I’d Like for More KY Drivers to Bone Up on the ‘4-Way-Stop’ Rule

Let me confess to you something that happens periodically when I'm driving, and it doesn't matter if I'm alone in the car or not. (And when I'm not, my passenger tends to agree with me.)

I'm not exactly sure why I have such a good memory of my high school driver's education class, but I do. Maybe a little voice in my head back then was telling me how important all of this stuff was and, well, IS. I remember things like Coach West telling us NEVER to use our horn unless it's an emergency situation and how to line up the correct windows in order to parallel park. He was also not a fan of having the radio on, but I think that may have been because we were students and it was distracting.

But the one BIG thing that stands out, is the "4-way-stop rule." And, boy oh boy, I think a good many of us need to climb back into that old white Buick for a refresher course. I'll tell you why after this super-quick review of how to deal with 4-way stops.

Now, let me say this. I deeply appreciate your courtesy in waving me through the intersection, BUT YOU GOT THERE FIRST. And that means YOU have the right of way, not me. Yes, kindness is magnificent, but this type of kindness could spell trouble. It's like when you're turning left into a parking lot, and you're driving on a 4-lane road. You stop to turn, and an oncoming driver in the lane nearest to you stops to let you in, but drivers in the OTHER lane do not stop. That can cause an accident; it's how I was in one several years ago. Again, very courteous, but don't do it.

Here's how Kentucky law says we should all navigate 4-way stops, and it pretty much backs up the demonstration above:

The rest of KY Rev Stat § 189.330 is painfully self-explanatory, so I hope those who need to will give it a quick study. Listen, I don't think anyone is getting a ticket anytime soon for failing to correctly navigate a 4-way-stop, but KNOWING the correct way to do it is just the safest option.