Advocacy & Safety - When drivers give me their right-of-way, should I take it?

I live in Southern California, in a town with plenty of cyclists. Lately, I've been noticing something happening a lot more than usual.

If there's a four-way stop (with signs), and a car pulls up and stops first (going across my path), and then I pull up a few seconds later at my sign, the driver will wave me through the intersection, even though he clearly has the right-of-way (since he got there first).

I've been taking it, as it keeps me from having to unclip and regain momentum, but it's gotten me to thinking: am I "training" drivers to expect cyclists to blow through stop signs? Or are they just being nice, and I should smile and wave?

From a 'rules of the road' perspective, I'm not sure if I should just go, or if I should fully stop, unclip, and force the driver to take his right-of-way?

What would/do you do?

I live in Southern California, in a town with plenty of cyclists. Lately, I've been noticing something happening a lot more than usual.

If there's a four-way stop (with signs), and a car pulls up and stops first (going across my path), and then I pull up a few seconds later at my sign, the driver will wave me through the intersection, even though he clearly has the right-of-way (since he got there first).

I've been taking it, as it keeps me from having to unclip and regain momentum, but it's gotten me to thinking: am I "training" drivers to expect cyclists to blow through stop signs? Or are they just being nice, and I should smile and wave?

From a 'rules of the road' perspective, I'm not sure if I should just go, or if I should fully stop, unclip, and force the driver to take his right-of-way?

What would/do you do?

I get this a lot more too. At 4 way stops I don't think it's too big a deal to take what they give. I have gone back and forth with hands motions "no you go ahead". Your take on "training" drivers is interesting. I wonder if riders blowing though 4 ways has already done that.

where I have had problems is crossing a main 4 lane where I have a stop sign and the main road does not. I have got cars stop in the far lanes and waiting for me to go when the near lanes have cars blowing by at 40mph. I have also seen the driver of the far lane car throw his hands up pissed when I wouldn't jump into traffic against the right of way to be killed.

Lately when a car stops I quickly unmount and take the crosswalk. Still, about half the cars voilate my right of way while I am a pedestrian in the marked crosswalk. I am concidering shoving my bike in front of one soon as I would like a new bike. ;)

This whole thing is puzzling. I am reluctant to take the given right of way as if you were to get hit it would like like your fault. It also creates confusion for everyone.

there's my $0.02

I stop when they do that because I do feel like I am training them to expect cyclists to blow through. I also find it very irritating when a driver sees me half a block away and waits for me to come to a stop before he proceeds. Those guys just cause so much confusion.

I get this a lot more too. At 4 way stops I don't think it's too big a deal to take what they give. I have gone back and forth with hands motions "no you go ahead". Your take on "training" drivers is interesting. I wonder if riders blowing though 4 ways has already done that.

where I have had problems is crossing a main 4 lane where I have a stop sign and the main road does not. I have got cars stop in the far lanes and waiting for me to go when the near lanes have cars blowing by at 40mph. I have also seen the driver of the far lane car throw his hands up pissed when I wouldn't jump into traffic against the right of way to be killed.

Lately when a car stops I quickly unmount and take the crosswalk. Still, about half the cars voilate my right of way while I am a pedestrian in the marked crosswalk. I am concidering shoving my bike in front of one soon as I would like a new bike. ;)

This whole thing is puzzling. I am reluctant to take the given right of way as if you were to get hit it would like like your fault. It also creates confusion for everyone.

there's my $0.02

It's a good time to stop and take a drink. the 4 ways aren't so bad but the highways will get you killed. The nicest thing a driver can do for me is go ahead and get out of the way so I can see the road when it's clear.:mad:

It's a good time to stop and take a drink.
This is a pretty good idea. That way they don't get upset because I didn't accept their gesture of kindness, but they still [hopefully] learn that they should just follow traffic laws because it gets *confusing*.


where I have had problems is crossing a main 4 lane where I have a stop sign and the main road does not. I have got cars stop in the far lanes and waiting for me to go when the near lanes have cars blowing by at 40mph. I have also seen the driver of the far lane car throw his hands up pissed when I wouldn't jump into traffic against the right of way to be killed.

Wow...I guess I'm lucky that this, so far, has happened to me only on smaller back roads. Yikes.

