The way they deal with 4-way stop signs isn't "unspoken," it's the frigging law [1]. That law is exactly the same as every other state. This stuff is covered day one of driver's ed. If you "break the system," you're breaking the law and deserve a ticket, not just honking.

Moreover, the same deference can also be seen in Boston, which is a very walkable city. Although jaywalking is very common in Boston. New Orleans is a completely different city--only a small section of it has significant pedestrian traffic, and that section is often closed off to cars, anyway.

[1] http://www.leginfo.ca.gov/cgi-bin/displaycode?section=veh&gr...