# Stop sign: Stop and go OR Stop and wait? **URL:** \ **Category:** In My Humble Opinion\ **Created:** [July 10, 2004, 2:05am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/stop-sign-stop-and-go-or-stop-and-wait/254396 "2004-07-10T02:05:26Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![jnglmassiv](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/f07891/32.png) [@jnglmassiv](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/jnglmassiv)\ **Post date:** [July 10, 2004, 2:05am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/stop-sign-stop-and-go-or-stop-and-wait/254396/1 "2004-07-10T02:05:26Z")
This has bothered me for a while and it just happened again so I wanted to get the other side or the argument and also take a bit of a poll. Scenario: Its a quiet, residential intersection and there’s a four-way stop sign. You approach the intersection, braking as usual, from the posted speed limit, say 30MPH. Meanwhile, another driver in a perpendicular direction of travel has reached the stop sign before you and completed their stop. They wait…and wait…and wait for you to make your own complete stop. They then cautiously creep out into the intersection and on their way. You’re blinded with rage at the delay. Well, I am anyway. Other details: There are no other cars in sight. Its obvious that you are going to complete your stop (you’re not going ot run the stop sign). Its the middle of the day. Perhaps you’ve even made eye contact with the other driver. Soooo…who does this? Who hates this? Discuss. ---
**Author:** ![danceswithcats](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/9e8a1a/32.png) [@danceswithcats](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/danceswithcats)\ **Post date:** [July 10, 2004, 2:14am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/stop-sign-stop-and-go-or-stop-and-wait/254396/2 "2004-07-10T02:14:23Z")
Making the presumption that the other driver will indeed stop is an invitation to getting t-boned. I wait to make sure the other person will stop before proceeding. You’re welcomed to rage to your hearts content. ---
**Author:** ![StGermain](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/stgermain/32/2868_2.png) [@StGermain](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/StGermain)\ **Post date:** [July 10, 2004, 2:21am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/stop-sign-stop-and-go-or-stop-and-wait/254396/3 "2004-07-10T02:21:15Z")
I _never_ assume that oncoming traffic will stop just because there’s a stop sign or light there. I’ve seen too many drivers not stop, or run red lights. So be ticked all you want. My safety is far more important to me. StG ---
**Author:** ![jnglmassiv](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/f07891/32.png) [@jnglmassiv](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/jnglmassiv)\ **Post date:** [July 10, 2004, 2:27am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/stop-sign-stop-and-go-or-stop-and-wait/254396/4 "2004-07-10T02:27:30Z")
First of all, its obvious that I’m at least slowing in anticipation of the stop sign. And one other thing I didn’t add is that I’m approaching from far enough away that the other waiting driver would be safely clear of the intersection even if I continued at the rate of speed without braking whatsoever. If it appears, even a little, that another driver isn’t slowing or stopping for a stop sign I’ve already stopped at, then, yeah, I hesitate too. This isn’t that. ---
**Author:** ![Skywatcher](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/skywatcher/32/254_2.png) [@Skywatcher](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Skywatcher)\ **Post date:** [July 10, 2004, 2:35am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/stop-sign-stop-and-go-or-stop-and-wait/254396/5 "2004-07-10T02:35:14Z")
> [@jnglmassiv](#): > > First of all, its obvious that I’m at least slowing in anticipation of the stop sign. And one other thing I didn’t add is that I’m approaching from far enough away that the other waiting driver would be safely clear of the intersection even if I continued at the rate of speed without braking whatsoever. In that case, you probably encountered either someone new to driving or was recently involved in some sort of collision. Or maybe they were pulling a Roy Neary. ---
**Author:** ![AskNott](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/asknott/32/5790_2.png) [@AskNott](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/AskNott)\ **Post date:** [July 10, 2004, 4:10am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/stop-sign-stop-and-go-or-stop-and-wait/254396/6 "2004-07-10T04:10:15Z")
Y’know, there are ground rules for 4-way stops. 1. First car to stop, goes first. 2. If two cars stop at the same time, the one to the right goes first. 3. Anyone can give away his right to go first by a beckoning hand signal. 4. Be very cautious, because some folks don’t know these rules. That’s the way they taught it in Drivers’ Ed in 1965. ---
**Author:** ![Duckster](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/duckster/32/1244_2.png) [@Duckster](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Duckster)\ **Post date:** [July 10, 2004, 5:36am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/stop-sign-stop-and-go-or-stop-and-wait/254396/7 "2004-07-10T05:36:20Z")
> [@AskNott](#): > > 1. Anyone can give away his right to go first by a beckoning hand signal. I was taught not to do this. Accurate or not, you open yourself up to a potential liability if the other driver accepts your hand signal and then gets into a subsequent accident. And SDMB lawyers to verify this? ---
