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Four-Way Stops

Four-way Stop junction in a US suburbA recent discussion on the SABRE forums brought up the subject of an unusual road feature - unusual to the UK that is. The discussion was on "Four-way Stops" and how they work.

The type of junction itself is very common across the United States, in fact its found in many quiet neighbourhoods and suburbs. And in fact, they are quite a few of them dotted around the UK too, you just need to know where to find them. In fact, one estate in Nottingham has an entire estate full of them!

 

 

How Four-way Stops work

The junctions themselves are usually found in areas where there is very little traffic, the guideline being less than 10% traffic flow of a main road. It could be considered that the junctions are a form of traffic calming, as traffic has to slow down and stop from all directions.

At the junctions themselves, give way markings are located at the entrance to each individual road, ensuring that traffic stops and checks for other traffic, particularly vehicles that have right of way.

At the junction itself, priority is always given to the vehicle that arrives first, regardless of which direction they are coming from. Subsequent vehicles then take turns to go, but are only permitted to enter the junction in the order that they arrived.

If more than one vehicle arrives at the same time, priority is given to the vehicle on the right - basically the junction is treated like a roundabout.

In the USA and Canada, it is mandatory to stop, as all roads are marked with stop lines and stop signs. Small plates appear beneath the stop sign stating that the junction is a Four-way Stop.

 

Where to find Four-Way Stops

Here's a selection of where these junctions can be found:

Seedfield Road / Parkinson Street, Bury
Infirmary Road, Blackburn
Rock Road / Hartington Road, Cambridge
Mapperley Estate, Nottingham (multiple junctions)
Cardigan Street / Albert Street, Oxford

Do you know of one that can be added to this list? Or do you have a picture? If so, please get in touch and let us know!

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