I try very hard not to take the right of way in these situations. I think it is dangerous; a driver behind them that doesn't know what they're doing and doesn't see me might decide to blow around them, and hit me as I'm going through the intersection. It's happened to people on this board before, though the one I remember was someone stopped in the middle of a road letting a cyclist turn left in front of them, and the guy behind decided to blow around on the car's right through the parking lane.

If there's a four-way stop (with signs), and a car pulls up and stops first (going across my path), and then I pull up a few seconds later at my sign, the driver will wave me through the intersection, even though he clearly has the right-of-way (since he got there first).


There are also ways to make it more clear that you are really intending to stop - especially useful when there is not high demand at the four way.
-unclipping and foot down trackstand can read as pushing to go
-using stop hand signal
-slowing gradually well before intersection vs. a hard quick stop
-centerish (or otherwise destination positioned) in lane

i have actually had people flip out on me for not taking their offered right-of-way at four ways.


curious stuff

i have actually had people flip out on me for not taking their offered right-of-way at four ways.


curious stuff

Have you ever had them call out "So are you going to go?" ?

Cheeken, I'd recommend not taking the right away. There's a post floating around by a guy who was just hit by a car. He failed to signal his turn, so HE gets the 80 dollar ticket, not the car that hit him. Many years ago there were several news stories in so cal about people in cars waiving other cars (giving the other car their right of way), then ramming into them so they could say "These jerks took my right of way and I hit them" to the judge as they sued the other vehicle for all they were worth. As the son of a lawyer, I've seen it (and plenty of other unbelievable rulings) happen and its made me a very paranoid individual in those circumstances.
If it makes you feel better, I've been cursed at and flipped off both while cycling and driving for not taking someone elses right of way. And if I did take the right of way and had been hit or injured during any of those times, I'd probably have to pay the car who hit me for the dents and damages my body made on their car. Murphy's law states that the ONE TIME you decide to take that right of way, that's the one time some a-hole will drive out and hit you, which would then make it YOUR FAULT. Not worth it, in my opinion ;-)

Motorists don't trust cyclists because cyclists have taught motorists not to trust cyclists. Please don't reinforce this. Claim ROW when it is yours, and safe to do so, and yield it when it is not.

I get this too. I don't take their offer either. It is dangerous and unpredictable, especially at a 4-way stop. First come, first go, regardless of the vehicle type.

Yeah they are trying to be polite, but polite isn't written into the traffic laws. Other drivers in other lanes won't expect this move and you've got a crash.

He failed to signal his turn, so HE gets the 80 dollar ticket, not the car that hit him.

re-read that sentence. If you didn't know that the person who was ticketed was a cyclist, the context changes.

If you were in a car approaching another car that suddenly slowed in the road without offering an indication of intent and you decided to pass that car just as that car started to turn in the same direction that you're passing them on and you struck that car. The car that slowed and then turned without bothering to signal would be ticketed.

I fail to see how personal responsiblity changes based on the mode of transportation, both methods are required by law, in most states, to use turn signals.

In my community this is common and the "politeness" seems to be increasing.

Usually I just take the invitation and go even when unclipped and foot on the ground.

It is also true that about half or more of the bikers seem to just blow through as if nothing is there. Maybe that is a key to the overall behavior.

I actually don't know what the law is as many roads are signed with a yellow "trail" warning sign, while the bike paths are signed with a "stop" sign. At one intersection I cross the four lane 45 mph road has a "trail" yellow sign and the bikes have a sign that says "STOP This intersection is NOT a crosswalk. Cross traffic does NOT stop. Trail users MUST stop and WAIT for traffic to clear." Of course, the crossing motor traffic doesn't see the sign we do. About one in five cars seems to stop if a biker is visible at any distance in any direction. The other four in five cars are blowing through at 50-55 mph.

As mentioned drivers trying to wave people into four lanes of fast moving traffic IS a problem. There are streets around here where confusion and inconsistent behavior by drivers at crosswalks cause the same issues. People don't dare actually walk in front of waving on stopped cars because some idiot will drive around one side or the other.

So, at one crossing where cars have right of way, I am waved on by a Sherriff's car that comes to a halt for no reason -- do I dare refuse to obey a police order to cross (real, not made up)?

So, at one crossing where cars have right of way, I am waved on by a Sherriff's car that comes to a halt for no reason -- do I dare refuse to obey a police order to cross (real, not made up)?
Oh that happened to me yesterday. I was dismounted and waiting at a crosswalk at an intersection. Walk light was red. Light traffic on the roads. A police car came up behind me and was making a free right turn over my crosswalk. He stopped at the corner and waved me across. Uhh THE WALK SIGN WAS RED and the cross street light was green. He waited for me a bit then accelerated angrily. I don't know what he was thinking.

