- #1
Loren Booda
- 3,125
- 4
A car arrives from each direction of a four-way stop intersection simultaneously. How can the drivers determine who has the right of way?
Loren Booda said:A car arrives from each direction of a four-way stop intersection simultaneously. How can the drivers determine who has the right of way?
Loren Booda said:A car arrives from each direction of a four-way stop intersection simultaneously. How can the drivers determine who has the right of way?
dilletante said:Since all 4 drivers belong to the Physics Forum, they are aware that there is no such thing as absolute simultaneity. So they exit their vehicles to determine exactly in whose frame of reference this simultaneity occurred, and during the course of this discussion they agree on an order in which to proceed.
dilletante said:Since all 4 drivers belong to the Physics Forum, they are aware that there is no such thing as absolute simultaneity. So they exit their vehicles to determine exactly in whose frame of reference this simultaneity occurred, and during the course of this discussion they agree on an order in which to proceed.
Phrak said:Yes, but the discussion can go on for days, and often stimulate similar discussion in related intersections that would have otherwise proceeded unimpeded.
OK. All four of them attempt to slow down and speed up simultaneously, ultimately arrving at the intersection simultaneously, despite their best efforts.PhantomOort said:It's a moot point. If you see that three other drivers are going to reach the stop at the same time you do, just slow down or speed up to make sure the problem doesn't arise. That's what I do. Like I can't wait a few more seconds to get where I'm going?
I think there's an implicit proviso: the drivers have not agreed to any rules beforehand.davee123 said:If you're asking as a hypothetical, one could decide based on anyone of a number of statistics, such as the alphabetic precedence of their license plates.
Sorry! said:Why does it matter who goes first if they are all making right hand turns?
DaveC426913 said:Beat you to it.
At a four-way stop, the driver who arrives first has the right of way. If two or more drivers arrive at the same time, the driver on the right has the right of way. If one driver is turning left, they must yield to oncoming traffic.
At a stop sign, the driver who arrives first has the right of way. If two or more drivers arrive at the same time, the driver on the right has the right of way. If one driver is turning left, they must yield to oncoming traffic.
At an intersection without traffic signals, the driver who arrives first has the right of way. If two or more drivers arrive at the same time, the driver on the right has the right of way. If one driver is turning left, they must yield to oncoming traffic.
The driver who is already in the lane has the right of way, regardless of who arrived first. The merging driver must yield and adjust their speed to safely merge into the lane.
At a roundabout, traffic already in the roundabout has the right of way. Drivers entering the roundabout must yield and wait for a safe gap in traffic before entering. Drivers should also yield to pedestrians and bicyclists in the crosswalk.