What should you do when approaching a stop sign?

When approaching a stop sign, it is essential to come to a complete stop before the intersection. This is critical for ensuring safety as it allows you to assess your surroundings, including any vehicles and pedestrians that may be present. After stopping, you can then proceed through the intersection when it is safe to do so, ensuring that you yield to any other road users who may have the right of way.

Performing a full stop helps prevent accidents and ensures compliance with traffic laws. It's important to understand that rolling through a stop sign or only slowing down can lead to dangerous situations where you might miss another vehicle or pedestrian that you need to yield to. Similarly, the idea of proceeding without stopping if no cars are coming overlooks the responsibility to ensure the intersection is clear, as pedestrians or cyclists may still be present. Yielding to pedestrians is important, but prioritizing a full stop before making any moves helps protect everyone on the roadway.