1 Intersection, 4 Cars, 4 Stop Signs

4 vehicles arrive at an intersection at the same time. 4 stop signs. What happens?

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ezBJkeDPeUA
https://9now.nine.com.au/a-current-affair/a-current-affair-d…

Comments

  • +9

    Everyone stops and gives way to their right. Eventually one will proceed as they assess it's clear and safe to do so, and the cycle follows clockwise. It's not rocket science.

    • -1

      Would you agree though that there are better, more common solutions?

      • +3

        Of course.

        It should really be a 2-way stop sign system intersecting with a priority thoroughfare instead which is far more common here. Example: https://files.ozbargain.com.au/upload/255280/107701/tfnsw-in…

        Traffic lights and appropriate pedestrian crossings would also be better but likely ruled out as too costly for the council.

      • +7

        A Roundabout will fix the issue, a 4way stop sign crossing is really bad design and who ever approved it is just as stupid.

    • -1

      it is when there are 4 stopped cars and everyone has someone to their right

      • +2

        Then that someone is stopped to your right. If it’s safe to proceed in front of you and they haven’t entered the intersection, then you do. Just like a roundabout. It’s not difficult.

      • +1

        Then interact with your fellow motorists and wave someone to go first. It’s not hard.

  • +6

    The problem is that it isn't very common in Australia. They're quite common overseas and easy to deal with, but they're also signed as a 4 way stop and the reality is people never arrive at exactly the same time.

    It becomes problematic when someone can't see that the other cars are also facing stop signs as well and we're trained to wait at a stop sign until the traffic is clear.

    The council built the wrong setup. Sure it reduces accidents but that's only because people are moving so slowly that an accident would be near impossible. They don't want to wear the cost of putting in a roundabout and putting pedestrian crossing points in properly.

    • The problem is they get mixed in with 2 way stop signs and contribute to crashes because some people think they are at a 4 way stop.

      Iirc, the biggest accident areas in the US are at stop sign intersections.

  • +4

    Common in US. Been there done that.

    Everyone has to stop. First to arrive has the right of way to go first.

    https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/All-way_stop

    • +1

      Just waiting for a “left on red rule” to come in as well. However, I’m not sure Australians are courteous enough drivers for the four stop signs and this to work.

      • +1

        We had a trial in Brisbane and it worked great IMHO, but the government decided to recently end it and not roll out state wide.

        I think a significant number of people on the red light turning left simply decided to not give way AT ALL to the cars on the green light.

      • Yes, I drove in the US and found that the 4-way stop signs worked because everyone properly followed the order they arrived in, nobody seemed to jump the queue.

        The benefit is that you can't get stuck behind an endless stream of cars like you can at a roundabout, but it really does depend on everybody following the rule and also you need to pay close attention to which cars were there as you arrived.

        A bit too risky all things considered in my opinion.

  • +1

    Just install traffic lights!

    • +2

      Put in an underpass.

      • +3

        Create a tunnel

  • +3

    put a damn round a bout there, there is room for it. this isn't america.
    i work internationally going to a new country almost every week and i have licenses in several countries.

    the first car to arrive at the intersection receives the right of way, no matter what.

    if 2 cars across from each other meet at the same time, then the one going straight goes first.
    If they are both turning into the same lane, then the one turning left has the right of way over the person across the street turning right.

    if 2 or 3 vehicles come at the same time, then you let the one on the left go first.

    if 4 come at the exact same time (highly unlikely), then one of you better start moving forward slowly and cautiously until everyone recognises it. then the rules from above will apply as soon as the first car moves.

    • -2

      The cost of a roundabout vs linemarking and four stop signs is astronomical.

      They would have been better with a priority road and a side road that needs to stop from both approaches, but roundabouts shouldn’t just be the next default option.

      Roundabouts often involve kerb redesign (even if minor), which can impact services like drainage or power/light poles. The costs to relocate these are not worth it for something like this. Even without kerb redesign, the costs are still higher.

      And roundabouts are also worse for pedestrians in terms of priority and safety. Unless they also throw a zebra on there, but that brings on its own additional safety risks.

      • Roundabouts are far greener in the long run

  • In reality these are normally in quiet residential streets. It’s unusual for 2 cars to arrive at the same time, let alone 4. It works fine to slow traffic.

