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Intersection Etiquette 101. That should be a class that everyone with a license should have to take. Nothing annoys me more than someone that has no idea what they are doing at a 4-way stop sign or red light.

Let's start with the worst first. The dreaded 4-way stop sign. It seems that nobody knows what to do if you get there at the same time as another person. When something like that happens, it is always the person on the right that gets to go first. It is simple.

For some reason, people will start to go and then decide not to and waive the next person on. That is wrong. That is what causes accidents. If you start to go, you go. You can waive someone on if you haven't moved, that's fine. But once you start, you better finish.

A 4-way with four people could get a little more confusing. By the slim chance that everyone got there at the same time, someone needs to take control and waive someone on. Four people never get there at the exact same time though. It is always who got there first and take turns from there. You should always rotate to the right after the first person goes.

In that case there is no time to be timid. When it is your turn go already. If your not sure if it is your turn you had better pay closer attention, or someone is going to take your turn. Be aware of who was there when you got there.

It is the people that say "is it my turn now?" that cause accidents. I'm sorry but you should know if you were there before the other cars or not. And it is who came to a complete stop first. People are always trying to roll through stop signs, you can't do that when other people are waiting to go.

Let's talk about red lights now. Obviously you have to wait for your light to turn green, but some people like to stop way behind the line painted on the road. Those lines are there for a reason, they have sensors in them that tells the light when to change.

This is especially true for a left hand turning lane. Sure, on a main road, if your going straight, most lights are on timers. But if your turning left and you have to wait for an arrow, these turning lanes are not on timers.

If no one is turning, the arrow doesn't light up, and it won't light up if the person in front is not up to the line. Nothing is worse than sitting at a red light for two or three cycles and you don't get to go.

Now, I am from the city. So there is a lot of traffic. So when it is your turn to go at a red light, if there isn't enough room, don't gridlock the intersection. Not only is it illegal it is extremely annoying and dangerous.

If that light changes and you are in the intersection, you could get plowed by some truck. Just don't do it, it is really stupid. Wait for the traffic to clear or wait for the next light, really.

A few points to remember in closing. Always pull up to the line at a red light and if you get to stop sign at the same time as someone else, the person to the right goes first. Other than that, whoever was first, goes first. If you keep these things in mind, everybody will have a much better day.

Learn more about this author, Jeffrey Sammerson.
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