Home › Forums › Open Discussion › Unmarked Residentil Intersections 101
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April 28, 2013 at 2:19 am #607305
Genesee HillParticipantThis lesson, does require an IQ of over 35.
If you approach an unmarked, that is, un-signed or un-signaled, four way intersection, you should approach it with caution. The vehicle on the right generally has the right-of-way.
If you blow through these intersections thinking, hey, I am the only car on the road, you are asking for a “two thumbs up” wreck.
The prudent course is: in residential areas, slow down, expect another vehicle to enter the un-marked intersection, and be cautious.
Yes, this is rocket science. I have seen a couple of “vehicle on their sides” wrecks here in West Seattle in the last week, or so.
Anxious to join “Club Idiot”????
April 28, 2013 at 8:09 am #788899
KevinParticipantGood observations GH. I generally treat these intersections as kind of like doing a rolling stop. I slow, look both ways, and sometimes stop even if I know I have the ROW, because there are so many out there that don’t have a clue how this works.
April 28, 2013 at 1:25 pm #788900
yes2wsParticipantDitto to stopping even when I know I’ve got the right of way and for the same reason. I don’t want to end up in an “on my side” crash. I sometimes get a “you must be an idiot” kind of look, but at least I’m still standing after traveling through these crazy intersections.
April 28, 2013 at 2:41 pm #788901
SmittyParticipantI agree 100%, but there is a fine line between being cautious and being overly cautious. Coming to a complete stop at an unmarked intersection could very easily result in a rear-ender. Slow down to the point where you can look up and down the approaching streets far enough to see any oncoming traffic but I would not advise stopping. People looking for oncoming traffic are looking for something that is moving. If you are not moving it may have the opposite effect and not catch their eye. That good ‘ol Seattle “you go”, “no YOU go”, no please YOU GO” wave – as well intentioned as it is – gets old and maddening at times.
April 28, 2013 at 2:50 pm #788902
yes2wsParticipantI’ve yet to get into the “you go”, “no, you go” situation and I’ve yet to get hit be it sideways or from the rear, so I must be doing something right. :-)
I get what you’re saying, though. (Maybe that’s why I’ve been so lucky.)
April 28, 2013 at 3:27 pm #788903
DBPMemberWhat Genesee Hill is talking about is the opposite of the “you go / no YOU go” game.
It’s more like: “I’ll go / no I’LL go.” And the game is played from 25 mph, rather than from a dead stop.
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One little complication that arises with uncontrolled intersections in Seattle — and one that GH neglected to mention, probably because his own IQ is too high to bother with such piddling details — is where one of the approaches to the intersection is on an uphill grade, or where the sideways view is obscured by cars parked too close to the intersection.
From the 20th and Thistle Situation Room (aka “The Basement”) I can see cars oomphing up Thistle east toward the crest of a hill, where an uncontrolled intersection with an island awaits them. Older cars and stick-shifts have to gun it up that hill just to make it, and as a result they can’t see what’s happening to the sides of them until it’s almost too late.
Plenty of near-misses there, even among the high-IQ set.
So don’t just blame low-IQ drivers for Seattle intersection insanity. Blame the low-IQ god who designed the topography without any consideration for our needs.
Or if you don’t believe in God, blame the dumbass glaciers.
April 28, 2013 at 6:02 pm #788904
JanSParticipantthe other day I was at an intersection going east-west, and had a stop sign. The north-south traffic did not have a stop sign. Car coming from the north wants to turn west, but stops and stares at me. He has the right of way, I am waving him on, and he’s hand gesturing..ahem…back. If I had gone and he had decided to go to, the accident as we met would have been my fault. Luckily no one behind me, but…paying attention to things really helps. That was my pet peeve for Friday :D
April 29, 2013 at 12:15 am #788905
Genesee HillParticipantAny cautious scenario at these un-marked intersections beats a rolled over vehicle. If someone is rear-ended, like, wow, perhaps you were following a tad bit close…it is not like the speeds on these residential roads is 50 MPH.
April 29, 2013 at 1:16 am #788906
DBPMemberExtra credit points:
1) Does anyone what these things are called? (At the bottom.)
2) Does anyone know why they’re called that?
3) Does anyone know why I even bring it up?
Even though I’m not constrained to have a reason for anything I do, sometimes I like to have one anyway, just to throw people off.
April 29, 2013 at 4:11 am #788907
sboneParticipantDentil, from Latin dens, a tooth. But what does that have to do with the price of tea in China?
April 29, 2013 at 4:17 am #788908
sboneParticipantI got it. That makes you the residentil spelling nazi, for sure.
April 29, 2013 at 4:44 am #788909
DBPMemberAnd that makes you my . . .
Double Jeopardy. How much will you wager?
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