I get this too. I don't take their offer either. It is dangerous and unpredictable, especially at a 4-way stop. First come, first go, regardless of the vehicle type.

Yeah they are trying to be polite, but polite isn't written into the traffic laws. Other drivers in other lanes won't expect this move and you've got a crash.

I agree this can be dangerous when there are other cars around; it's a lot more then just the two drivers/rider and creates confusion. I have also noticed as someone posted here that this behavior is growing. What's the deal?

There's not a lot of training for dealing with bikes in the vehicle licensing process, come to think of it in Calif. if you are over 18 there really no training required at all to get a license:twitchy:.

I have had this happen often and not just at 4 ways. Guess I live around a lot of nice people. :)

Anyway, I take it. Saves confusion.

I get this too. I don't take their offer either. It is dangerous and unpredictable, especially at a 4-way stop. First come, first go, regardless of the vehicle type.

Yeah they are trying to be polite, but polite isn't written into the traffic laws. Other drivers in other lanes won't expect this move and you've got a crash.

I kind of assumed he's talking about a situation with only one driver. Of course if other cars are around, it's not likely they are all going to give you the right of way so obviously in that situation you don't take it, right?

come to think of it in Calif. if you are over 18 there really no training required at all to get a license:twitchy:.


I think that's true in all states. By 18, just go get it.

I live in Southern California, in a town with plenty of cyclists. Lately, I've been noticing something happening a lot more than usual.

If there's a four-way stop (with signs), and a car pulls up and stops first (going across my path), and then I pull up a few seconds later at my sign, the driver will wave me through the intersection, even though he clearly has the right-of-way (since he got there first).

I've been taking it, as it keeps me from having to unclip and regain momentum, but it's gotten me to thinking: am I "training" drivers to expect cyclists to blow through stop signs? Or are they just being nice, and I should smile and wave?

From a 'rules of the road' perspective, I'm not sure if I should just go, or if I should fully stop, unclip, and force the driver to take his right-of-way?

What would/do you do?

Just be nice n' wave.

I see that from time to time. Personally, I tell them to go ahead. Because, If the suddenly, but accidentally, step on the gas, instead of keeping their foot on the brake, they could very easily hit me.

No matter, how gracious they are, I won't move until they are gone.

In my neck of the woods some of MUPs cross major roads and we have signs telling us"this is not a cross walk, trail users must stop and yield to traffic" so of course when you pull up to one of these intersections someone always feels compelled to stop and motion you across, oblivious to the other three lanes of traffic that isn't stopping or the car behind them that isn't stopping either

I too dislike the misguided kindness but finally decided that extra cautious acceptance of the gesture is the smoothest way to go unless there is other traffic present. That not only saves time but gives a bit of encouragement to the driver who showed cycle awareness albeit a bit confused.

When there is other traffic, especially the kind of situation bluekahuna describes, I just smile, do a "go ahead" gesture, and stay put.

This happens all the time to me too, but I NEVER take drivers up on it unless I'm trying to make a left turn and there's a huge line of traffic backed up in the oncoming lane. For me, it's a safety and liability issue. I prefer not to insert my 25-pound, 1/2-horsepower vehicle in front of their 4000-pound, 350-horsepower vehicle when it doesn't belong there. I also don't want to be held responsible for damages from a crash because I violated someone else's right of way. Yes, they often get pissed off and swear and yell and burn rubber when they take off; I'm not sure what sort of issues they have going on.

If I see a driver stopped at a 4-way stop that I'm approaching and they seem to be waiting for me to run the stop sign I'll slow to a crawl and roll up to the line veeeery slooooowly. If they still haven't moved, I'll stop, dismount, and pretend to inspect some component on my bike until they go.

My favorite dumbass motorist situation is this one: I'm signalling a left turn -- a driver in the oncoming lane stops to try to get me to turn in front of them -- I don't turn and after a while they finally move on -- the VERY NEXT driver stops and does the same thing!:wtf:

i too dislike the misguided kindness but finally decided that extra cautious acceptance of the gesture is the smoothest way to go unless there is other traffic present. That not only saves time but gives a bit of encouragement to the driver who showed cycle awareness albeit a bit confused.

