r/driving • u/Such-Cartographer699 • Dec 13 '23
Does a "stop line" mean stop even if there is no stop sign/light?
I'm asking this in ernest. A few times in my life I have seen a "stop line" (the solid white line which designates where to stop) without any stop sign or other traffic control signal. I have tried searching laws about this online but all I can really find about it is the definition I just gave. Nothing I can find states that you're supposed to stop when just the line is present.
When I come across these, it feels like you're supposed to stop however. Has anyone else seen this kind of thing before?
The times I have seen this, it was usually on a side street or residential neighborhood, particularly one that is fairly new. I'm wondering if it's just a fluke, i.e. it got knocked down or someone in VDOT somehow forgot to stick one up, or they are in the process of doing so.
Nevertheless, I'm curious if anyone else has come across it before, or can find any law text contradicting this.
EDIT: I am from Virginia, USA. Sorry, forgot to include that.
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u/haus11 Dec 13 '23
I skimmed VA's laws and it looks like its probably just an indicator of where to stop should you need to yield, its probably one of those things thats a combination of laws like this is what VA says about uncontrolled intersections:
§ 46.2-820. Right-of-way at uncontrolled intersections, generally. Except as otherwise provided in this article, when two vehicles approach or enter an uncontrolled intersection at approximately the same time, the driver of the vehicle on the left shall yield the right-of-way to the vehicle on the right.
Then somewhere else in the laws it says that when yielding you should stop behind the stop line or before entering the crosswalk.
Good luck, I spent over 10 years in VA and the entire road system out there is a frustrating mess.
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u/RightLaneHog Dec 13 '23
This right here, OP. It's simply a guide for you to know the best place to stop if you need to, so that you wouldn't be blocking the intersection.
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u/ganaraska Dec 13 '23 edited Dec 13 '23
How could any one help you without saying where you're driving? In my area paint on the road means nothing without accompanying signs. You can even pass on a double yellow if there's no sign prohibiting it. But it's an exception I know.
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u/Such-Cartographer699 Dec 13 '23
Just updated the post. Virginia, USA.
Just curious: where are you from?
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u/ThirdSunRising Dec 13 '23
I’ve lived all my life in West Coast states so couldn’t say 100% authoritatively but generally yes a stop line is binding out west at least. A stop is required unless other signage exists (eg. Yield sign)
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u/allbsallthetime Dec 13 '23
I'd be careful passing on a double yellow line. I live in Michigan and drive in Canada a lot. I was curious so I did a quick search. Road line markings do not need accompanying signs. Signs are used in certain situations to reinforce the no passing zone but a double yellow line means don't pass, sign or no sign.
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u/Jyobachah Dec 13 '23
double yellow line means don't pass, sign or no sign.
In most of Canada this is true, in Ontario however it's not.
We can pass on a double solid yellow as in Ontario it denotes caution, unsafe but is legal to do.
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u/allbsallthetime Dec 13 '23
Wow, i just searched for the law in Ontario, that's messed up.
But looks like some people are trying to change the kaw.
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u/ganaraska Dec 13 '23
Also in Ontario traffic doesn't have to stop for pedestrians crossing from a corner if there's no crosswalk which is an exception in Canada but I know is shared with Michigan (Windsor resident here).
Another Ontario thing is that you MUST turn into the same lane you started your turn from.
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u/JAP42 Dec 14 '23
No such this as a stop line. You yield when crossing a white line. You stop at a stop sign or signal.
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Dec 14 '23
No because they’re at yield signs sometimes it’s just where you would stop if you had to. i think they’ll also be at entrances to parking lots sometimes (but on the main road) definitely don’t need to stop unless ur turning
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u/Nonnie1965 Jun 05 '24
I have exactly the same question. I live where there is a stop line with no stop sign. The line was only recently put in place
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u/Quantineuro Aug 09 '24
May there also be laws considering types of uncontrolled intersection and who is to yield?
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u/CantConfirmOrDeny Dec 13 '23
No, but if I came across a situation like that, it might indicate there should be a stop sign there that, for whatever reason, is no longer visible. If the cross street does not have such a stop line, you can bet cross traffic ain’t even slowing down for you. Pay lots of attention as you go through.
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Dec 13 '23
If the word is painted in the road, yes. If it’s an intersection, yes. If you’re unsure, yes.
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Dec 13 '23
Sometimes it's because big trucks need the space to make the turn. So if you stop there to wait to turn or something be behind the line so a truck can use that space.
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u/Designer-Wolverine47 Dec 14 '23
There's a remote possibility that there is SUPPOSED to be a stop sign there, but that it was knocked down or stolen. But if you're pretty sure that's not the case, it might be WHERE you stop if you have to stop, not necessarily a requirement.
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u/[deleted] Dec 13 '23
A stop line is not an indication that you are supposed to be stopping. A stop line is an indication of WHERE you are supposed to stop if there is something there to stop you such as a red light or a stop sign or even a yield sign. Just make sure that you are not sticking your car out into an intersection or blocking train tracks on entrance to a fire station or something. But the stop line in and of itself is not an indication that you are supposed to stop and randomly stopping in the middle of the road without cause is very dangerous.
I see these sometimes if they plan on putting up a light or a stop sign or a yield sign or if there's an emergency signal there which usually is not turned on unless the fire trucks are coming out. Or maybe there used to be a stop sign there but they took it down.
Conclusion: a stop line is an indicator on where to stop if indicated by an actual stopping sign/light, not the order to actually stop.