**Author:** ![dantheman](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/dantheman/32/9421_2.png) [@dantheman](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/dantheman)\ **Post date:** [July 10, 2004, 5:58am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/stop-sign-stop-and-go-or-stop-and-wait/254396/8 "2004-07-10T05:58:55Z")
> [@Duckster](#): > > I was taught not to do this. Accurate or not, you open yourself up to a potential liability if the other driver accepts your hand signal and then gets into a subsequent accident. > > And SDMB lawyers to verify this? Well, if there are only two cars stopped at the stop sign, and one waves the other on, the only accident in the intersection would be if another car ran the stop sign. So the waving driver couldn’t be at fault there. An accident beyond the intersection wouldn’t matter, either. But if there are more than two cars stopped at the four-way, then you’re right, you shouldn’t be waving anyone on - it might be confusing as to who you’re waving on, after all. ---
**Author:** ![amarinth](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/3be4f8/32.png) [@amarinth](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/amarinth)\ **Post date:** [July 10, 2004, 6:41am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/stop-sign-stop-and-go-or-stop-and-wait/254396/9 "2004-07-10T06:41:50Z")
> [@jnglmassiv](#): > > Its a quiet, residential intersection and there’s a four-way stop sign. You approach the intersection, braking as usual, from the posted speed limit, say 30MPH. Meanwhile, another driver in a perpendicular direction of travel has reached the stop sign before you and completed their stop. They wait…and wait…and wait for you to make your own complete stop. They then cautiously creep out into the intersection and on their way. You’re blinded with rage at the delay. > > Well, I am anyway. Other details: There are no other cars in sight. Its obvious that you are going to complete your stop (you’re not going ot run the stop sign). Its the middle of the day. Perhaps you’ve even made eye contact with the other driver. Sorry, I don’t trust that you’re not crazy. If there’s no way for you to reach the intersection before I’ve gone through, I won’t wait… but if it’s close and I’m not sure you’re going to stop, I’m going to make sure before I become your target. ---
**Author:** ![Meeko](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/e495f1/32.png) [@Meeko](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Meeko)\ **Post date:** [July 10, 2004, 6:47am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/stop-sign-stop-and-go-or-stop-and-wait/254396/10 "2004-07-10T06:47:29Z")
A few years back, My mom got busted for running a stop sign in our neighborhood. She half joked that “slowing down” to the stop sign didn’t count. Long story short, because she also was at fault in a fender bender (Left turn on an intersection, no protected left turn arrow against a speeding oncoming car) she had to go to traffic school. The rule is come to a complete stop, and count to 3 seconds. Incidently, when I went to the same school (Teen Driving class, voluntered, to reduce innsurance) the instructor told us that “California Stops” do not count as actual stops. ((The stops most people make in TV and Movies)) ---
**Author:** ![BiblioCat](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/ed8c4c/32.png) [@BiblioCat](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/BiblioCat)\ **Post date:** [July 10, 2004, 12:44pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/stop-sign-stop-and-go-or-stop-and-wait/254396/11 "2004-07-10T12:44:44Z")
> [@AskNott](#): > > 1. Anyone can give away his right to go first by a beckoning hand signal. I **hate** when people do this. You have the freaking right-of-way, USE IT! I remember reading somewhere that people who do this are control freaks, and have to control the situation. When someone tries to wave me through an intersection, I rarely do it, especially if a third car is approaching. They’re just screwing with the normal traffic flow. ---
**Author:** ![twickster](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/ec9cab/32.png) [@twickster](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/twickster)\ **Post date:** [July 10, 2004, 4:30pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/stop-sign-stop-and-go-or-stop-and-wait/254396/12 "2004-07-10T16:30:21Z")
> [@BiblioCat](#): > > I **hate** when people do this. You have the freaking right-of-way, USE IT! > I remember reading somewhere that people who do this are control freaks, and have to control the situation. The ones who drive me bonkers are the ones who wave me through _when I’ve already got the right of way_. AIIIIIIIIIIIIIIII! ---
**Author:** ![jnglmassiv](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/f07891/32.png) [@jnglmassiv](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/jnglmassiv)\ **Post date:** [July 10, 2004, 5:39pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/stop-sign-stop-and-go-or-stop-and-wait/254396/13 "2004-07-10T17:39:46Z")
For those that ‘wait and see’, do you also stop at traffic light intersections when you have the green light? The situation is much the same except the speeds and thus danger are greater and these are usually busier intersections and there are more cars…thus greater danger. ---
**Author:** ![belladonna](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/9fc29f/32.png) [@belladonna](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/belladonna)\ **Post date:** [July 10, 2004, 6:50pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/stop-sign-stop-and-go-or-stop-and-wait/254396/14 "2004-07-10T18:50:49Z")
In busy areas, I usually wait a couple seconds after the light turns green to make sure no one’s going to blow through at the last second. It’s saved my ass a couple times already. ---
