My husband and I arrived in the States 3 weeks ago after being shipped over by my employer as a systems specialist. We didn’t get much notice and weren’t able to do as much research as I would have liked. Anyway so far we love it, but we have one problem - driving. I realize this is probably me being stupid but I cannot find anything that will explain who has priority at cross roads with stop signs at all roads. I have downloaded the entire Delaware road user’s manual but all it will tell me is who "doesn't" have priority. My state driving test is coming up and I am pretty terrified - took me 4 goes to pass in the UK so any help would be much appreciated.

Cheers!

the usual rule of thumb is that whomever gets to a 4 way stop first has right of way. Although personally I'd prefer it if they stopped dicking about and used roundabouts.

Oh, and by the way. You need to be either blind or retarded to fail the US driving test.

Doesn't the Delaware Driver's Handbook come with illustrations as well as text? If there's illustrations, doesn't that make the rules any clearer?

It's pretty much first come first served. i.e. first person to reach the x-way stop (and stop before the white line if one is visible).

Like Manc says, only a complete imbecile would fail an American driving test...




NC Penguin

not that we want any undue pressure placed on the poor lass. ;-)

I've come across some roundabouts in California...and the ******* idiots here have absolutely no clue how to use 'em. The whole rule of giving way to those already on the roundabout is one that's completely lost on them. Once you're on the roundabout, it pays to keep a good eye out for the stream of idiots who'll quite happily T-bone you!

Either that or they come to a complete stop at an empty roundabout!

Thanks guys - i feel more confident now

seriously, unless you have a head on collision during your test, they will pass you.

In Florida no one has the right of way and you are obliged to avoid causing an accident. However at 4 way the first there the first to go.
Rumour has it that it's harder to get a fishing licence than a driving licence. Some of the senile old arseholes who drive around here wouldn't be allowed the remote control to my telly if I had my way

ROFLMAO

The first-come first-serve thing is a convention, not a law. I believe that in most jurisdictions the law is actually that the person on the right has right of way. Attempt to abide by that law and you will cause an accident - follow the convention.

Aye, they don't teach people what to do with them, you should see the one's in Augusta, there's a couple of them and I've seen people close there eyes as they drive on to and around them *l*

As for right of way, it's the person on the right, after the first come goes first convention, but basically whoever has the biggest SUV/Pickup generally wins that one *l*

Calgary is right. But it can be iffy. Your task on the test is to make sure that you do not arrive at the stop line at the same time as anyone else. That way the 'first come first served' will keep you sorted.

I almost failed my test due to an obscure matter of who had right of way at some weird intersection. So, Manc, do I get to choose between blind and retarded? Or is that dealt with in the driver's manual?

There's a roundabout at the end of my road here - one of the exits is to the old folks' homes, another exit is for the churchfolk, (i.e. there's a church there) - personally, I think it's a cunning plan to confuse the old folk into steering themselves into the church...

The roundabout here has an arrow on it to show the direction of travel around