When there is other traffic, especially the kind of situation bluekahuna describes, i just smile, do a "go ahead" gesture, and stay put.

+1

I do whatever is safer and most convenient.

When drivers give me their right-of-way, should I take it?

ask my mangled leg....

gcottay says it best though....
i too dislike the misguided kindness but finally decided that extra cautious acceptance of the gesture is the smoothest way to go unless there is other traffic present. That not only saves time but gives a bit of encouragement to the driver who showed cycle awareness albeit a bit confused.

When there is other traffic, especially the kind of situation bluekahuna describes, i just smile, do a "go ahead" gesture, and stay put.

I try to preempt the "no, please, you go, I insist" theatre that happens at 4 way stops by signalling furiously to the car that has the right of way to proceed BEFORE he can wave me on.

I live in Southern California, in a town with plenty of cyclists. Lately, I've been noticing something happening a lot more than usual.

If there's a four-way stop (with signs), and a car pulls up and stops first (going across my path), and then I pull up a few seconds later at my sign, the driver will wave me through the intersection, even though he clearly has the right-of-way (since he got there first).

I've been taking it, as it keeps me from having to unclip and regain momentum, but it's gotten me to thinking: am I "training" drivers to expect cyclists to blow through stop signs? Or are they just being nice, and I should smile and wave?

From a 'rules of the road' perspective, I'm not sure if I should just go, or if I should fully stop, unclip, and force the driver to take his right-of-way?

What would/do you do?

If I've been watching the intersection in front of me as I approach, and any traffic behind me in my rear view mirror, ( and I would have been since I believe in defensive driving whether on my bike or in my car ) and I encountered the situation you describe I would:

Wave to the driver to acknowledge that I see they are waving me through making sure we have eye contact, and signal or point where I am going. ( How does the driver know you are going through the intersection rather than turning? )

Then as I pass by the driver I usually wave to them and say "Thank You." No, they can't hear you but if someone looks at you and says "thank you" you know what they mean.

It sounds like you have to do a whole bunch of stuff just for one intersection, but it really happens quickly and with little effort if you think about it.

I think controlled intersections are the most dangerous place for cars, cyclists, pedestrians, .....anyone. If you are still moving on your bike, and a motorist waves me through even though it really isn't my turn to go; I go if there are no other hazards to keep me from doing so.

This gets me through that intersection so I don't have worry about it anymore, it keeps my from having to unclip so I don't lose momentum, and it gets me out of that driver's way faster too.

I've read some of the other posts, and I will agree there are times when you shouldn't take advantage of a driver waving you through.

One is the driver is waving you to go, but they aren't the only car involved, and they are waving you into harms way. Obviously, you should stop and wave to them to go ahead. I have this happen to me when I'm driving a car. Some drivers just don't have good situational awareness skills and never will.

Another was where a driver a driver would wave you through, just so they could run over you? Haven't encountered that one yet, I suppose I wouldn't be able to post here if I had.

Another one that I didn't see mentioned is when you pull up to a 4 way stop with a driver in the adjacent lane, and they just don't ever acknowledge your presence.

This is also something that happens to me while driving a car and it can end up with both of you just sitting for longer than needed, or you both take off at the same time, so you do that little start/stop dance until you finally get the other driver to look at you, so you can wave them on through and put an end on that fiasco.

If I run into a driver like that while I'm on my bike, then I stop. This will quite likely be one of those drivers somone else mentioned that will finally look at you with exasparation and the old "why didn't you go" look. I just wave for them to go on, there's no way I'm going to ride in front of someone's car like that.

I think think the key to safety in these situations is communication, and signaling your intentions is the best way to get that done. Doesn't matter if your driving a car or riding a bike.

This year I've seen many people driving cars fail to properly signal their intentions and I have not yet seen a cyclist signal their intentions.

In my first week or so of cycling to/from work, I've had this happen a few times in my neighborhood. I was taking it as politeness, but I often use hand signals while driving too.
If it's obvious that they were there first (and therefore have ROW), I'll wave back at them until they go.
If there's any ambiguity as to who was there first, hand signals or verbals are the only way.

I live in Southern California, in a town with plenty of cyclists. Lately, I've been noticing something happening a lot more than usual.

If there's a four-way stop (with signs), and a car pulls up and stops first (going across my path), and then I pull up a few seconds later at my sign, the driver will wave me through the intersection, even though he clearly has the right-of-way (since he got there first).