**Author:** ![Rick](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/9f8e36/32.png) [@Rick](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Rick)\ **Post date:** [July 10, 2004, 11:06pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/stop-sign-stop-and-go-or-stop-and-wait/254396/15 "2004-07-10T23:06:33Z")
> [@BiblioCat](#): > > I **hate** when people do this. You have the freaking right-of-way, USE IT! > I remember reading somewhere that people who do this are control freaks, and have to control the situation. When someone tries to wave me through an intersection, I rarely do it, especially if a third car is approaching. They’re just screwing with the normal traffic flow. > [@twickster](#): > > The ones who drive me bonkers are the ones who wave me through when I’ve already got the right of way. AIIIIIIIIIIIIIIII! Geez some people need to take a chill pill. I often wave people throough intersections for a variety of reasons [ul] [li]They may have gotten to the intersection a moment before me, but are waiting for me to go[/li][li]I may be looking at a map, and need a moment to get my bearings[/li][li]Maybe my cell phone just rang[/li][li]I cold be waiting for a pedestrain to cross in front of me, so you may as well go, because I cannot legaly proceed[/li][/ul] You will note that control is not one of the reasons listed. I was always taught that someone should never insist on the right of way, even if the law gives it to you. Two people both insisting on the right of way = accident. ---
**Author:** ![pepperlandgirl](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/f17d59/32.png) [@pepperlandgirl](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/pepperlandgirl)\ **Post date:** [July 10, 2004, 11:53pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/stop-sign-stop-and-go-or-stop-and-wait/254396/16 "2004-07-10T23:53:30Z")
> [@belladonna](#): > > In busy areas, I usually wait a couple seconds after the light turns green to make sure no one’s going to blow through at the last second. It’s saved my ass a couple times already. Me too. Once it was a giant dump truck barelling through the intersection at over 60 MPH at least 5 seconds after my light turned green. Apparently, it was very, very important to stay caught up with the 1st dump truck it was following. Either way, I’m not counting on the other drivers’ sanity, intelligence, or reflexes to keep me alive. ---
**Author:** ![tremorviolet](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/e47774/32.png) [@tremorviolet](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/tremorviolet)\ **Post date:** [July 11, 2004, 1:17am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/stop-sign-stop-and-go-or-stop-and-wait/254396/17 "2004-07-11T01:17:10Z")
I don’t wait for the other car to come to a complete stop but I make sure they’re actually slowing before I go. If they try to do one of those “not really a complete stop, creep through the intersection” moves while I have the right of way, I’ll go _real_ slow and stare at them. That always makes 'em stop. Helps that I have a complete beater car too so it’s obvious I don’t really care if it gets dinged… ---
**Author:** ![Johnny\_Bravo](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/johnny_bravo/32/493_2.png) [@Johnny\_Bravo](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Johnny_Bravo)\ **Post date:** [July 11, 2004, 1:49am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/stop-sign-stop-and-go-or-stop-and-wait/254396/18 "2004-07-11T01:49:46Z")
Why should I be ‘blinded with rage’ about someone being a little overcautious? I can’t blame anyone for being concerned about their safety, mine, and anyone else in the immediate area. In fact, I fail to see the reasoning at all behind getting angry in the OP’s situation. You’re losing _maybe_ a second or two, since you’re stopping at the sign anyway. Right? Hardly something to get pissy about, especially in an area full of children and other pedestrians. ---
**Author:** ![rowe](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/e68b1a/32.png) [@rowe](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/rowe)\ **Post date:** [July 14, 2004, 6:15pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/stop-sign-stop-and-go-or-stop-and-wait/254396/19 "2004-07-14T18:15:41Z")
I arrived at a 4-way stop sign intersection a split second before a police car did (he was directly to my left.) I stopped completely, intending to make a 100% legal stop to avoid any sort of problem. He, on the other hand, slowed down to make sure that I was going to stop, then continued on through the intersection without even coming close to a stop at all. If I had done a quick stop & go, I definitely would have been smashed by his complete disregard for the stop sign. It wasn’t a terribly busy intersection but it sure would be nice to see the police obey the law (at least when other cars are around.) ---
**Author:** ![jnglmassiv](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/f07891/32.png) [@jnglmassiv](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/jnglmassiv)\ **Post date:** [July 16, 2004, 12:51am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/stop-sign-stop-and-go-or-stop-and-wait/254396/20 "2004-07-16T00:51:33Z")
> [@Johnny Bravo](#): > > Why should I be ‘blinded with rage’ about someone being a little overcautious? I can’t blame anyone for being concerned about their safety, mine, and anyone else in the immediate area. The ‘blinded with rage’ was written tongue in cheek. Anyway, why do this at stop signs where the speeds are low and not at a stop light of a busy, fast intersection. A delay is a delay. Or how about people in the left turn lane who don’t enter the intersection till there’s a H U G E enough gap in the traffic for them to slowly make the turn. Often this isn’t until the light turns yellow…grr. [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/stop-sign-stop-and-go-or-stop-and-wait/254396.md?page=2)