The Four-Way Stop With a Broken Signal
You are westbound on a two-lane city street approaching a four-way intersection. The traffic signal is completely dark because of a power outage, and the intersection has stop signs on all four approaches. As you slow to a stop, you see: a car already stopped at the north approach, facing south; a car at the south approach facing north that arrived just after you did; and a cyclist on the east approach who has been waiting since before you arrived. Your front bumper reaches the stop line at the same moment the north car begins to roll forward. Traffic is moderate and there is no police officer directing traffic.
1. Who has the right-of-way, and what should you do first?
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When a signal is dark, treat the intersection as an all-way stop governed by stop-sign rules. The rule is first to arrive, first to go; if two vehicles arrive at essentially the same time, yield to the vehicle on your right.
Here the cyclist on the east approach was waiting longest, so the cyclist goes first. The north car is on your right and began moving, so if you and it truly arrived together, you must yield to it as well. Your safest action is to come to a complete stop, let the cyclist clear, then let the north car proceed, and only then move. Do not assume the north driver saw you, and do not wave others through in a way that conflicts with the cyclist's turn.
2. Suppose the north car hesitates and does not move for several seconds. Does that change your obligation?
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No. Yielding is an obligation, not a courtesy that expires. If the north vehicle is stopped and you cannot tell whether it is waiting for you or simply stalled, you may proceed only when you can confirm the way is clear and the other driver is not entering. Make eye contact, move slowly, and be ready to stop. Never treat another driver's hesitation as permission to assume the right-of-way; the risk of a collision is on the driver who moves without certainty.