What does a stop sign require you to do?

A stop sign requires you to come to a complete stop before proceeding. This is a fundamental traffic rule aimed at ensuring safety at intersections. When you encounter a stop sign, you must bring your vehicle to a complete halt, allowing you to assess your surroundings for any oncoming traffic or pedestrians. This complete stop gives drivers adequate time to make informed decisions about when it is safe to proceed, thus reducing the risk of collisions.

While slowing down and proceeding with caution, yielding to cars on the left, or only stopping if there is traffic may seem reasonable in certain driving situations, they do not meet the legal requirements associated with a stop sign. These alternatives could result in misunderstandings about the rules of the road and potential safety hazards, as they negate the importance of fully stopping, which is necessary to maintain safe driving conditions.