Another traffic question. What does STOP painted on the road mean?
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Anonymous
Though of course plenty of drivers also seem to think that the letters inside the red octagon are S L O W. OP, it means STOP. Standard: 14 Except at the ends of aisles in parking lots, the word STOP shall not be used on the pavement unless accompanied by a stop line (see Section 3B.16) and STOP sign (see Section 2B.05). At the ends of aisles in parking lots, the word STOP shall not be used on the pavement unless accompanied by a stop line. https://mutcd.fhwa.dot.gov/htm/2009/part3/part3b.htm |
Anonymous
| Stop painted in the ground is usually on private property, a mall, shopping center etc. |
Anonymous
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To the poster from Europe who wanted information on four way stops. I understand your confusion as I learned to drive in Europe as well and in Germany the driver on your right always had the right of way. Easy to remember. Here in the United States, or at least to Maryland, it’s first come first serve. So you come to a complete stop and if you’re the first person in that intersection you go, if another driver got to the intersection first it’s their turn to go. Hope this helps.
Regarding the big stop painting on the road. I’ve seen that in a couple of places. One, at intersections where a school bus driver is required to stop before crossing the intersection-usually at train tracks. I’ve also seen them at intersections where for whatever reason drivers can’t seem to notice the red stop sign and there are a number of accidents so as a secondary measure the word stop is written in the road. Either way, when I see the word stop, I typically stop. And look both ways before continuing on. |
Anonymous
| Thanks for all the replies and the advice. In Europe, yes, who is on the right has the right of way. I was back at my gym and being a weirdo that I am, I observed the traffic on my way and back. Almost no cars stopped at the pavement stop sings, maybe two. Most stopped on the t-stop with the Red Stop sign, but not all. All three stops have exact same stop painted on the road, with a big white line and then pedestrian crossing. Only t-stop has the actual red Stop sign. And, there was only one situation like mine, but the car was on the left of the t-stop and observed it as first come, first goes. I will just follow that rule. Thanks again! |
Anonymous
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Update: I think I got my answer. The painted stop signs on the pavement are gone now, they took them off. There is no stop for pedestrians sign, just those lines on the road. The stop sign on the cross road is still there, making this a side street, all cars coming to the T basically yields to all other traffic.
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Anonymous
| OP must be one of those drivers who thinks that a stop sign means "stop, then go" (regardless of whether or not there are other cars already stopped there). I see this all the time at a 4-way stop near my house. People come to a stop (well, sort of), and then just roll on through. |
Anonymous
| OP, are you from Maryland? |
Anonymous
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OP, there is an entire (archived) discussion about this on the website for the federal highway administration. I didn't read the comments in detail, and many refer to various state traffic laws (and the rules for T intersections have something to do with it).
Obviously does not mean stop in all cases, because you would only see it when you have an unimpeded view of the entrance to the intersection. (And stop signs don't rely on being able to read, that is the reason for their color and shape--is there also a stop symbol painted on the road?). Thinking of where it would apply to, and all that comes to mind is pedestrian crossing or a vehicle coming from the side of the T that would require a left turn to the base of the T, but they would be expected to yield to a vehicle going straight through. I'll bet if you ask a cop they might not know the answer, you'd have to talk to the officer who oversees traffic control for the department. (Cops don't always know the fine point of traffic regulations) https://collaboration.fhwa.dot.gov/dot/fhwa/ops/Lists/aDiscussion/Flat.aspx?RootFolder=%2fdot%2ffhwa%2fops%2fLists%2faDiscussion%2fStop%20line%20without%20a%20stop%20sign&FolderCTID=0x01200200DAB0F8B5C665694C9CB3130DAE871EC5 |
Anonymous
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Anonymous
OP was not talking about a parking lot. Or whether it is a private road, but I think OP would have said so. |
Anonymous
I most certainly am not. I do live in MD but I am from Europe and find many MD drivers terrible. What you speak about is what I observe with resignation every single day. |
Anonymous
| Why hasn't anyone answered regarding stops painted on the road in parking lots? They are painted in front of every single store. I never see anyone stopping unless pedestrians are present. Why not just use the pedestrian crossing paint? |
Anonymous
Because most drivers don't stop for pedestrians in crosswalks. |
Anonymous
The law in Maryland is the person on the right has the right of way. Nobody follows it though. |
Anonymous
| I don’t know where this was OP. But stop is often painted on the road before typical pedestrian crossings when a pedestrian can’t easily see traffic. Is that possibility boy the case here? It should be treated as a three way stop, yielding to the car on the right after all have stopped. |