What steps should be taken when approaching a four-way stop?

When approaching a four-way stop, it's important to yield to vehicles that arrived at the intersection first and to those on your right. This rule helps maintain safety and predictability at intersections, where multiple drivers must make decisions simultaneously.

By yielding to those who arrived before you, you ensure that everyone has a fair opportunity to proceed, and this helps prevent accidents that can occur from miscommunication or misunderstanding among drivers. Additionally, yielding to vehicles on your right aligns with the general rules of right-of-way, which dictate that at an intersection where there are no traffic signals, the vehicle on the left must yield to the vehicle on the right.

Understanding this process is crucial for drivers to handle four-way stops efficiently, as it allows for a smoother flow of traffic. Ignoring the other vehicles or minimizing stops can lead to hazardous situations, and speeding up can create confusion and increase the risk of collisions. Stopping only if other cars are present can similarly lead to unpredictable behavior, as the rules demand stopping at the stop line regardless of traffic conditions.