Stop sign used in English-speaking countries, as well as in most European countries, including Russia

A stop sign is a traffic sign, usually erected at road junctions, that instructs drivers to stop and then to proceed only if the way ahead is clear. Image File history File links Stop_sign_MUTCD.svg 600 mm by 600 mm (24 in by 24 in) stop sign, made to the specifications of the 2004 edition of Standard Highway Signs (sign R1-1). ... Image File history File links Stop_sign_MUTCD.svg 600 mm by 600 mm (24 in by 24 in) stop sign, made to the specifications of the 2004 edition of Standard Highway Signs (sign R1-1). ... The English language is a West Germanic language that originates in England. ... Unused traffic signs in Austria Most countries post signage, known as traffic signs or road signs, at the side of roads to impart information to road users. ... In the field of road transport, a road junction is a place where two or more roads either meet or cross. ...

This sign is specified (with the text "STOP") in the UN Convention on Road Signs and Signals. It is one of few such signs also used in the United States. The reason for this is that it was invented in the US, and later adopted by the UN, and other countries (see History, below). This article is about the United Nations, for other uses of UN see UN (disambiguation) Official languages English, French, Spanish, Russian, Chinese, Arabic Secretary-General Kofi Annan (since 1997) Established October 24, 1945 Member states 191 Headquarters New York City, NY, USA Official site http://www. ... A typical warning sign, as defined by the convention. ...

Stop signs are not generally required at every intersection, but they are often used to control conflicting traffic movements at dangerous intersections which are not busy enough to justify the installation of either traffic lights or, especially in Europe, a roundabout. In the United States and Canada they are commonly used in residential areas, and near places where children play, as a general safety measure. In these countries it is not uncommon for stop signs to be erected on all three or four intersecting roads. This article is about a traffic control device. ... A roundabout is a type of road junction at which traffic enters a one-way stream around a central island. ...

In the United States, the stop sign is not for use as a traffic calming device.^[1] Stop signs are installed mainly for safety reasons and/or to assign right-of-way for a certain direction. Traffic calming is a set of strategies used by urban planners and traffic engineers which aim to slow down or reduce traffic, thereby improving safety for pedestrians and bicyclists as well as improving the environment for residents. ...

Stop signs are designed to be highly reflective of light. In this photograph taken at night, the person standing in front of the sign is barely visible, while the sign is vividly lit up from the camera's flash.

Standard sized stop signs are 30 inches (762 mm) long with a 3/4 inch (19 mm) white line around the edge. The letters of the stop sign are all 10 inches (254 mm) tall. Larger signs are used on multilane roadways or where driver reaction to standard sized signs is poor. Oversized stop signs can in some cases reduce crashes caused by drivers ignoring a standard sized stop sign and 'running' the junction. Running water frozen by flash. ... An inch (plural: inches; symbol or abbreviation: in or, sometimes, ″ - a double prime) is the name of a unit of length in a number of different systems, including English units, Imperial units, and United States customary units. ... A millimetre (American spelling: millimeter, symbol mm) is an SI unit of length that is equal to one thousandth of a metre. ...

Bilingual (English/French) stop sign on Parliament Hill in Ottawa. An example of bilingualism in Canada.

The following remarks concerning the right-of-way rules at intersections with multiple stop signs apply to the United States and Canada: Image File history File links Bilingualstopsign. ... Image File history File links Bilingualstopsign. ... For the hill in London, see Parliament Hill, London. ... This article is about the capital city of Canada. ... Bilingual (English/French) stop sign on Parliament Hill in Ottawa. ...

• Generally, the driver who stops first continues first.
• If two drivers stop simultaneously at stop signs at a single intersection, the general rule is that the car on the right has the right of way. Common sense applies.
• Stop signs may be augmented with additional information such as a plate bearing the legend "ALL WAY". This is important, because a driver accustomed to negotiating four-way stops may falsely believe when encountering a two-way stop that cross traffic is required to stop. Since the first car to stop has the right of way at a four-way stop, this driver may believe that it is safe to turn in front of the oncoming traffic. Therefore, if there is only a plain stop sign, the assumption has to be that cross traffic will not stop. "ALL WAY" plates are provided on the fail-safe principle that if they are missing (through disrepair, vandalism, etc.) the "more dangerous" message is given.

