DC Stop sign right of way

[Anonymous]

Having just moved from the UK where drivers at a junction yield in a prescribed order (always giving way to the drivers on the right both at intersections and roundabouts), I find the DC Stop sign rules at junctions or lack of them confusing. The law is not very clear, except when approaching from a highway, and it seems to end up with each driver taking it in turns to move which can be confusing and not everyone necessarily follows that pattern anyway. This is the law I found:

D.C. Mun. Regs. tit. 18 § 2208
Current through Register Vol. 68, No. 42, October 15, 2021
Rule 18-2208 - RIGHT-OF-WAY: INTERSECTIONS

2208.4
After having stopped for a stop sign, the driver shall yield the right-of-way to any traffic in the intersection or approaching on another roadway so closely as to constitute an immediate hazard during the time when the driver is moving across or within the intersection or junction of roadways. The driver shall yield the right-of-way to pedestrians.

Am I missing something?
Thanks

[Anonymous]

You go in order of who was there first.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:You go in order of who was there first.

Yes. And if you stop at the same time as someone perpendicular, car on the “right” goes first.

Of course, safest course of action is to always make eye contact with the other drivers, use hand signals, etc.

[Anonymous]

Pedestrian have right of way
Then anybody that DOES NOT have a stop sign
then who ever was there 1st

[Anonymous]

Well, yield right if both at the same time.

OTOH https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fd9RTTGq1eY

(John Prine, "The Accident", one of my favs)

"The yield went around, and around, and around. . . "

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:You go in order of who was there first.

Yes. And if you stop at the same time as someone perpendicular, car on the “right” goes first.

Of course, safest course of action is to always make eye contact with the other drivers, use hand signals, etc.

When my son took driver's ed, the instructor made a huge deal about NEVER going by people's hand gestures. Of course, one does anyway.

[Anonymous]

I think its usually whoever is at the stop sign first goes first, and if it’s a tie the person on the right goes first. And you’ve both been waiting because it’s lots of people then you take turns.

It does break down a little if pedestrians are crossing in front of the person whose “turn” it is, or sometimes someone is a jerk, but mostly it works I think.

[Anonymous]

So many drivers who arrived first try to hand signal me to go ahead of them; they also probably wave kids to go ahead of them even though other cars may be headed through the intersection.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Having just moved from the UK where drivers at a junction yield in a prescribed order (always giving way to the drivers on the right both at intersections and roundabouts), I find the DC Stop sign rules at junctions or lack of them confusing. The law is not very clear, except when approaching from a highway, and it seems to end up with each driver taking it in turns to move which can be confusing and not everyone necessarily follows that pattern anyway. This is the law I found:

D.C. Mun. Regs. tit. 18 § 2208
Current through Register Vol. 68, No. 42, October 15, 2021
Rule 18-2208 - RIGHT-OF-WAY: INTERSECTIONS

2208.4
After having stopped for a stop sign, the driver shall yield the right-of-way to any traffic in the intersection or approaching on another roadway so closely as to constitute an immediate hazard during the time when the driver is moving across or within the intersection or junction of roadways. The driver shall yield the right-of-way to pedestrians.

Am I missing something?
Thanks

Yes, you take turns based on who was first.

[Anonymous]

No one here remembers if it is a person on the right or the left breaks the tie. When I approach an intersection at the same time with another driver, I just slow down a bit so it is clear to the other driver they have a right of way. If they hesitate to move or wave at me, I’ll move first

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:You go in order of who was there first.

Yes. And if you stop at the same time as someone perpendicular, car on the “right” goes first.

Of course, safest course of action is to always make eye contact with the other drivers, use hand signals, etc.

This is the OP. Thanks. That is how it seems to go with no hard and fast rule per se. I failed a driving test (in the UK) by indicating by hand that someone should pass me, while I was doing a reverse around the corner maneuver l, with the tester citing “telling another motorist what to do”- thereby making me liable for any mishap by their so-doing. I suppose I have to forget that rule.

[Anonymous]

Can you imagine if the road rules, driver's ed courses and the driving tests in the US had the same rigor as in the UK? One can dream...

[Anonymous]

OP here. Thanks for the responses which are on line with my understanding. I still think it’s confusing but at least I know I’m not breaking any traffic laws.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Having just moved from the UK where drivers at a junction yield in a prescribed order (always giving way to the drivers on the right both at intersections and roundabouts), I find the DC Stop sign rules at junctions or lack of them confusing. The law is not very clear, except when approaching from a highway, and it seems to end up with each driver taking it in turns to move which can be confusing and not everyone necessarily follows that pattern anyway. This is the law I found:

D.C. Mun. Regs. tit. 18 § 2208
Current through Register Vol. 68, No. 42, October 15, 2021
Rule 18-2208 - RIGHT-OF-WAY: INTERSECTIONS

2208.4
After having stopped for a stop sign, the driver shall yield the right-of-way to any traffic in the intersection or approaching on another roadway so closely as to constitute an immediate hazard during the time when the driver is moving across or within the intersection or junction of roadways. The driver shall yield the right-of-way to pedestrians.

Am I missing something?
Thanks

OP your question seems to be about 4-way stops but the reg you quoted is just about stop signs, not four-way stops. So picture a stop sign with a through street: driver stops and yields right-of-way to any traffic in the intersection or approaching closely enough that you crossing would impede them. And always yield to pedestrians.

For four-way stops, you go in order of arrival (but you should pair up for convenience - if someone heading west was there first and someone heading east shows up right as it's West-bound's turn, they both go). If you can't tell if it's your turn, wave the other person through to avoid unnecessary bullshit.

For roundabouts we employ a Fury Road attitude - take what you can get.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:So many drivers who arrived first try to hand signal me to go ahead of them; they also probably wave kids to go ahead of them even though other cars may be headed through the intersection.

I like the ones that stop for me as I am waiting to make a left turn. Did you know that if you just drove by, I wouldn't be waiting for you to slow down and figure out what the hell you are doing? You can't waive your right of way to me.