With the closure of the Hanson Street Bridge and all traffic diverted to alternate routes, the 4-way stop at Bridge and Haskell has become somewhat of a nightmare to traverse, especially with an additional turning-lane closure. Much of this may be due to drivers not knowing how to properly navigate a 4-way stop. So, let’s have a basic refresher, shall we? The goal is to get everyone — pedestrians most of all — through the intersection safely and efficiently. This requires every driver to shut down distractions, pay attention, and to follow the rules of the road.
And patience. Lots and lots of patience.
Stop means stop —
1. First come, first served. This applies to the road, too. If there is a 4-way stop, the first car to arrive at the intersection receives the right of way. It doesn’t matter where the vehicle is located or what direction it is traveling, this rule will always apply when someone has clearly arrived at the stop sign first. However, still be wary of aggressive or distracted drivers that may dismiss this rule. Stop means stop. Make your stop clear: do not slow to a roll and travel through. Unclear stops suggest unclear intentions to other drivers.
It's not the time to be polite —
2. Yield to right. When two vehicles arrive at a 4-way stop at the same time, and are located side-by-side, the vehicle furthest to the right has the right of way. If three vehicles arrive at the same time, the car furthest left should continue to yield until both of the other cars to the right of them have passed. If you are on the right, do not use this time to be polite and wave the other person through, this only creates confusion for everyone else. If you are on the right, take your turn. If they’re on your right, yield and wave them through.
3. Straight over turning. When arriving to an intersection head-to-head with another vehicle, it is important to use signals. When two vehicles arrive at a 4-way stop at the same time, and they are located head-to-head and one of the vehicles intends to turn and the other intends to go straight, the vehicle going straight has right of way. Keep in mind that if both vehicles are going straight or turning in the same direction, they can both proceed at the same time as they will not cross each other’s path.
4. Right over left. When two vehicles arrive at a 4-way stop at the same time, and they are located head-to-head and one of the vehicles intends to turn right and the other intends to turn left, the vehicle turning right has right of way. Move forward slowly before entering the intersection to indicate to other drivers you are making the turn. The driver turning left should wait until the other car has fully passed. You may be wondering what happens if all four cars arrive at the intersection at the same time? There is no good rule of thumb as to who should go first. However, it is recommended that you wait for the most aggressive driver to make the first move and then proceed with caution using the rules above from there. Overall, it’s important to be patient and alert when approaching a 4-way stop.
Most important —
When someone wants to use the crosswalk, the pedestrian has the right of way. The intersection is one of the only crossing points for Winnemucca Junior High School students and Winnemucca Grammar School students. Pedestrian safety and right-of-way is of the utmost importance! It is up to the driver to pay attention when the pedestrian may not be (especially when it comes to minors). When a person is crossing, everyone at the intersection should yield until the person is safely across to the other side.
We can’t believe we have to say this —
When traffic is backed up on Bridge Street, don’t stop on the railroad tracks. When you are stopped on Bridge Street and near the train tracks, keep them clear and leave a large gap around the tracks, and plenty of room in front of you to make an escape if you need to. Trains will win in a you-versus-them scenario. Don’t increase your odds of encounter by intentionally stopping on the tracks.
Also, don’t block the intersections. Side street traffic needs to be able to pass through freely, so don’t block everyone in, it just adds to the congestion.
Be patient, and pay attention —
When you feel yourself getting impatient and anxious, just remember that failure to yield is the leading cause of accidents in Nevada, and while it is a misdemeanor in itself, if you cause an accident it could mean additional increased fines, demerits and insurance costs.
Adapted from https://www.nevada-drive-academy.com/.