Stop signCanada

An introduction to the traffic rules and road signs of Canada. Learn about driving, road safety and much more in our illustrated book, with answers to frequently asked questions.

For informational purposes only. Always follow official regulations. Some content and images were created with AI assistance.

Traffic signs

Traffic rules

Canada

14. Stop sign

A stop sign requires drivers to bring their vehicle to a complete stop and yield before entering or crossing the road ahead. The stop must be made at the stop line or another legally prescribed position.

After stopping, the driver may continue only when this can be done safely and without interfering with traffic that has the right-of-way. The sign does not create priority for the driver who has stopped.

Multilingual stop sign in Cree, Chipewyan, English and French. (Fort Smith, Northwest Territories, Canada)
Wikimedia.org • awmcphee • CC0

Must I stop completely at a stop sign in Canada?

In the Ontario example, yes. Come to a complete stop when the applicable stop sign controls your approach, even when you cannot see another road user. Slowing to a crawl is not a stop. The stopping duty is separate from the duty to give way before continuing. Check the rules for another state, province or territory separately.

🔗 ontario.ca • Ontario MTO — STOP, YIELD, simultaneous arrival and all-way stops

🔗 icbc.com • ICBC — Learn to Drive Smart, March2026, comparative signs and safe-driving guidance; BC scope

Stop and yield.

English • Québec P-10 • Stop. Come to a complete stop at the stop line or before entering the junction, and proceed only when safe. The Québec catalogue also permits the word STOP.

Sources

🔗 Commons.wikimedia.org
🔗 Cdn-contenu.quebec.ca • Québec MTMD · Regulatory signs poster, April 2026, p. 1
🔗 Legisquebec.gouv.qc.ca • Québec · Road signs regulation C-24.2, r. 41, section 7 (official consolidation, 1 May 2026) (FR)

SVG source: Transports Quebec — Government of Quebec • Public domain • Original revision 2025-01-21. Wikimedia original unmodified.

Where must I stop at a stop-controlled junction in Canada?

In Ontario, stop completely at the marked stop line. If there is no stop line, stop at the crosswalk, marked or unmarked; if there is no crosswalk, stop at the edge of the sidewalk. If there is no sidewalk, stop at the edge of the intersection. Check the corresponding rules separately in other Canadian provinces and territories.

🔗 ontario.ca • Ontario MTO — stop line, crosswalk, sidewalk and intersection sequence

🔗 icbc.com • ICBC — Learn to Drive Smart, March2026, comparative signs and safe-driving guidance; BC scope

Does stopping first give me priority at a stop sign in Canada?

In Ontario, an ordinary stop requires giving way to the traffic entitled to pass. At an all-way stop, the first vehicle to come to a complete stop goes first; when vehicles arrive together, apply the right-hand and turning rules. Continue to protect pedestrians and cyclists. Do not present this provincial example as one national Canadian rule.

🔗 ontario.ca • Ontario MTO — STOP, YIELD, simultaneous arrival and all-way stops

🔗 icbc.com • ICBC — Learn to Drive Smart, March2026, comparative signs and safe-driving guidance; BC scope

Dead end

Yield

1 Canada 2 Freeway 3 Speed limit 4 Advisory speed 5 Bike path 6 Pedestrian warning 7 Bridge 8 Speed bump 9 Toll road 10 One-way traffic 11 Bus lane 12 Bus stop 13 Dead end 14 Stop sign 15 Yield 16 Roundabout 17 Road narrowing 18 Crosswalk 19 Railway crossing 20 Mandatory direction 21 Turn prohibition 22 School area 23 Crossing animals 24 Slippery road 25 Rockfall 26 Curve 27 Wrong-way driving 28 Road work 29 Height limit 30 Weight limit 31 Radar speed sign 32 Selective barriers 33 Priority at the next intersection 34 Traffic signals 35 Traffic signals ahead 36 Pedestrian lights 37 All-way stop 38 Emergency telephone 39 No parking 40 No stopping 41 Parallel parking 42 Disabled parking 43 Traffic management 44 Backing up 45 U-turn 46 Detour 47 Uncontrolled intersection 48 Road surface 49 Emergency lane 50 Provisional licence 51 City limit 52 Road closed 53 Licence plate 54 Charging station 55 Pedestrian 56 Bus 57 Police 58 Ambulance 59 Taxi 60 Tailgating 61 Pothole 62 Path 63 Particulates 64 Air pollution 65 Rush hour 66 Road code 67 Reversible lane 68 Street gutter 69 Cargo bike 70 Forestry vehicle 71 Construction vehicle 72 Semi-trailer truck 73 Trolleybus 74 Speed pedelec 75 Delivery vehicle 76 Idling 77 Tow truck 78 Four-wheel drive 79 Bicycle 80 Motorcycle equipment 81 Rail track 82 Travel trailer 83 Trailer 84 Tow hitch 85 Fire truck 86 Siren 87 Convoy 88 Emergency vehicle lighting 89 Agricultural machinery 90 Electric bicycle 91 Electric vehicle 92 Pedelec 93 Quadricycle 94 Microcar 95 All-terrain vehicle 96 Van 97 Recreational vehicle 98 Scooter 99 Trikke 100 Personal mobility device ...