Here's Who Goes First at a Four-Way Stop

Stop signs, flashing red lights, and flashing yellows all have rules to follow.

Benjamin Hunting | 

Oct 4, 2024 | 2 min read

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It's never a bad idea to brush up on the rules of the road and refresh your knowledge about a situation many people encounter daily: the four-way stop.

The Standard Four-Way Stop Solution

There are two key rules to remember when you come to a four-way stop.

First, pedestrians have the right of way. This means you must let someone walk across the road in front of you prior to moving through the intersection, no matter who reached the intersection first.

Next up is the priority assigned to vehicles waiting to proceed. If you're the first vehicle to arrive at the intersection, you have the right of way and can continue through the intersection before other traffic. If you arrive at the intersection at the same time as another automobile, the vehicle to the right goes first. If those vehicles are facing each other, then the driver going straight takes priority over one who is turning across traffic.

If three vehicles manage to make their stop simultaneously, then the same rules apply. The left-most vehicle must wait for the other two drivers to clear the intersection.

In the rare case when four cars reach the intersection simultaneously, most jurisdictions don't have a specific rule governing who proceeds first. So it's important to communicate your intentions to other drivers and negotiate who goes first. Then, follow the rules of a three-way stop.

Flashing Red Traffic Lights Are Treated as Four-Way Stops

An intersection managed by stop signs is one thing. But what if you encounter a flashing red light? The answer is nothing changes: The light functions the same as a stop sign. It's a standard four-way stop.

Flashing Yellow Lights Indicate the Right of Way

If the intersection has a blinking yellow traffic light for one road and a flashing red light for the other, it's no longer treated like a four-way stop.

The yellow light indicates drivers on that road have the right of way to proceed through the intersection, albeit with caution. There is no need to stop. Drivers facing the flashing red traffic light must treat it as a full stop and yield the right of way to cross traffic.

What to Do When a Traffic Light Is Out

There are many reasons, such as power outages, that drivers may encounter a traffic signal that isn't working.

If the lights at an intersection aren't functioning, the rule is simple: The intersection reverts to being a standard four-way stop. This means that the right of way is governed the same way as an intersection with four stop signs.

Benjamin Hunting

Benjamin Hunting is a writer and podcast host who contributes to a number of newspapers, automotive magazines, and online publications. More than a decade into his career, he enjoys keeping the shiny side up during track days and always has one too many classic vehicle projects partially disassembled in his garage at any given time. Remember, if it's not leaking, it's probably empty.