Question about right-of-way

[shutterbug]

Sorry for this silly question, but this has been bothering me for a few days and I'd like people's opinion.

I was going into a Trader Joe's parking lot the other day. This is a side entrance/exit. In the attached pic, I'm the red arrow, making a left turn into the entrance.

Just as I approached the intersection, another car was exiting (the blue arrow). We both reached the intersection at the same time. Who had the right of way??



Some points to consider:

- there are no stop signs in either direction
- the exit goes into another adjacent parking lot (not onto a main road)

I ended up going first but not without a nasty look from the other driver. Did I deserve it??

[Year's_End]

If he's coming out of a parking lot it's up to him to judge when it's safe to exit. If he's on a street going straight into the next parking lot then he's got the right of way.

Was he coming out of a parking lot or a small street? I think that's what it all depends on.

[!Xoible]

let's see the pic first

blue arrow has the right of way. ur turning into his street u have to stop and wait till it's safe and clear

[shutterbug]

It's one parking lot to the next parking lot.

[Kensta335]

It's usually the car that's going straight (him) that has the right of way.

[!Xoible]

Originally Posted by Kensta335

It's usually the car that's going straight (him) that has the right of way.

+1. rule of thumb: all drivers are crazy, having a really bad day, and they're getting a blow job so they're not looking at u. keep that in mind and u'll be safe

[shutterbug]

Originally Posted by ///Mantis

let's see the pic first

blue arrow has the right of way. ur turning into his street u have to stop and wait till it's safe and clear

Interesting. I guess I thought since he was exiting the parking lot he should yield. In most situations where a driver exits, he should yield to oncoming traffic. But I guess this situation is a little different...

[!Xoible]

Originally Posted by shutterbug

Interesting. I guess I thought since he was exiting the parking lot he should yield. In most situations where a driver exits, he should yield to oncoming traffic. But I guess this situation is a little different...

i get ur point... but the thing is that "exit" isnt controlled by a "yield" or "stop" therefore to him he's just going straight.

did he honk at ur or something? why are u letting it bother u so much?
edit: nasty look from a person in NJ is normal, isnt it?

[Year's_End]

Originally Posted by shutterbug

It's one parking lot to the next parking lot.

Then you have right of way. He should've stopped, using common sense.

[!Xoible]

Originally Posted by Bimmer Loyalist

Then you have right of way. He should've stopped, using common sense.

note to self: FL drivers are a55holes

[AwesomeM3]

Originally Posted by shutterbug

Interesting. I guess I thought since he was exiting the parking lot he should yield. In most situations where a driver exits, he should yield to oncoming traffic. But I guess this situation is a little different...

Originally Posted by Bimmer Loyalist

Then you have right of way. He should've stopped, using common sense.

+1

[pacman]

i think if the other driver was exiting a parking lot then you have the right of way..

[Year's_End]

Originally Posted by ///Mantis

note to self: FL drivers are a55holes

Nah man, haha.

[Tondtar]

Don't quote me on this but ... I remember reading somewhere (CA driving laws when I was taking my written exam for driver license? ...Boy, it's been a while!) that if two cars come to the same intersection that has stop signs for both drivers, whoever is on the Right side of the other one has the right of way.

If true, in your diagram, that would be you but... since this was a Trader Joe's parking lot and there are no stop signs at the intersection, it would be whoever driving a Prius or any other eco-snub type of cars - definitely not a gas guzzling, traffic zooming, crazy driving Bimmer guy

[Dascamel]

Originally Posted by Tondtar

Don't quote me on this but ... I remember reading somewhere (CA driving laws when I was taking my written exam for driver license? ...Boy, it's been a while!) that if two cars come to the same intersection that has stop signs for both drivers, whoever is on the Right side of the other one has the right of way.

If true, in your diagram, that would be you but... since this was a Trader Joe's parking lot and there are no stop signs at the intersection, it would be whoever driving a Prius or any other eco-snub type of cars - definitely not a gas guzzling, traffic zooming, crazy driving Bimmer guy

+1

All other things being equal, treat it like a four way stop. Same time to the person on the right. Most times though if I'm making a left, I let straight traffic go first b/c I don't test others peoples lack of knowledge or level of awareness.

[UncleWede]

GENERALLY, at a T intersection, the person crossing the T has the right of way. I can't tell from your description if you were on a street or in the parking lot, but I'm assuming the latter.

He did not cross your path of travel, you were turning. Since he was continuing in a straight line, you cut him off.

[Tondtar]

Originally Posted by UncleWede

GENERALLY, at a T intersection, the person crossing the T has the right of way. I can't tell from your description if you were on a street or in the parking lot, but I'm assuming the latter.

He did not cross your path of travel, you were turning. Since he was continuing in a straight line, you cut him off.

+1 Yeah, that too

[UltimateBMW]

Originally Posted by ///Mantis

+1. rule of thumb: all drivers are crazy, having a really bad day, and they're getting a blow job so they're not looking at u. keep that in mind and u'll be safe

+1

I follow a similar rule of thumb, but I pose it alittle different.

Mine is:
"Never trust another driver, ever. All other drivers are idiots. They are oblivious and have absolutely no common sense at all. Never put yourself into a position where they even have the ability to hit you. Because they are all idiots, and they will absolutely hit you. Never trust another driver, ever!"

Following my rule of driver absolution, He has the right of way and you should of yeilded until he had gone ahead or turned. I strongly encourage everyone to adopt my foremost important rule of driving.

[Tondtar]

Originally Posted by UltimateBMW

+1

I follow a similar rule of thumb, but I pose it alittle different.

Mine is:
"Never trust another driver, ever. All other drivers are idiots. They are oblivious and have absolutely no common sense at all. Never put yourself into a position where they even have the ability to hit you. Because they are all idiots, and they will absolutely hit you. Never trust another driver, ever!"

Following my rule of driver absolution, He has the right of way and you should of yeilded until he had gone ahead or turned. I strongly encourage everyone to adopt my foremost important rule of driving.

Hey Ultiamte, I agree but ....if I follow your rule word by word, I will never get to enjoy driving my car. It will be sitting pretty in a garage for the fear of getting hit by the idiots on the road. Come on ...Not every one driving is an idiot but you have to watch out for those who are in my neighborhood

[!Xoible]

Originally Posted by Tondtar

Hey Ultiamte, I agree but ....if I follow your rule word by word, I will never get to enjoy driving my car. It will be sitting pretty in a garage for the fear of getting hit by the idiots on the road. Come on ...Not every one driving is an idiot but you have to watch out for those who are in my neighborhood

or u can follow it by driving on the shoulder... always