Under the Transportation Code, who is required to yield the right-of-way at a four-way stop?

In a four-way stop scenario, the rule that the first vehicle to arrive is required to yield the right-of-way is grounded in the principles of maintaining order and safety at intersections. This creates a clear guideline for drivers, allowing them to understand their responsibilities and how to proceed when multiple vehicles arrive at the same time.

When a vehicle reaches a four-way stop, it should observe which vehicle arrived first. If there are no other vehicles in motion, the vehicle that arrives first has the right to go first, facilitating a smoother flow of traffic. This practice is essential as it helps prevent confusion and potential collisions at intersections where multiple vehicles may be present.

It's also worth noting that while pedestrians are classified as having important rights, especially when crossing streets, they do not take precedence over the right-of-way rules applicable to vehicles. Vehicles must yield to pedestrians who are crossing at marked crosswalks, but at a four-way stop, the primary focus remains on the order of vehicle arrival.