Four-way stops: who goes first?
The first car to stop goes first. Everything else is about ties, turns and eye contact.
Rules of the road
4 min read
Derek Hollis
Four-way stops are simple on paper and awkward in real life, mostly because drivers hesitate. Know the three rules below and you’ll be the calm one at the intersection.
The first to stop goes first
Come to a complete stop behind the line or crosswalk. The driver who stopped first has the right-of-way, then everyone takes turns in the order they arrived.
A tie goes to the right
If two cars stop at the same time, the driver on the left yields to the driver on the right.
Straight beats turning
If you arrive at the same time as the car across from you, and one of you is turning left, the car going straight goes first.
Make it obvious
Stop fully; a rolling stop fails a road test
Make eye contact or give a small wave
Watch for people in the crosswalk before you roll
When in doubt, let the other driver go
Want to practice this with an instructor? Most skills click in one focused lesson.