I've been taking it, as it keeps me from having to unclip and regain momentum, but it's gotten me to thinking: am I "training" drivers to expect cyclists to blow through stop signs? Or are they just being nice, and I should smile and wave?

From a 'rules of the road' perspective, I'm not sure if I should just go, or if I should fully stop, unclip, and force the driver to take his right-of-way?

What would/do you do?

Many points to discuss in your post...
First, I try to never arrive at a 4 way stop soon after other vehicles, I usually time my stop to not stop, yes sorry... But this depends on traffic, in very light traffic, I either make it well before or well after and just take my intersection at reduced speed. In reg-heavy traffic, I will usually slow just enough to that a motorist to my left catches the stop before I then coast through the intersection alongside the motorist, which I figure to be the safest, as I'm protected by their mass from other moronic motorists.

Secondly, in many cities (like where I'm living now, Whitehorse) it is the norm for motorists to stop for pedestrians, ANYWHERE, and as a pedestrian I hate it, and as a car driver I hate it even more. I find it annoying to the utmost to have motorists trying to guess my walking/crossing needs, that is dangerous and unreliable, I much prefer to safely jay walk or wait for the light, yes, wait for that light, because all that stopping-idling-starting is the worst thing a motor can do for the environment, and all the sudden braking is a wonderful crash instigator.

A cyclist taking such a pass is acting as a meek pedestrian, I give them the wave-no-you-go!

I've stated this before, but I've had drivers attempt to "wave me through" an intersection - WHILE THEY WERE ROLLING THROUGH! It amazes me the stupidity. I've even had drivers get mad at me for not going in front of them when they stopped for no apparent reason. Others still try to wave me through, at night. Sad. I am somewhat protective of my life. I enjoy having it. As such, I don't proceed until it is clear or my R/W is clear. If it delays or frustrates a driver, tough. I will only go out of turn when someone with a badge is controlling all traffic in the intersection.

I try to preempt the "no, please, you go, I insist" theatre that happens at 4 way stops by signalling furiously to the car that has the right of way to proceed BEFORE he can wave me on.

Indeed, BEFORE is the key word for most safe cycling considerations :)

I've even had drivers get mad at me for not going in front of them when they stopped for no apparent reason.

This is the normal reaction I get too. I always wonder why people who are so clearly in the wrong get so upset at the person who is behaving predictably and legally.

I once had a cop wave me through a four way I didn't have the right of way on. I figured at the time it was because he realized getting back up to speed is a lot easier for him than it is for me.

But generally it seems that most people in my area don't expect people on bikes to stop at stop signs. Could be because the vast majority of people on bikes here are kids that do just about everything in the book while riding, aside from following traffic laws that is.

It's a nice setup for knocking someone over and getting away with it.

I won't go. I have had an attack start this way - I go, he tries to kill.

It's not just bicycles. We have a T with the stem having no stop and the arms having stops. I was coming from the right T turning left on the stem. I stopped. A dark pickup coming up the stem stopped. Then motioned me through. I refused. I refused. I refused. Moron.

He made a right turn and stopped, explained to me he was an LEO and a motorcyclist and was very polite and I should have gone. Whoopie. I told him he needed to use his rights of way and stop confusing motorcyclists. And that there's no way I'm getting in front of a strange pickup in the middle of nowhere where the investigating officers simply have a smashed bike and rider who clearly ran a stop in front of a pickup. I really don't think he got it.

He's just an ******* in another vehicle to me. Needs to obey the laws and not make up new ones.

I do tend to confuse people by stopping at stop signs, whether on bicycle, motorcycle, or in a car. Really spooks some folks. I think I'm the only person who stops at every stop!!! I've probably scraped up more dead and wounded than most. Maybe that makes a difference.

I do tend to confuse people by stopping at stop signs, whether on bicycle, motorcycle, or in a car. Really spooks some folks. I think I'm the only person who stops at every stop!!! I've probably scraped up more dead and wounded than most. Maybe that makes a difference.

I also tend to confuse people by stopping. I lose momentum while bicycling, but who cares? I'll lose a lot more if I don't stop. You aren't the only one, just a rare individual that acts in what should be a predictable manner. I've also had other idiots on bicycles darn near hit me when I stopped at a stop sign. Sad that I would have to call out something like that! I mean, the stop sign isn't a light, it won't change.

