NO STOP SIGNS!?

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Does anyone else question that there are a plethora of 4 way stops in Bozeman that don't have any stop-signs in either direction? I mean,What's up with that!? Every time I cross those streets, its like juts closing my eyes,and hoping there isn't someone else coming at the same time - same speed. Not literally of course, but you get the drift. And in the winter time,it seriously becomes dangerous as it is harder to stop quickly.

Who gets right of way anyway? I hope I am not the only who thinks this is crazy and dangerous!

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tags: Bozeman, City, Steets, Driving + add tags
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location: Bozeman, M.t.
posted on Fri, Apr 25, 2008 04:09 PM
last updated on Fri, Apr 25, 2008 04:12 PM
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yield byCHAD2 months ago (0 votes) (report abuse) (reply)
EVERY driver approaching the intersection must yield, which means slowing to 15 mph or less and allowing the car on the right to go first. Many drivers in Bozeman seem to have forgotten this because I always see people blowing through residential intersections at 25 mph. Most small towns leave intersections uncontrolled until drivers can no longer control their own maneuvers, then the stop signs and lights come in.
yield byArt2 months ago (0 votes) (report abuse) (reply)
Chad: I'm not so sure it's the law that the car on the right has the right of way. The rules of the road (at least the ones I just looked up) say that the car on the left "should" yield to the car on the right. The point being is that if I am the car on the right and the car on the left doesn't yield and there is an accident I don't know as it's guaranteed he or she will get a ticket. Meaning my insurance costs soars. I think in Bozeman it's foolish to think the driver on the left knows that he or she should yeild anyway. I think it's more the case that it's thought the the right of way is earned by whomever is going the fastest.
stop signs bygaryt2 months ago (0 votes) (report abuse) (reply)
If it's 4-way stop there will be signs posted stating that this is a 4-way stop. If there are no signs, then according to the traffic codes of Montana the vehicle on the right has the right-of-way. Of course, you still need to use common sense when approaching these intersections since there are idiots out there who shouldn't be driving in the first place. AND STAY OFF THE CELL PHONES WHEN YOU ARE BEHIND THE WHEEL- this is the best safety tip of all. Last summer I almost had an accident when some teenage girl came barreling through an intersection yapping on a phone and not paying attention to what she was doing.
Slow down? byellofoto2 months ago (0 votes) (report abuse) (reply)
Most unmarked stops (if not all) are in residential areas. Slow down. Sweet Jesus, I'm sick of watching people blast through the intersection up from my house (which is right next to a school and a church) and it's even a controlled stop... SLOW DOWN!
Speed byTahoe192 months ago (0 votes) (report abuse) (reply)
Here's a link to Montana's Driver's License Manual.
http://www.dmv.org/mt-montana/driver-handbook.php#Driver_License_Manual

The four way stops are a little brutal. Blows my mind how people fly through uncontrolled intersections and even worse through neighborhoods. A young boy close to where I live was hit because of a driver that didn't see him in time. The boy's fine because thankfully this driver wasn't going that fast. But the point is that in a neighborhood (especially one with lots of cars on the road) sets the stage for unpredictable events...animals darting out, kids playing, bicycle riders that don't see the driver. And yes, cell phones add so much to the distraction. Cell phone users...if you must talk, use a bluetooth. You'd be surprised how much focus you regain.

And yes, the driver on the left must yield to the driver on the right. When the driver on the left plowed into my sister years ago, he was ticketed. Just like if you hit someone from behind, it's a ticketable offense (of course depending on the officer).

Another one that gets me is at a controlled four way. Two people are facing each. One is turning and one is going straight...the one going straight has the right of way. I understand it is all about traffic flow. That one is listed under intersections in the manual!

Happy Driving!!
Tie goes to the right byMontana0072 months ago (0 votes) (report abuse) (reply)
I didn't have a chance to read the other posts in their entirety, but thought that I'd contribute what I know about the rules of the 4-way stop.

It is essentially first come first served in the case of a 4-way stop. The driver that first reaches the intersection is given the priority to pass through the intersection. In the event that two vehicles arrive at an interstection simultaneously and are not facing each other the driver to the right has the right of way. If two vehicles arrive at the same time and are on opposite sides of the interstection the driver continuing straight is granted the right of way.
Signs won't help bysouthward2 months ago (0 votes) (report abuse) (reply)
About five years ago they added signs to some of the open intersections closer to downtown (I'm thinking Lamme and Grand, for one) and people still haven't caught on. I pass through that intersection west to east almost everyday and at least once a month someone blows through on Grand like the good old days.

Enough to make me slow down every time, but not enough to decide if it is habituation or just general lack-of-clue.

Point is I don't think signs would help much; the old-schoolers would raise a fuss, and it would be ten years before everyone caught on. Kind of the same argument you hear against switching the one-ways: "Driving in Bozeman is hard enough, for gosh sakes DON'T CHANGE ANYTHING!!!!!!"
Thank You! byvarietychic2 months ago (0 votes) (report abuse) (reply)
I'm so glad other people think this is crazy! I completely agree on feeling like you have to just close your eyes and go! It's scary and frustrating, especially in the winter. The crazy part is that you don't really hear of any accidents in those areas. I'm sure once that starts, there will be stop signs. I understand your frustration, but also had to laugh because of the familiarity.
Huh? byVigilante37771 month ago (0 votes) (report abuse) (reply)
How can an intersection that is a four way stop not have a stop sign? If it is a four way stop than it has four stop signs. If it is an uncontrolled intersection than the person to the right has the right of way. Speed limits are posted at 25 MPH through residential unless posted otherwise. People walking across the streeet should look both ways and walk in the crosswalks. Bikes are considered vehicles and must obey all trafic laws. If you come to a Ped-Xing vehicles must stop and let the person cross the street. Simple folks.