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As a UK driver, generally all the problems seem to be solved by the "Give Way" signs (Yield) rules and systems; Major/minor road priorities for asymmetric traff

As a UK driver, generally all the problems seem to be solved by the "Give Way" signs (Yield) rules and systems; Major/minor road priorities for asymmetric traffic loads, T-junctions, and mini-roundabouts for equal loads but small volumes (large volume is handled by traffic lights or normal roundabouts). Four-way stop signs seem to be a desperate attempt to either avoid telling American drivers to "not be selfish" and allow other traffic through ahead of themselves, or to just avoid having to have drivers learn priority systems. Avoiding major/minor road intersections seemed to be the main use of four-ways (around West-Chicago/Illinois, where I did most of my US driving), with ridiculous cases like four-way stop signs on roads where you could literally see hundreds of feet down each of the other roads, and not a car in sight except the cop car parked next to the intersection. True stop signs in the UK are reasonably uncommon except in cases where they are actually required e.g. a junction could appear misleading.

ekidd 9y ago
> with ridiculous cases like four-way stop signs on roads where you could literally see hundreds of feet down each of the other roads, and not a car in sight except the cop car parked next to the intersection. Keep in mind that rotaries are extremely rare in the US, and that many four-way stops are replacing what would be rotaries in the UK. Also, some intersections are more dangerous than they look. I remember a 4-way intersection with a 3-way stop that looked safe, but after the 10th traffic accident or so, the town said, "Let's just make it a 4-way stop," and the accidents stopped. One of entering roads was right after a major speed change (so people wouldn't slow down enough), and another had slightly worse visibility than it seemed. But once everybody was made to stop, the intersection worked safely, at the cost of adding 30 seconds of travel time.
- emodendroket 9y ago
  > Keep in mind that rotaries are extremely rare in the US, and that many four-way stops are replacing what would be rotaries in the UK. Come to Massachusetts.

ekidd 9y ago

> with ridiculous cases like four-way stop signs on roads where you could literally see hundreds of feet down each of the other roads, and not a car in sight except the cop car parked next to the intersection. Keep in mind that rotaries are extremely rare in the US, and that many four-way stops are replacing what would be rotaries in the UK. Also, some intersections are more dangerous than they look. I remember a 4-way intersection with a 3-way stop that looked safe, but after the 10th traffic accident or so, the town said, "Let's just make it a 4-way stop," and the accidents stopped. One of entering roads was right after a major speed change (so people wouldn't slow down enough), and another had slightly worse visibility than it seemed. But once everybody was made to stop, the intersection worked safely, at the cost of adding 30 seconds of travel time.

emodendroket 9y ago
> Keep in mind that rotaries are extremely rare in the US, and that many four-way stops are replacing what would be rotaries in the UK. Come to Massachusetts.