    1. First in, first to move.
    2. If two/three arrive at the same time, you’ll work it out based on who is going where. Mostly someone will give way, someone will make the first move. It’s not that hard.

    The one in the clip appears to be far too busy for a 4 way stop.

  • Gees if this confuses drivers I’m scared for my safety to be on the road when them when traffic lights fail.

    • +2

      The people confused by this are prolly the ones that stop in the merge lane of a freeway.
      Jesus, allah, Buddha please save us.

  • I hope the police fine the people blatantly running the stop sign. So much focus with a news crew there and people still do rolling stop, give way stop and the very common piggyback stop (where the car in front stops and they are 1 back but drive through because they already stopped ?!?).
    Silly intersection but also a lack of common sense from drivers means it’s dangerous.

  • "Ad blockers are not allowed on YouTube"

    Oh go (profanity) yourself YouTube.

  • The biggest vehicle has right of way - might is right.

  • +1

    The stop sign means 'stop and then give way'

    So once you have stopped, you give way as usual. Think the same intersection with 4 give way signs. No real big thing really…..

    There is no right of way for anyone.

    The person who arrived first and the person who arrived last, have the same obligations. To firstly stop, then give way to other vehicles.

    • Don’t think I’ve ever seen a 4 way give way intersection. I don’t imagine it would work at all. With a 4way stop at least you know most cars are going to stop before they think about barrelling through

  • The person who arrived first and the person who arrived last, have the same obligations. To firstly stop, then give way to other vehicles.

    Nope. After everyone has stopped it becomes an intersection without stop signs.

  • Just spent 9 weeks in the USA and went through plenty of the 4 way stop intersections.
    They work surprisingly well.

    • I’d rather have roundabouts. It’s more fuel efficient to not have to stop every single time.

  • +1

    Rock paper scissors

  • +1

    "4 vehicles arrive at an intersection at the same time. 4 stop signs. What happens?"

    Standard Road Rules apply. Stop, then apply Give Way. It will always be clear for at least one vehicle, the rest will follow, as stated often above.

    Watch pedestrians of course, apply common sense and everybody goes home safe. If this too difficult, go one street over etc. Go around.

    A few things; notice how many rolled and or drove thru their stop, excessive and or unwarranted use of horns, and why is this Q so difficult to answer!

    People, read your Road Rules again, refresh as often as needed. Yes it's a right bugger of an intersection, but it's not difficult to know the Rules to apply.

    I do hope it is upgraded for those that find this concept too difficult, and as well as traffic flows will increase no doubt in the future.

    • +1

      excessive and or unwarranted use of horns

      It would not be beyond ACA to add some sound effects. In fact, I’d near guarantee they added some because old mate said hears horns ‘all the time’.

      People, read your Road Rules again, refresh as often as needed.

      We need rule refresher tests when renewing licences. As it is you can pass a brief test to operate a dangerous machine and it’s still current up to 70y later. Wouldn’t be hard to implement, there is already infrastructure for testing learners.

      • Refresh and Retest. Real Driving instruction? Valid Testing? Seriously needed, agree 100% yes.

        Note how often do we see Driver Instruction cars with NO Learner on board breaking all manner of Road Rules.

        Common Sense was Legislated out by some dumb ass in Government years ago.

        The ACA - Horns, interesting….as the say, never let Facts get in the way of a good news story.

        • Note how often do we see Driver Instruction cars with NO Learner on board breaking all manner of Road Rules.

          Can’t say that’s a common thing I’ve seen. Don’t think I’ve ever noticed one at all. Even if it dies happen it’s certainly less common that other drivers breaking rules.

  • We need rule refresher tests when renewing licences. As it is you can pass a brief test to operate a dangerous machine and it’s still current up to 70y later. Wouldn’t be hard to implement, there is already infrastructure for testing learners.

    There are 19.4 million licenced drivers in OZ. Some have a 10 year licence, are they tested every 10 years? Others may have a 5 or 1 year licence, are they tested every 5 or 1 year?

    It looks to be a logistical nightmare.

    • Initially it might be a logistical nightmare, but it’s something that MAY help keep our roads safer. After a short while would just be a normal pet of renewing your licence. As I said, the testing software is there. Chucking a few more terminals in your local roads authority office wouldn’t be difficult.

  • Am I the only one triggered by the title? It brings back some traumatic memories of watching "2 girls, 1 cup"! 🤣

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