At a junction you see an octagonal sign with the word STOP on a red background, positioned above a solid white line painted across your lane. What must you do?
- Come to a complete stop at the line, even if the junction looks clear, before moving off
- Slow right down and only stop if another vehicle or pedestrian is actually present
- Treat it the same as a triangular give way sign and give priority only if necessary
- Stop only if you are turning right at the junction, otherwise proceed with caution
Why A? And why not the others?
Correct answer: A. Come to a complete stop at the line, even if the junction looks clear, before moving off
The octagon is a shape reserved solely for the STOP sign, so it can be recognised instantly even from an odd angle, in poor light, or when partly obscured by dirt or snow, which is why the rule attached to it is absolute: every driver must come to a complete stop at the line, regardless of whether the junction appears clear. Slowing down and stopping only if traffic is present describes a give way junction, not a STOP junction, so that option describes the wrong sign's rule. Treating the sign as equivalent to a triangular give way sign is wrong because the give way triangle only requires giving priority when necessary and allows proceeding without stopping if the road is clear, whereas STOP has no such conditional exception. Limiting the requirement to drivers turning right is wrong because the stop requirement at this sign applies to every vehicle approaching the junction from that direction, regardless of the manoeuvre they intend to make.
Source: The Highway Code: Traffic signs — signs giving orders (GOV.UK), STOP sign