Rules of the Road in NC -- re: intersections (Charlotte: DMV, law)

[bmints]

Can you please clarify who has the right of way when there is an intersection with stop signs on either side (North and South) with an uncontrolled road running East and West. Does the car that got there first have the right of way? The NC DMV website does not seem to explain this. I had a situation where someone told me they had the right of way because they were making a right turn and I was making a left (even though I had gotten to the intersection first -- I had already yielded to another car before this driver got there). Don't want to be petty, but I'm curious if I was wrong to have gone first, and don't want to make the same mistake twice. I'm hoping for a concrete answer on this based on the actual rules/laws. Thanks!

[Native_Son]

first come, first serve. That's they way everyone I know does it...

[Charlotteborn]

Thats the way I learned - The first to stop is the first to go. If two people get to the intersection at the same time yield to the car on your right.

[bmints]

But, the guy actually got out of his car and insisted he had the right of way because he was making a right turn, and I was making a left. Does this make any sense? I'm really hoping to find out what the official "law/rule" is. Not to gloat, but because I don't want to break the law the next time I enter this intersection. Thanks!

[anifani821]

Any time you are making a turn across traffic - i.e., left turn, and the other person is making a turn WITH traffic, they have the right of way.

[superk]

Originally Posted by anifani821

Any time you are making a turn across traffic - i.e., left turn, and the other person is making a turn WITH traffic, they have the right of way.

Yup, that's how I learned it.

[Native_Son]

Originally Posted by anifani821

Any time you are making a turn across traffic - i.e., left turn, and the other person is making a turn WITH traffic, they have the right of way.

yeah, that's what I meant... I was thinking 4-way stop. If the cross street ain't stopping, right-turner has the right of way... no matter how long you've been waiting.

[anifani821]

Originally Posted by Native_Son

yeah, that's what I meant... I was thinking 4-way stop. If the cross street ain't stopping, right-turner has the right of way... no matter how long you've been waiting.

Yep - I am pretty sure that is what I was taught. When you are making a right turn, you are more or less just merging into the traffic pattern.

When you are cutting across traffic, you can actually CAUSE an accident if you don't let the guy on the other side make his right turn first. He is sitting there concentrating on just "pulling out" and moving w/ the flow . . . if you zip across and attempt to turn in front of him . . . it could be a bump up in the making.

[bmints]

I understand the sentiment here....makes sense. I was leaning towards the first come/first served rule... but, I guess I was wrong. I wish the North Carolina DMV spelled it out a bit more clearly in their driver's handbook. Wonder if this is just common sense to most people or an actual law on the books.

[Hoagie58]

How would you know which way they were turning?? God knows 95% of Charlotte doesnt use turn signals!