The Four-Way Stop With a Broken Signal
You are driving south on a two-lane street and reach a four-way intersection where the traffic light is completely dark - no color showing at all. A car is already stopped in the northbound lane facing you, and a third car is stopped in the eastbound lane to your left. The car on your left arrived first; you and the oncoming car arrived at about the same moment, after the eastbound car. There are no stop signs, and no police officer is directing traffic. A pedestrian is waiting on the southeast corner. You want to continue straight south.
1. Who has the right of way at this intersection, and what should you do?
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A dark signal is treated as a four-way stop, so every driver must stop and then proceed in order of arrival. The eastbound car arrived first, so it goes first. You and the oncoming northbound car arrived at roughly the same time, so the tie-breaker applies: the driver on the left yields. You are on the northbound car's left, so you yield to the oncoming car before proceeding straight. Do not wave anyone through - take your correct turn. Watch the pedestrian on the southeast corner; a turning or proceeding vehicle must still yield to a pedestrian in the crosswalk.
2. If two vehicles arrive at the same instant on a cross street and the driver on the right hesitates, must you wait indefinitely?
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No. The rule gives the right of way to the driver on the right, but right of way is something you yield, not something you seize. If the other driver clearly waves you on or is not moving, proceed only after making eye contact and confirming it is safe. Never assume - a hesitant driver may suddenly go. When in doubt, wait; a few seconds of delay is always cheaper than a collision.