This type of junction itself is very common across the United States, in fact its found in many quiet neighbourhoods and suburbs. Yet there are quite a few of them dotted around the UK too, you just need to know where to find them. In fact, one estate in Nottingham has an entire estate full of them!

How they work

The junctions themselves are usually found in areas where there is very little traffic, the guideline being less than 10% traffic flow of a main road. It could be considered that the junctions are a form of traffic calming, as traffic has to slow down and stop from all directions.

At the junctions themselves, give way markings are located at the entrance to each individual road, ensuring that traffic stops and checks for other traffic, particularly vehicles that have right of way.

Priority is always given to the vehicle that arrives first, regardless of which direction they are coming from. Subsequent vehicles then take turns to go, but are only permitted to enter the junction in the order that they arrived.

If more than one vehicle arrives at the same time, priority is given to the vehicle on the right - basically the junction is treated like a roundabout.

In the USA and Canada, it is mandatory to stop, as all roads are marked with stop lines and stop signs. Small plates appear beneath the stop sign stating that the junction is a Four-way Stop.

Where to find them 

Here's a selection of where these junctions can be found:
Seedfield Road / Parkinson Street, Bury
Infirmary Road, Blackburn
Rock Road / Hartington Grove, Cambridge
Mapperley Estate, Nottingham (multiple junctions)
Cardigan Street / Albert Street, Oxford

Images on this page from Google Street View.