Q&A for How to Stop at a STOP Sign

Before the stop line. If needed, you can slowly pull up a little and then stop again when you have a good view of traffic in all directions.

You should stop at the sign and then proceed to a point where you can see the traffic.

Stop before the white line. You should stop within two feet of it, so the bumper does not go over the line.

If "pausing" means coming to a complete stop, then no, they shouldn't charge you because you didn't do anything wrong. If you slowed down without completely stopping though, the charge would be justified.

You should stop before the sidewalk, which is an extension of the imaginary crosswalk which lines up with the sidewalk on either side.

If a traffic control officer waves at you, he "overrules" the stop sign. You can proceed straight through.

There should be a white line painted across the road. You have to come to a complete stop before you cross that line. Once you have come to a complete stop, you may inch forward a little bit in order to see whether or not it is safe for you to proceed.

Yes, every car in sequence must stop and check for oncoming traffic before proceeding. Some local laws make an exception for funeral processions.

You should stop far enough back to see the back wheels of the vehicle in front of you over your hood.

If there is a crosswalk at the intersection, you should stop before crossing it. If there is no crosswalk, stop short of the intersection with enough space that other cars can safely turn in without hitting you.

There is no specific amount of time you should wait before proceeding. Just make sure that the intersection is clear and there is no oncoming traffic so you can cross the intersection safely.

Edge out until you can scan the road for oncoming traffic, that is what my examiner instructed me to do when I took my road test.

If the traffic in your country drives on the right, you should look left, then right, and then left again. If the traffic is on the left side of the road in your country, then do the opposite.

You should signal your intentions before you starting braking at the stop sign.

You should wait until you have right of way. If you're pulling up to a stop sign and entering a busy roadway, then you should stop and proceed once the roadway is clear. If you're stopping at an intersection with other stop signs, you will need to yield to the other stopped cars as necessary. (Anyone who arrived before you or is sitting to your right goes ahead of you.) You do not need to wait for multiple cars to stop at a sign before it's your turn to proceed though.

If there is a line on the road, you should pull up to the line. If there is not a line, then you should pull right up to the stop sign.

Slowly apply even pressure on the brake, more pressure the closer you get to the stop sign. Start braking a little before the stop sign - enough so you don't have to stomp on the brake when you get there.

You must continue to wait until it is safe to proceed. Sometimes this results in a several minute wait. Many accidents are caused by impatient drivers waiting at stop signs who "jump out" in front of oncoming traffic before it is really safe.

You stop with the nose of your car behind the SIGN. This means that for some reason, a stop is necessary to be safe or allow for cross traffic of some sort.

No, it won't cause any damage to your engine.

If there is no stop line, you should stop at a point from which you can see the traffic you need to give way to.

Yes. Every single car has to stop at a stop sign, regardless of whether the way is clear or not.

Yes, you need to come to a complete stop at the stop sign. Stopping behind another car does not count.

If you have stopped at the line already, you are not required by law to stop again. You can work your way up to the intersection, and only need to stop if you have to.

There is no regulated amount of time you have to be stopped before you proceed, but you must come to a complete stop. A good rule of thumb is to wait until you feel the back end of your vehicle settle and "sit" down. After that, you are stopped completely and can proceed again.