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Originally Posted by TaShawn  I always thought that 4-way stops introduced the compounded effects of the inefficient mechanism of human reflexes into the system. . |
Sorry, the reflexes are there regardless. Those reflexes approaching a light (do you beat the yellow) are on high alert. With a a four-way stop, you know you have to stop: the inevitable has a calming effect. With the former, your eyes on straight-on as you-gun-it; no peripheral vision is usually evoked. Not too many people killed on four-way stops, because judgments have a motion frame and you must look at least in two significant directions while stopped.
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Originally Posted by TaShawn The longer the length of the light, the more minimal the reflex drag. Although, there is a trade off between the average wait time and the maximum wait time. |
The reflex drag is down because you have stopped. The speed/reaction time (drag ratio) is increased only with the approach on a light you know must change, irregardless of the peek-a-boo looks at the timing (numerical) cross-walks.
The average wait time when presented on a four-way stop is usually located in a residential area or an area that is visually dangerous. It is also important to notice ramp-up time in regard to speed and the next known stop. Average wait time does indeed enter into the equation. Most of the time your window of wait is a mere 2.5 hours of aggregate traffic flows over that location.
Just remember, on a four way stop, the person on your immediate right has the right-of-way (cordiality as in patience only).
An analogy (this is for Skool):
Traffic light = management
Four-way stop = team members