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Comment by girvo | Hacker News Reader

> there are stop signs in all 4 directions

This is a complete aside, but woah, is this common in SF? They simply aren't used here where I am (roundabouts are used instead)

Like they're uncommon enough that theres a news article on it in a different state: https://www.news.com.au/technology/innovation/motoring/fourw...

A four way stop sign seems like an absolute downgrade compared to a roundabout, but thats my local bias showing.

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Roundabouts are rare in the US. Four-way stops are far more common. If the authorities find a particular one to be too dangerous, they would normally install traffic lights rather than replace it with a roundabout.

Fascinating. I wonder what the cultural difference is that caused us to go in different directions on that?

I like roundabouts, but don't they require more space?

No, you can also have a mini roundabout, which is a white circle painted on the road. Maybe slightly raised but with no kerb so you can just drive over it. Yield to anybody in the junction and yield to the right (we drive on the left).

Very common in the UK instead of stop signs at intersections. Stop signs are only in rare places where a hedge or other environment prevents you from being able to see and yield to approaching traffic while approaching the junction. Even in that case there would never be a four way stop.

Interesting. We have a few of those in the US, but get this, they have stop signs too!

IIRC Vigo, in Galicia (Spain) struck me as a case of a decently dense city that used roundabouts at relatively compact intersections in the city center, along one street at least: https://maps.app.goo.gl/CwZYypxT5SjBr1QE7?g_st=ic

even it it were the case, it's not like American roads lack in space

They do in some places, like SF. Though even SF has more road than some Europe or Middle East cities.

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