Confusion about PA traffic laws in Pittsburgh (live, law)

[gallacus]

With the exception of the speed limit, I find myself being a stickler for driving laws. I feel that everything goes much smoother if everyone follows the PA Driver's Manual to a T. Lately, though, I've found that many people seem to not know (or ignore) a few things about PA driving laws.

The first involves right-of-way at intersections with four-way stop signs. If one vehicle clearly arrives at the intersection before other vehicles, the first vehicle may proceed first. When multiple vehicles arrive at roughly the same time, however, a few rules kick in:

1. Drivers turning left must yield to oncoming drivers going straight through the intersection. There is one intersection in particular where I have to turn left to get to my house, and just about every time I get to this intersection, the opposing car looks at me like I must be asleep at the wheel, just waiting for me to go, even though they have no turn signal on.

2. Drivers coming from the left must yield to vehicles coming from the right.

The second thing involves what to do when a traffic light is inoperable. It seems that every time there's a big storm that knocks out power to the traffic signals at an intersection, all hell breaks loose. If I had to guess, many people think that the rules of the road are that the bigger road with more traffic can just proceed through the intersection while the smaller road is SOL.

In this case, the Driver's Manual states that the rules mentioned above kick in, and the intersection should be treated like a four-way stop. When I do this, however, most of the time the people behind me lay on their horns.

Not sure if this is something that people know and understand and have just decided to blatantly ignore, or if they really didn't learn these rules during licensing. If it's the latter, I hope this clears some things up.

[Tinare]

Sorry read quickly.

[gallacus]

Originally Posted by Tinare

Pittsburgh left - Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

I'm very familiar with the Pittsburgh Left as I've lived in the Southside for years, but that only applies to intersections with traffic lights, especially those with no turning lanes. There would be no reason to allow someone turning left at a stop sign right-of-way over someone going straight.

[hnsq]

Not all of us agree that "that everything goes much smoother if everyone follows the PA Driver's Manual to a T."

In your situation #1, it is a pretty obnoxious thing to wait at a stop sign because the guy who got there at the same time as you decides to wait 10 seconds before turning. If you pause at a stop sign for more than a second or two, I am going to go.

In situation #2, it is pretty obnoxious to come to a complete stop if you are on a major road, and thereby cause a traffic jam on a major road instead of having 1-2 cars backed up on the side road.

[Tinare]

Originally Posted by gallacus

I'm very familiar with the Pittsburgh Left as I've lived in the Southside for years, but that only applies to intersections with traffic lights, especially those with no turning lanes. There would be no reason to allow someone turning left at a stop sign right-of-way over someone going straight.

So, just a general rant, then. Gotcha.

[gallacus]

Originally Posted by hnsq

Not all of us agree that "that everything goes much smoother if everyone follows the PA Driver's Manual to a T."

Touché.

[gallacus]

Originally Posted by hnsq

Not all of us agree that "that everything goes much smoother if everyone follows the PA Driver's Manual to a T."

In your situation #1, it is a pretty obnoxious thing to wait for an entire light to turn left just to uphold some traffic law, and in the process create a traffic jam behind you.

In situation #2, it is pretty obnoxious to come to a complete stop if you are on a major road, and thereby cause a traffic jam on a major road instead of having 1-2 cars backed up on the side road.

I suppose I didn't do a good enough job explaining the situation. I'm not referring to intersections with traffic lights, I'm referring to four-way stop intersections. Both of your answers above are advocating for the use of the Pittsburgh Left, which I have no problem with, I'm referring to something totally different.

[hnsq]

Originally Posted by gallacus

I suppose I didn't do a good enough job explaining the situation. I'm not referring to intersections with traffic lights, I'm referring to four-way stop intersections.

Sorry, I re-edited my response. I read the OP quickly

[TechieTransplant]

Originally Posted by gallacus

With the exception of the speed limit, I find myself being a stickler for driving laws.

Me too!

I feel that everything goes much smoother if everyone follows the PA Driver's Manual to a T. Lately, though, I've found that many people seem to not know (or ignore) a few things about PA driving laws.

It's a mix of both, but mostly, ignore.

The first involves right-of-way at intersections. If one vehicle clearly arrives at the intersection before other vehicles, the first vehicle may proceed first. When multiple vehicles arrive at roughly the same time, however, a few rules kick in:

1. Drivers turning left must yield to oncoming drivers going straight through the intersection. There is one intersection in particular where I have to turn left to get to my house, and just about every time I get to this intersection, the opposing car looks at me like I must be asleep at the wheel, just waiting for me to go, even though they have no turn signal on.

2. Drivers coming from the left must yield to vehicles coming from the right.

The second thing involves what to do when a traffic light is inoperable. It seems that every time there's a big storm that knocks out power to the traffic signals at an intersection, all hell breaks loose. If I had to guess, many people think that the rules of the road are that the bigger road with more traffic can just proceed through the intersection while the smaller road is SOL.

In this case, the Driver's Manual states that the rules mentioned above kick in, and the intersection should be treated like a four-way stop. When I do this, however, most of the time the people behind me lay on their horns.

Not sure if this is something that people know and understand and have just decided to blatantly ignore, or if they really didn't learn these rules during licensing. If it's the latter, I hope this clears some things up.

I love four way intersections period. The nations "most polite drivers" get to that intersection, sit there, look at eachother, and go "you go"........"no, you go".............while someone else sits and watches the entire situation. JUST GO!

[gallacus]

Originally Posted by hnsq

In situation #2, it is pretty obnoxious to come to a complete stop if you are on a major road, and thereby cause a traffic jam on a major road instead of having 1-2 cars backed up on the side road.

While I agree that it is an inconvenience for the people on the larger road, it is also the law to treat the intersection like a four-way stop when the lights are out. Because of this, not doing so is akin to running a stop sign, and puts everyone in the intersection's life at risk. It's the only way for everyone to advance safely.