Former British stop sign consisting of red "Give Way" triangle inside a circle. Commonly seen in the Bahamas today. This sign, with "STOP", was common in Europe until the 1970s.

Stop signs, usually based on an octagonal design, are found all over the world, although in Europe they tend to be used far more sparingly than in North America (with most intersections lacking traffic lights being controlled by give way signs or equivalent road markings), stop signs generally being restricted (on the principle that "familiarity breeds contempt") to situations where coming to a dead stop is absolutely essential because of poor visibility at the intersection concerned. In all countries, the driver must actually stop at stop signs even if no vehicles or pedestrians are visible. However, some drivers practice an illegal maneuver known as a rolling, "Chicago," or "California" stop: slowing down significantly but not stopping completely at the sign. Even a maneuver known as a "Jakarta" stop, similar to the Chicago or California stop but with a momentary pause is not acceptable to most law enforcement officials. In road transport, a yield (Canada, Ireland, and the United States) or give way (United Kingdom and many Commonwealth countries) traffic sign indicates that a driver of a vehicle must slow down and prepare to stop if necessary (usually while merging into traffic on another road) but does not need...

Yield signs (or "Give way" signs in the UK, Australia, New Zealand, Singapore, Hong Kong), on the other hand, require the driver only to slow and prepare to stop, but do not require an actual stop if the way ahead is clear. In road transport, a yield (Canada, Ireland, and the United States) or give way (United Kingdom and many Commonwealth countries) traffic sign indicates that a driver of a vehicle must slow down and prepare to stop if necessary (usually while merging into traffic on another road) but does not need...

The intentional removal of stop signs began in the 1980s as a college prank and, today, one may find illegally obtained stop signs hanging in the occasional college dorm room. The intentional removal of stop signs from their posted locations is a crime in the U.S. Moreover, a fatal accident caused by someone removing a stop sign on purpose could result in manslaughter charges against the offender. For other uses, see College (disambiguation). ... A typical American college dorm room A dormitory or dorm is a place to sleep. ... For other uses of terms redirecting here, see US (disambiguation), USA (disambiguation), and United States (disambiguation) Motto In God We Trust(since 1956) (From Many, One; Latin, traditional) Anthem The Star-Spangled Banner Capital Washington, D.C. Largest city New York City National language English (de facto)1 Demonym American...

Stop signs are often vandalized in protest-related ways. For example, during the Bush presidency era, the words "War" and "Bush" have been spray-painted on them, giving the meaning "Stop Bush" or "Stop War".

History

Yellow old-style (1924-1954) stop sign; color, size, and mounting height are typical

Stop signs originated in Michigan in 1915. The first had black letters on a white background and were somewhat smaller than the modern one. As they became more widespread, a committee supported by the American Association of State Highway Officials (AASHO) met in 1922 to standardize them, and it selected the octagonal shape that has been used in the United States ever since. The unique eight-sided shape of the sign allows drivers facing the back of the sign to identify that oncoming drivers have a stop sign and prevent confusion with other traffic signs. It was also chosen so that it could be identified easily at night since the original signs were not reflective. Originally from [1]; originally displayed on web page [2]. Caption there reads: Old style Yellow stop sign along IL-113, near Kankakee IL. Kankakee is about 30 miles south of Chicago. ... This article is about the U.S. State. ... AASHTO, the American Association of State Highway and Transportation Officials, is a standards setting body which publishes specifications, test protocols and guidelines which are used in highway design and construction throughout the United States. ...

In 1924, the sign changed to black on yellow, the predominant color scheme until 1954. Another competing group, the National Conference on Street and Highway Safety (NCSHS), simultaneously advocated an even smaller, red-on-yellow stop sign. All of these signs were typically mounted only two or three feet above the ground.

