolds]

4. That's what I thought....

But I've been told you always yield when turning left.

Even at a stop sign?

It just doesn't make sense to me.

[democracyindanger]

6. Well, the safer choice would be to yield

in case the other driver mistakenly believes he has the right of way. So if you see opiate69 or dflprincess in the other car, let 'em through, even though they're wrong. :evilgrin:

[opiate69]

16. That's fine.. you can tell the cops I'm wrong while they write your

ticket..

http://www.dol.wa.gov/ds/guide/guide3.htm#Right

Drivers turning left must yield to oncoming vehicles and pedestrians and bicyclists.
Drivers entering a roundabout must yield to drivers already in the circle.
At an intersection where there is no stop sign, yield sign or traffic signal, drivers must yield to vehicles in the intersection and to those coming from the right.
At a four-way stop, the driver reaching the intersection first, goes first (after coming to a complete stop). If more than one vehicle arrives at the same time, the vehicle on the right goes first.

[opiate69]

5. Wrong.. the first car to arrive at a ..

4 way stop has the right of way. Doesn't apply to a 2-way stop.

[Dookus]

7. wrong!

That only applies to a 4-way stop. In a two-way stop, the car going straight has the right of way.

[Sean Reynolds]

9. So realistically you could be waiting for an hour to turn?

I mean if every car that can drive across toward you has the right of way, does that mean you could be waiting to turn left an hour or so?

That's BS.

[Dookus]

10. afraid so

[Sean Reynolds]

12. That is total bullshit.

I'm changing the traffic laws.

What's the point of having a stop sign if they're not going to enforce stopping?

[Dookus]

14. LOL

good luck.

[democracyindanger]

17. What kind of cars do you guys drive?

I better keep an eye out. :P

[Dookus]

18. We'd better watch out for YOU

you're the one likely to pull out in front of us illegally when we're going straight through the intersection.

[democracyindanger]

20. Cripes

Where are the ex-cops on this board when you need 'em?

[Dookus]

21. Opiate69

posted this above:

http://www.dol.wa.gov/ds/guide/guide3.htm#Right

[opiate69]

22. Hmm.. who needs cops when I have posted Washington State Law?

See above (Post #16, I believe...)

[democracyindanger]

24. Kinda vague

http://www.dmv.ca.gov/pubs/hdbk/pgs16thru17.htm#intersections

Intersections

An intersection is any place where one line of traffic meets another. Intersections include cross streets, side streets, alleys, freeway entrances, driveway and shopping center entrances, etc.

At intersections without STOP or YIELD signs, slow down and be ready to stop. Yield to vehicles already in the intersection or just entering it. Also, yield to the car which arrives first or to the car on your right if it reaches the intersection at the same time as you do.
At “T” intersections without STOP or YIELD signs, yield to vehicles on the through road. They have the right of way.
When there are STOP signs at all corners, stop first, then follow the above rules.
When you turn left, give the right of way to all vehicles approaching you that are close enough to be dangerous. Also, look for motorcyclists, bicyclists, and pedestrians. On divided highways, or highways with several lanes, watch for vehicles coming in any lane you must cross. Turn left only when it is safe.
Yield to traffic before entering the road again if you have parked off the road or are leaving a parking lot, etc.

"give the right of way" can mean that I have the right of way, but in the interest of safety (and not necessarily strict law) I should give it to you.

That's from the California handbook, which reads similarly to the WA handbook--which, in the end, is a handbook and not strict vehicle code. Doesn't say anything about 2-way stops v. 4-way stops.

But 2 points:

1) Having grown up in Oregon, I know that Washington drivers suck;
2) Living in California, nobody really stops anyway.

:evilgrin:

[opiate69]

27. These handbooks are based on State Code...

And, you say that the phrase "give the right of way" can mean that it is yours to give, but then so can "yield".. I tried to search the California Code online, but fuckin'a.. what a god damned mess... but I know the the Revised Code of Washington is clear in that it does not "give" anybody the right of way, but rather determines who is required to yield.

[democracyindanger]

29. yeah, it's a mess

But just so it's said, I ride a motorcycle so I never assume right of way. There's no point in being 'dead right.'

[opiate69]

30. Good thinking!

[merwin]

19. Uh, if that were the case, a car turning left would never be able to

go left if the other end is full of cars going staright.

[opiate69]

23. Like i said before.. sucks, but there you have it.

Besides.. intersections that are that busy usually tend to get 4-way traffic lights installed.

[merwin]

25. Do you have any writings to show your opinion?

The only things that are described that I can see are 4 way stops. But what it says about that is that the first person to get to the intersection goes first, and that any cars at a stop sign need to yield to any other car that is in the intersection. Therefore, if that street sweeper went by and you entered the intersection, the other guy would have to yield.

[opiate69]

26. Above. post 16.. but here it is again..

http://www.dol.wa.gov/ds/guide/guide3.htm#Right

Drivers turning left must yield to oncoming vehicles and pedestrians and bicyclists.
Drivers entering a roundabout must yield to drivers already in the circle.
At an intersection where there is no stop sign, yield sign or traffic signal, drivers must yield to vehicles in the intersection and to those coming from the right.
At a four-way stop, the driver reaching the intersection first, goes first (after coming to a complete stop). If more than one vehicle arrives at the same time, the vehicle on the right goes first.

[merwin]

28. That is describing taking a left turn not at a stop sign.

Such as, if you're driving down the road and taking a left turn into a driveway. You have to yield to someone coming at you, pedestrians/bicyclists crossing the driveway, etc.

I saw that too in the RCW :-)

[opiate69]

31. Since it doesn't specify, it applies to all drivers turning left.

:)

The line after the next specifically refers to un-controlled intersections.

At an intersection where there is no stop sign, yield sign or traffic signal, drivers must yield to vehicles in the intersection and to those coming from the right.

[merwin]

32. Damnit, it looks like you're right... at least in canada

"If two vehicles are stopped at a two-way stop and one of the
drivers wants to turn left, this driver must yield the right-of-way
to the other vehicle. The only exception is if the left-turning
vehicle is already in the intersection and has started to make the
turn. In this case, the other vehicle must yield."

http://www.icbc.com/Licensing/rsr_ch05.pdf

[JohnnyRingo]

15. I think that's true, but if there was a dispute as to who was there first

....I wouldn't want to be the one that turned left.

[salvorhardin]

8. I don't know what state you're in

but as far as I know here in NY, left hand turners always yield unless you're at a designated 4-way stop in which case the first car at the intersection has the right-a-way.

[phusion]

11. Here's what I do...

When me and the person in front of me come to our stop signs at about the same time, and if I'm turning left and he's going straight, I don't turn on my signal right away. This way, he thinks I'm going straight so he doesn't hesitate. So I start moving into the intersection, as does he, and turn on my left turn signal at the last second and make my turn!

If I come to my stop sign before he does, I'll of course turn before him. But this doesn't happen as often...

Make sense?

[Robeson]

13. Never trust yourself. Always keep an eye on the other driver....

...you'll live longer that way..