Driving Tests

Maine Four-Way Stop Rules: Who Goes First?

informational·how to guide·Published April 16, 2026

Who goes first at a four-way stop in Maine?

At a four-way stop in Maine, the vehicle that is already in the intersection goes first. Every driver must stop, then yield to any vehicle that has entered the intersection or is so close that it is an immediate hazard. Once you have yielded, you may go, and all other drivers approaching the intersection must yield to you (Maine law, Title 29-A, section 2057).

Where these rules come from

Maine sets these rules in Title 29-A of the Maine Revised Statutes, as of 2026: section 2057 (traffic-control devices and stop signs), section 2053 (right-of-way) and section 2056 (pedestrians), plus section 2060 (turns at intersections). The law sets no order by arrival time at a four-way stop; the yield rule decides. Confirm the rules with the Maine Bureau of Motor Vehicles (maine.gov/sos/bmv) before you drive.

How to handle a four-way stop in Maine, step by step

1
Stop before the crossing road
Come to a stop before you enter the crossing road. The section on where to stop, below, gives the exact place.
2
Check the intersection
Look for any vehicle that has already entered the intersection, and for any vehicle that is so close that it would be an immediate hazard.
3
Yield to those vehicles
Let those vehicles clear the intersection first. Stopping alone does not give you the right-of-way.
4
Go when you have yielded
Once you have yielded, you may proceed. From then on, the other drivers at the intersection must yield to you.

What if two drivers stop at the same time at a four-way stop?

The same yield rule decides. After your stop, check the other vehicle. If it has already entered the intersection, or is so close that it would be an immediate hazard, you yield. When a driver has yielded and moves off, every other driver approaching must yield to that vehicle. So do not start into the intersection while another car is already moving into it. When both drivers are still stopped and you are not sure, let the other driver go first, and go when that vehicle is clear of your path.

Where must I stop at a stop sign?

Make the stop before you enter the crossing road. At a stop sign, stop before the crosswalk. With no crosswalk, stop at a marked stop line. With no stop line, stop at the point nearest the crossing road where you can see approaching traffic. Do not stop on the crosswalk or past the line, where you block walkers and cross traffic. The practice question on where to stop at a crosswalk and stop line asks the same thing for a red light.

What each sign or signal means at an intersection in Maine

What each sign or signal means at an intersection in Maine
What you see	What you must do	Source
Stop sign	Stop, yield to a vehicle in the intersection or an immediate hazard, then go	Section 2057(7)
Flashing red light	Stop, then go as if at a stop sign	Section 2057(1)
Flashing yellow light	Go only with caution	Section 2057(1)
No sign and no signal	Yield to a vehicle on your right (not at a roundabout, traffic circle or rotary)	Section 2053(3)
Officer giving directions	Follow the officer	Sections 2053(3) and 2057

Who goes first at an intersection with no signs in Maine?

At an intersection of public ways with no sign or signal, you have the right-of-way over a vehicle on your left, and you must yield to a vehicle on your right. The rule gives way to an officer who directs traffic, and it does not apply at a roundabout, traffic circle or rotary: there, you yield to vehicles already inside. For the full roundabout rules, read Maine rotary and roundabout rules. The practice question on two vehicles that reach an uncontrolled intersection together tests the yield-right rule.

What does a flashing red light mean in Maine?

A red light with rapid flashes means stop, then go as if you were at a stop sign. Stop at the sign or pavement marking that shows where to stop. If there is no sign or marking, stop at the signal. Then yield to any vehicle in the intersection or close enough to be an immediate hazard before you go. A flashing yellow light means you may proceed, but only with caution.

Who yields when you turn or meet a pedestrian in Maine

You turn left and a vehicle comes from the opposite direction

Yield if that vehicle is in the intersection or so close that it is an immediate hazard. At an intersection with two-way traffic on each road, make the approach in the part of the right half of the road nearest the center line.

You turn left and a person on a bicycle or roller skis comes from the opposite direction

Yield if that person is so close that it is an immediate hazard. Turn only when you can do it with reasonable safety and without interfering with that person.

You turn right and a person on a bicycle or roller skis near you goes the same way

Turn only when you can do it with reasonable safety and without interfering with them. Make the approach and the turn as close as practicable to the right-hand curb or edge.

A pedestrian is in a marked crosswalk, or shows visible intent to enter it, and no traffic-control device is operating

Yield to the pedestrian. You must also yield to any pedestrian on a sidewalk.

Common mistakes at stop signs and intersections in Maine

Rolling through. The law says you must stop.
Stopping past the crosswalk or the stop line.
Going because you arrived first, without a check for a vehicle already in the intersection.
Cutting through a parking lot to get around a traffic light or other traffic control device. The law does not allow it.
Using the yield-right rule at a roundabout. It does not apply there.
Watching cars only. Use due care to avoid a pedestrian, and take extra care when you see a child.

Key Takeaways

At a stop sign, stop, yield to a vehicle in the intersection or close enough to be an immediate hazard, then go (section 2057(7)).
Stop before the crosswalk; with no crosswalk, at the stop line; with neither, where you can see approaching traffic.
With no sign or signal, yield to the vehicle on your right. A flashing red light works like a stop sign.
Yield to a pedestrian in a marked crosswalk when no signal is working, and never pass a car that has stopped for a pedestrian.
Next step: practice these rules on the free Maine Class C permit practice test, which is in English only.

Frequently asked questions

Do I have to stop at a four-way stop if no other cars are coming?

Yes. Maine law says every driver who approaches a stop sign must stop, also when the intersection is empty, unless a law enforcement officer or a traffic control device directs the driver to go. Stop before the crosswalk or at the stop line, check for traffic, then go.

Who goes first at a four-way stop if one car turns left and the other goes straight?

Both drivers stop first. The driver who turns left must then yield to the oncoming car if it is in the intersection or so close that it is an immediate hazard. Each driver must also yield to a vehicle that has already entered the intersection. Once a driver has yielded and goes, the other driver must yield to that vehicle.

Can I pass a car that stopped for a pedestrian at an intersection?

No. In Maine, when a vehicle is stopped at an intersection or a marked crosswalk to let a pedestrian cross, a driver who approaches from behind may not overtake and pass that vehicle. Stay behind it, and use due care to avoid the pedestrian.

What is the fine for not yielding to a blind pedestrian in Maine?

A driver who fails to yield the right-of-way to a visually impaired pedestrian commits a traffic infraction in Maine, with a fine of $50 to $1,000. The rule covers a pedestrian who carries a cane that is mostly white or metallic, with or without a red tip, or who uses a guide dog or personal care dog.

Who goes first when a car pulls out of a driveway in Maine?

The traffic on the road does. A driver who enters a public road from a private way, such as a driveway, an alley or an entrance, must yield to vehicles on the public road and to pedestrians. After yielding, that driver must go ahead cautiously.