These two organizations conflicted but eventually combined into the Joint Committee on Uniform Traffic Control Devices, which in 1935 published the famous Manual on Uniform Traffic Control Devices for Streets and Highways (MUTCD) detailing the stop sign's appearance. The MUTCD stop sign was altered eight times between 1935 and 1971, mostly dealing with its reflectorization and its mounting height; the most drastic change came in 1954, when the sign gained its white-on-red color. Red is also the color for stop on traffic signals, unifying red as a stop signal for drivers worldwide. The Manual on Uniform Traffic Control Devices (MUTCD) is a document issued by the Federal Highway Administration (FHWA) of the United States Department of Transportation (USDOT) to specify the standards by which traffic signs, road markings (see lane), and signals are designed, installed, and used. ... Traffic lights will sometimes differ where there are several lanes of traffic. ...

Although already widespread, use of the MUTCD stop sign passed into law in the United States in 1966. The mounting height reached its current level of 7 ft (2.1 m) in 1971. They were later adopted by the UN Economic Commission for Europe as part of its effort to standardize road travel across member countries. Because of this English stop signs were used (from the 1970s) in most European countries. A foot (plural: feet or foot;[1] symbol or abbreviation: ft or, sometimes, ′ – a prime) is a unit of length, in a number of different systems, including English units, Imperial units, and United States customary units. ... This article is about the unit of length. ... The United Nations Economic Commission for Europe (UNECE or ECE) was established in 1947 to encourage economic cooperation among its member states. ...

Stop sign in the United Arab Emirates

This is Japanese stop sign with a white equivalent to "STOP" (止まれ, tomare^?) in the center.

Stop sign in Zimbabwe

United Kingdom Legislation

Within the United Kingdom, Stop signs may be erected only at sites approved in writing by the Secretary of State, and Highway Authorities wishing to erect a Stop sign should make an application via the Director (Transport).

Current UK technical guidance states that before an application for the approval of a Stop sign is made, the possibility of making a visibility improvement at the junction should always be investigated. If improvements are not considered possible, the Highway Authority should give information and explain the reasons why an improvement cannot be provided when making its application. Restriction of visibility by a wall or hedge which can be reduced in height or removed will not normally justify a Stop sign.

Section 79 of the Highways Act 1980 grants powers to Highway Authorities enabling them to improve visibility at junctions.

Sign variants

Although all English-speaking and European countries use the original word "STOP" on stop signs, most countries, and sometimes even smaller political districts, prefer to use a roughly equivalent word in their primary language instead; its appearance is otherwise the same of white text on a red octagon. The few known exceptions include Israel (which uses a solid white octagon, on a red octagon), Japan (which uses the local word for Stop in white type on an inverted solid red triangle), and Zimbabwe (which uses a disc bearing a black cross and the word STOP).

See also

• Traffic sign
• Road safety
• Rules of the road

Unused traffic signs in Austria Most countries post signage, known as traffic signs or road signs, at the side of roads to impart information to road users. ... The field of road safety is concerned with reducing the numbers or the consequences of vehicle crashes, by developing and implementing management systems ideally based in a multidisciplinary and holistic approach, with interrelated activities in a number of fields. ... It has been suggested that Side of the road (traffic) be merged into this article or section. ...

External links

Wikimedia Commons has media related to:

Stop signs (category)

Wikimedia Commons has media related to:

Stop signs (gallery)

• History of the Stop Sign in America
• Stop Signa Photo Gallery
• A Collection of Stop and Yield Signs
• Library of free printable safety signs for comercial or domestic use

Image File history File links Commons-logo. ...

Notes

1. ^ The Federal Highway Administration's Manual on Uniform Traffic Control Devices 2003 Edition Revision 1 - Section 2B.05 Accessed August 13 2006

v • d • e Traffic Signs
Signs	Warning sign • Regulatory sign • Priority to the right • Yield sign • Stop sign • Prohibitory traffic sign • One-way traffic • Speed limit • Advisory speed limit • Mandatory sign • Special regulation sign • Informative sign • Information, facilities, or service sign • Direction, position, or indication sign • Additional panels
By country	Iceland • Ireland • Malaysia • Norway • Singapore • Sweden • United Kingdom (Scotland)
Lights	Traffic light • Variable-message sign
Typefaces	Clearview • DIN 1451 • FHWA Series • Frutiger • NPS Rawlinson Roadway • Trafikkalfabetet • Transport • Tratex
Conventions	Vienna Convention on Road Traffic • Vienna Convention on Road Signs and Signals • Manual on Uniform Traffic Control Devices