Steps to Follow When Approaching a Stop Sign
A lot of drivers don’t know the proper steps that they need to take when they are approaching a stop sign. Stop signs are used to control traffic and will generally be placed at road junctions to instruct drivers on their right of way and to avoid unnecessary accidents. The stop sign will be octagonal in design and it will be white-on-red in color. If you ever see a stop sign at a road junction or corner, it means that you have to come to a complete standstill and only proceed after the traffic in front of you has cleared.
Stopping properly at stop signs is the hallmark of a good driver but not many drivers know how to approach a stop sign. Stopping properly at a sign is a great way to prevent unnecessary accidents and allows pedestrians to cross the road safely as well. So the next time you approach a stop sign, here are some of the steps that you have to take:
Identify Where The Signs Are Placed
Many roads and intersections have got stop signs that are placed in clear sight, but many drivers fail to see them or completely ignore them. There are implied stop signs also placed at some corners and intersections, which basically means that the driver should have a clear indication that they have to come to a complete stop. Implied stop signs include:
- School zones
- Neighborhood streets
- Parking lots
- Intersections without traffic lights
- Crosswalks
When a driver comes to a stop sign at an intersection they must know the right-of-way rules. The driver that stops first at the sign has got the right-of-way, if two or more cars have stopped at the same sign. A stop sign indicates that you have to come to a complete STOP, and doesn’t mean that you simply slow down your speed to walking pace. When you are stopped at an intersection always wait for your right-of-way and look both ways before proceeding to ensure you don’t cause a collision.
Inexperienced drivers or drivers that take the road test, have to stop completely at the stop sign or risk hurting their score or failing the driving test immediately. You should always be familiar with the necessary, implied and physical stop signs.
When approaching a stop sign take the following steps:
- Get your foot off the pedal and apply the brakes
- Ensure that you come to a complete stop at the stop sign
- Wait for 3 seconds before you continue going through the intersection
- Always give right-of-way to drivers that have arrived before you at the intersection.
- Give pedestrians enough time to cross the street safely before continuing to cross the intersection.
You should understand the rules of stopping at a stop sign if you want to clear your driving test or don’t want to hurt the score on your driving license. The above mentioned steps will help you in approaching a stop sign properly.