Who goes first at a 4-way stop in IL? Yes, state law stipulates the right-of-way
AI-generated summary reviewed by our newsroom.
- Illinois drivers must stop fully; at four‑way stops, first to arrive proceeds.
- If two arrive together, vehicle on the right goes; opposite cars yield to right/straight.
- Pedestrians in crosswalks always have the right‑of‑way.
You’re approaching an intersection in Illinois, and everyone has a stop sign in lieu of a roundabout or traffic light. Who has the right-of-way?
First, state law requires drivers to come to a full stop, rather than merely slowing down or rolling through the stop sign, Teri Ross, executive director of Illinois Legal Aid Online, said in a recent interview with the News-Democrat.
Drivers are required to come to a complete stop at the line or crosswalk, if there is one.
“The right-of-way at a four-way stop is first to arrive, first to proceed,” Ross said.
If two cars arrive at the same time, the vehicle to the right has the right-of-way, Ross continued. If two vehicles are opposite each other and going in opposite directions and stop at the same time, one going right or straight typically has the right-of-way, rather than one turning left.
The Illinois Vehicle Code has an exception for the four-way stop right-of-way rule, which applies when a police officer or traffic signal indicates otherwise. Additionally, pedestrians in a crosswalk always have the right-of-way.
Running a stop sign in Illinois can result in a fine between $164 to $1,000, according to the Illinois State Police.
More traffic laws in Illinois
One prominent traffic law in Illinois was updated this year — Scott’s Law, or the “Move Over Law” — was expanded to require drivers to give a lane to engaged emergency vehicles that are moving, as well as emergency workers and other pedestrians directly involved at the scene of an emergency.
The state has many laws on the books aiming to make roads safer, including a “hands-free” rule prohibiting drivers from manually texting or navigating a GPS system. Drivers who are younger than 19 years old may not use cell phones whatsoever, even if they are hands-free.
Another portion of the state’s vehicle code not only regulates the upper end of speed limits, but also prohibits drivers from driving slowly enough to impede or block the normal and reasonable traffic flow, with some exceptions.
However, Illinois law also has an “absolute speed limit law,” so even if you’re passing a driver who’s going particularly slow, it’s still illegal to surpass the speed limit to pass them.
In addition, if you’re tempted to cut through a parking lot to avoid a red light, you might want to check a provision that bans “rat running.”
Do you have a question about driving in the metro-east or Illinois for the News-Democrat? We’d like to hear from you. Fill out our Metro-east Matters form below.
