The Unmarked Four-Way at Happy Valley
You approach a small four-way junction in Happy Valley where no stop or yield signs are visible on any arm and the road markings are worn away. You are on a scooter heading north, intending to go straight. A car is approaching from your right, eastbound, and appears to be slowing but has not signalled. A second car sits at the southern arm, facing north behind you, waiting. A pedestrian with a stroller is standing at the north-east corner, looking at the crossing but not yet stepping off the kerb. Rain has just started, and the asphalt is slick with a thin film of water over oil residue.
1. Who has priority here, and what should you do as you enter the junction?
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With no signs and no markings, the general rule is to give way to traffic approaching from your right, so the eastbound car has priority over you. But priority is not a guarantee - the car is slowing without signalling, which could mean it is turning, yielding to the pedestrian, or simply unsure. Treat it as a vehicle that may do anything. Your approach: reduce speed early, cover the brakes, and make eye contact if possible. Do not assume the car will stop for you or that it will proceed; instead, arrive at the junction slowly enough that you can stop if it turns across your path. The car behind you is a reason to signal your intention to go straight and to brake gently so it is not surprised. Enter only when the eastbound car's path is clearly resolved.
2. How does the wet surface change your entry and your gap selection?
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The oil-and-water film cuts grip sharply, especially at a junction where drips accumulate. That lengthens your stopping distance and reduces the lean angle you can use, so you need a larger gap in the eastbound traffic than you would take in the dry. Practically: brake earlier and more gently, keep the bike upright through the turn, and avoid any combination of braking and leaning on the painted or oily patches. Choose a gap that leaves you a margin - if the eastbound car is close enough that you would have to hurry, wait. Also watch the southern car: if it decides to go, it may accelerate into the same gap you are eyeing, so confirm it is actually holding before you commit.
3. What is your obligation toward the pedestrian, and how does it interact with the junction decision?
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A pedestrian at the corner who has not stepped off the kerb is not yet crossing, but you should anticipate that they may. If they step out, they have priority, and on wet asphalt your ability to stop is reduced - so the pedestrian is a reason to approach more slowly, not just a reason to watch. The interaction is that yielding to the pedestrian may also resolve the junction: if the eastbound car stops to let them cross, that car is no longer a conflict for you, and you can proceed once the crossing is clear and you have checked the southern car. Do not wave the pedestrian across, since that can pull them into the path of the other vehicles; simply be prepared to stop and let them choose.