My wife and I have been having this traffic debate for years. It's about the right-of-way protocol at a stop sign...
- Two cars are traveling in opposite directions, one north one south, approaching their respective stop signs at the intersection with a busier street.
- The car traveling south intends to continue heading south after passing through the intersection, the car traveling north intends to turn left at the intersection.
- The car traveling north, which intends to turn left, reaches its stop sign 5 seconds before the car traveling south reaches its stop sign.
- There's a steady flow of traffic on the busier east/west street, which does not have a stop sign at the intersection, prior to both of the north/south cars reaching their stop sign.
- The steady flow of traffic on the busier east/west street continues for 20 seconds after both of the north/south cars reach their stop signs.
- Traffic on the busier east/west street clears, and the north/south cars can now make their move.
- Again, the car traveling north that intends to turn left got to its stop sign first, before the car traveling south that intends to go straight, but they both sat there at the stop for 20 seconds.
Which car has the right of way?
One of us believes the car traveling north turning left at the intersection has the right of way, because it got to its stop sign first and has the right to make its left turn before the other car crosses.
One of us believes the car traveling south heading straight through the intersection has the right of way, because they both sat there for an extended period of time, making who got there first a moot point.
What say you?
