What is the purpose of a stop sign?

The purpose of a stop sign is to ensure drivers come to a complete stop before proceeding. When approaching a stop sign, it is crucial for drivers to halt their vehicle fully to assess the situation at the intersection and ensure it is safe to continue. This helps prevent accidents by allowing drivers to check for oncoming traffic or pedestrians and to make informed decisions before they move forward.

While yielding to oncoming traffic, indicating speed limits, and signaling merging lanes are important traffic control measures, they serve different functions. Yield signs indicate that you must let other vehicles or pedestrians go first, speed limits inform drivers of the maximum allowable speed, and merging lane signs warn of lanes that combine. In contrast, the stop sign is specifically designed to mandate that vehicles come to a full stop.