Driving Tests

Four-Way Stop Rules in New Brunswick: Who Goes First?

informational·how to guide·Published August 2, 2026

Who goes first at a four-way stop in New Brunswick?

Make a full stop, then go only when it is safe. A vehicle that is already in the intersection goes first. When two vehicles enter at about the same time, the driver on the left yields to the vehicle on the right. With no stop line, stop before the nearest crosswalk; with no crosswalk, stop where you can see approaching traffic.

Where these rules come from

This guide uses sections 165, 166, 167 and 186 of the New Brunswick Motor Vehicle Act (consolidated to 12 June 2026) and part 4 of the Government of New Brunswick (gnb.ca) New Brunswick Driver's Handbook (2022 PDF). When the wording differs, this guide follows the Act. Rules as of 2026. Confirm the rules with Service New Brunswick (gnb.ca) before you drive.

How a four-way stop works in New Brunswick

At a four-way stop, every driver faces a stop sign and must make a full stop first. The order in which vehicles then go depends on who is already in the intersection and where each vehicle is.
Section 165(1) of the Motor Vehicle Act tells a driver who approaches an intersection to yield to a vehicle that has already entered it from a different road. So the first question at a four-way stop is not "who stopped first?" but "who is already in the intersection?"

What to do at a four-way stop, step by step

1
Stop in the right place
Bring the vehicle to a full stop at the clearly marked stop line. If there is no stop line, use the order in the table further down this page.
2
Check for vehicles already in the intersection
A vehicle that has already entered the intersection has the right-of-way. Let it clear.
3
Check who arrived at the same time
If another vehicle enters the intersection at about the same time as yours, the driver on the left yields to the vehicle on the right. If that vehicle is on your right, you yield.
4
Check for pedestrians
Yield to a person in a marked crosswalk, and to a person in an unmarked crosswalk at the end of a block.
5
Go only when it is safe
After you stop, do not move until the traffic you are about to enter allows you to do so safely.

What if two vehicles arrive at the same time?

Section 165(2) of the Motor Vehicle Act says that when two vehicles enter an intersection from different highways at approximately the same time, the driver of the vehicle on the left yields the right-of-way to the vehicle on the right. The Driver's Handbook applies the same rule to an intersection with three or four stop signs: you must yield to the driver on your right.
Still watch a vehicle that should yield to you: believing you have the right-of-way does not necessarily free you from blame for a collision. Our free question on right-of-way and avoiding a collision covers this point.

Who goes first? If this happens, do this

A vehicle is already in the intersection when you stop

Yield to it. A vehicle that has entered the intersection has the right-of-way over you.

You and another driver arrive at about the same time, and the other vehicle is on your right

You yield. The driver on the left yields to the vehicle on the right.

You and another driver arrive at about the same time, and the other vehicle is on your left

That driver should yield to you. Go only when it is safe, and be ready to stop.

You want to turn left and a vehicle from the opposite direction is in the intersection or so close that it is an immediate hazard

Yield to the oncoming vehicle. The Handbook also tells you to keep your wheels straight until you are ready to turn.

The intersection has traffic lights

The lights decide who may go.

Where do I stop if there is no stop line?

Section 186(3) of the Motor Vehicle Act gives an order of three places, shown in the table below. Use the first one that exists. The Act defines a crosswalk as the area between imaginary lines that join the sidewalks across an intersection, plus any part of the roadway marked for pedestrians. So a crosswalk can exist even when nothing is painted on the road.
With no painted crosswalk or stop line, stop just before you enter the intersection, and leave room for a pedestrian to cross. Our free question page on where to stop with no stop line or painted crosswalk tests this rule.

Where to stop at a stop sign, in order

Where to stop at a stop sign, in order
Order	Where you stop	When it applies
1	At the clearly marked stop line	There is a stop line
2	Immediately before the nearest crosswalk, marked or not	There is no stop line
3	At the point nearest the intersecting road where you can see approaching traffic, before you enter the intersection	There is no stop line and no crosswalk

Pedestrians and through roads at a stop sign

Yield to a pedestrian in a marked crosswalk, or in an unmarked crosswalk at the end of a block, unless a peace officer or traffic control signs direct pedestrians. Our free question page on yielding to a pedestrian in a crosswalk gives the short answer: yield.
Where you stop to enter or cross a through highway (a road with stop or yield signs on the roads that join it), sections 186(3.1) and 167 of the Act also make you yield to any vehicle on it that is close enough to be an immediate hazard.
For the yield rules in a traffic circle, see roundabout rules in New Brunswick.

Key takeaways

At a four-way stop, make a full stop first, then go only when it is safe.
A vehicle that is already in the intersection goes before you.
When two vehicles enter at about the same time, the driver on the left yields to the vehicle on the right.
With no stop line, stop before the nearest crosswalk (marked or not). With no crosswalk, stop where you can see approaching traffic, before the intersection.
Next step: practise on the free New Brunswick Class 7 Level 1 practice test. Our practice tests and question pages are free and in English only.

Four-way stops in New Brunswick: common questions

Do I have to make a full stop at a four-way stop, even when no one is there?

Yes, every time. Section 186(3) of the Motor Vehicle Act says a driver who approaches a stop sign must bring the vehicle to a full stop, and the Driver's Handbook says a stop sign means a complete stop. After you stop, go only when the traffic on the road you enter lets you go safely.

What do I do if I want to turn left and an oncoming car is coming straight through?

Let it go first. A driver who turns left must yield to any vehicle from the opposite direction that is in the intersection or so close that it is an immediate hazard. While you wait, keep your wheels straight until you are ready to turn.

Is a flashing red traffic light the same as a stop sign?

Yes. Under section 122(1) of the Motor Vehicle Act, a flashing red light in a traffic signal at an intersection has the effect of a stop sign. Stop where you would stop for a stop sign, yield to vehicles and pedestrians as the law requires, and go only when the way is clear.

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

No. When a vehicle has stopped at a marked crosswalk or at an intersection to let a pedestrian cross, it is an offence for a driver who comes from behind to overtake and pass that stopped vehicle.

Can I go into the intersection if traffic is backed up on the other side?

No. Except when you prepare for a turn, do not enter an intersection or a marked crosswalk unless there is enough space on the other side for your vehicle to clear it completely. Wait at your stop position until the space opens, then go when it is safe.