Crossing a divided highway

[ildriver09]

What is the name of your state (only U.S. law)? Illinois

When crossing a divided highway (2 lanes in each direction, separated by a large ditch (sometimes called a borrow pit), what is the correct procedure?

From the stop sign at the edge of the divided highway, does one proceed to the middle area (marked with "yield" painted on the ground but no sign) or wait until traffic from both directions is clear. To provide an example, do I:

1) Wait until the near lanes are clear, drive to the middle and wait for the far lanes (opposite direction) to be clear, or

2) Wait until all 4 lanes are clear and drive completely across the divided highway?

I can not find the part of the vehicle code dealing with this, but it seems to me one should pass to the middle area when one side is clear, then proceed when the other is clear. Otherwise the wait for all traffic to be clear could be very long.

Thanks!

[I_Got_Banned]

Originally Posted by ildriver09

do I:

1) Wait until the near lanes are clear, drive to the middle and wait for the far lanes (opposite direction) to be clear, or

2) Wait until all 4 lanes are clear and drive completely across the divided highway?

You could do either.

Here's as close as I could get as far as Vehicle Codes are concerned...

You will find this under:

625 ILCS

Article IX: Right-Of-Way

Sec. 11‑904. Vehicle entering stop or yield intersection.

(a) Preferential right‑of‑way at an intersection may be indicated by stop or yield signs as authorized in Section 11‑302 of this Chapter.

(b) Except when directed to proceed by a police officer or traffic‑control signal, every driver of a vehicle approaching a stop intersection indicated by a stop sign shall stop at a clearly marked stop line, but if none, before entering the crosswalk on the near side of the intersection, or if none, then at the point nearest the intersecting roadway where the driver has a view of approaching traffic on the intersecting roadway before entering the intersection. After having stopped, the driver shall yield the right‑of‑way to any vehicle which has entered the intersection from another roadway or which is approaching so closely on the roadway as to constitute an immediate hazard during the time when the driver is moving across or within the intersection, but said driver having so yielded may proceed at such time as a safe interval occurs.

(c) The driver of a vehicle approaching a yield sign shall in obedience to such sign slow down to a speed reasonable for the existing conditions and, if required for safety to stop, shall stop at a clearly marked stop line, but if none, before entering the crosswalk on the near side of the intersection, or if none, then at the point nearest the intersecting roadway where the driver has a view of approaching traffic on the intersecting roadway. After slowing or stopping, the driver shall yield the right‑of‑way to any vehicle in the intersection or approaching on another roadway so closely as to constitute an immediate hazard during the time such driver is moving across or within the intersection.

(d) If a driver is involved in a collision at an intersection or interferes with the pavement of other vehicles after driving past a yield right‑of‑way sign, such collision or interference shall be deemed prima facie evidence of the driver's failure to yield right‑of‑way.

(Source: P.A. 76‑1739.)