First, I try to never arrive at a 4 way stop soon after other vehicles, I usually time my stop to not stop, yes sorry... But this depends on traffic, in very light traffic, I either make it well before or well after and just take my intersection at reduced speed.

I do the same thing and yes, technically we're breaking the law but I feel like it is safer and more conductive to traffic flow.

When I drive my car I'd rather the bicyclist moves on through the intersection and out of my way, if it is safe for them to do it, and I don't care that they didn't come to a full stop while I have to.

I think some drivers get angry when they see this, but if they would really think about it, it works to their advantage.

I also tend to confuse people by stopping. I lose momentum while bicycling, but who cares? I'll lose a lot more if I don't stop. You aren't the only one, just a rare individual that acts in what should be a predictable manner. I've also had other idiots on bicycles darn near hit me when I stopped at a stop sign. Sad that I would have to call out something like that! I mean, the stop sign isn't a light, it won't change.

I stop at intersections when there is enough traffic that it is not reasonable for me to try to slide on through, or I'm not sure of the situation, and that judgement is based on both my being a bicycle rider and a car driver.

I'm not going to endanger myself, and I don't think it's right to endanger, or to even startle, another person on the road whether they are driving, biking, or walking.

As I mentioned previously, I'll try to time it so I can roll through an intersection if it's safe to do so, but there are many times when I'm just not convinced that it's safe and I just stop. At the very least, if I feel people aren't paying attention at an intersection, I slow way down and unclip one foot so I can stop abrubtly if needed.

A little common sense and signaling your intentions on the road, whether you are driving or riding, will go a long way to reducing conflicts at intersections.

I find vehicles stopping like that very irritating when I ride. Unfortunately, this also trains a lot of bicyclists to assume they will have right of way in every situation. I recently had two bicyclists run into the side of my vehicle because they assumed I would wait for them to pass at a 4-way stop. I saw them when I stopped and they were maybe 30 ft from the crosswalk and assumed that they would stop or at least slow down but that wasn't the case.

I stop at stopsigns and go in the order we got there. I can hardly get mad at someone trying to be helpful or polite in offering to give their turn to me. But, I generally do not accept the offer. I vigorously shake my head to signal no and point at them to go. In my non-scientific study, pointing at them seems to be more final than merely playing the wave-through game. It seems clear enough to them that they will have to go before me.

j

Motorists don't trust cyclists because cyclists have taught motorists not to trust cyclists. Please don't reinforce this. Claim ROW when it is yours, and safe to do so, and yield it when it is not.

and adding: USE the right of way when it is yielded to you.

don't play the 'you go, no you go, no you go wave'

apply ones claim to right of way the same wether it's a car or a bike. they yield, it's safe, TAKE IT!

today i was riding up on a garbage truck pulled to the side of a neighborhood slow speed street. a car was approaching from the other side, needing to squeeze thru the space between the truck and the curb.

he yielded ROW to me approaching behind the garbage truck (he could see my intent). should I have done the legal roadway use thing, and wait behind the garbage truck to let the oncoming traffic pass first?

Heck no, the driver was YIELDING THE RIGHT OF WAY.

the intersections aren't always signalized. what do you do at every unmarked 4 way intersection, stop every time you approach an intersection if you're second on the mark? what if the drivers are yielding to you???

they yield, you take it. wave nice at them, train the motorists to be nice to cyclists.

the intersections aren't always signalized. what do you do at every unmarked 4 way intersection

you make a good point...

just for clarity, they are referred to as controlled and uncontrolled intersections an typically you won't see traffic very often at the uncontrolled variety.

I live in Southern California, in a town with plenty of cyclists. Lately, I've been noticing something happening a lot more than usual.

If there's a four-way stop (with signs), and a car pulls up and stops first (going across my path), and then I pull up a few seconds later at my sign, the driver will wave me through the intersection, even though he clearly has the right-of-way (since he got there first).

What would/do you do?

I dislike "nanny drivers" who treat me like a child who must be protected by insisting that I go first when they have right of way. I'm pretty insistent that if they have right of way, they must take it.

and adding: USE the right of way when it is yielded to you.

And what happens if the driver with the right of way suddenly decides to go? Any resulting damage is going to be blamed on YOU because it will look like you failed to yield.

That's the biggest reason that I insist other drivers use their right of way instead of trying to give it to me.

I do whatever is safer and most convenient.

Same here