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All-way stopWorldwide

An introduction to the traffic rules and road signs of Worldwide. 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
Worldwide

63. All-way stop

An all-way stop is an intersection where traffic approaching from every direction is required to stop before entering. It is usually indicated by a stop sign on each approach and is commonly used where traffic from intersecting roads needs to be controlled without traffic lights.

Every driver must come to a complete stop and proceed only when it is safe and permitted. The rules determining which vehicle may proceed first differ between countries, so drivers should follow the local priority rules rather than assuming that the first vehicle to arrive always has priority.

All-way stop
All-way stop sign. (Ontario, Canada)
Wikimedia.org • Raysonho • CC BY-SA
Do you still have to stop when no other traffic is present?

Yes. Where a stop sign requires a complete stop, the driver must stop even when no other vehicles or road users are visible.

🔗 wetten.overheid.nl • Vienna Convention on Road Signs and Signals, Article 10 and Annex 1, section B; sign-system reference

🔗 wetten.overheid.nl • Vienna Convention on Road Traffic, Article 18; international framework subject to national law

Does first arrival always determine priority at an intersection where everyone has a STOP sign?

Do not rely on arrival order alone. Follow the local all-way-STOP rules and check for pedestrians and other conflicts. California’s handbook, for example, uses arrival order, requires yielding to the right for simultaneous arrivals, and gives pedestrians priority. Stop fully and proceed only when it is safe.

🔗 dmv.ca.gov • California DMV, Driver Handbook, right-of-way at four-way stops

1 Worldwide 2 Motorway 3 Expressway 4 Residential area 5 Built-up area 6 Zone 7 Speed limit 8 Minimum speed 9 Advisory speed 10 Footpath 11 Bike path 12 Shared-use path 13 Separated path 14 Pedestrian warning 15 Tunnel 16 Bridge 17 Cycling street 18 Pedestrian zone 19 Speed bump 20 Toll road 21 Customs 22 One-way traffic 23 Quay 24 Slope 25 Bus lane 26 Bus stop 27 Dead end 28 Stop sign 29 Give way 30 Roundabout 31 Priority road 32 Road narrowing 33 Priority over oncoming traffic 34 Give way to oncoming traffic 35 Pedestrian crossing 36 Railway crossing 37 Mandatory direction 38 Turn prohibition 39 School area 40 Overtaking 41 Crossing animals 42 Slippery road 43 Rockfall 44 Aircraft 45 Curve 46 Chevron 47 Wrong-way driving 48 Roadworks 49 Crosswind 50 Height limit 51 Width limit 52 Length limit 53 Weight limit 54 Radar speed sign 55 Selective barriers 56 Low-emission zone 57 Intersection direction sign 58 Priority at the next junction 59 Traffic lights 60 Traffic lights warning 61 Pedestrian lights 62 Road markings 63 All-way stop 64 Junction layout 65 Climbing lane 66 Bike box 67 Left-hand traffic 68 Speed feedback 69 Driving licence 70 Location marker 71 Road number 72 Countdown markers 73 Public toilet 74 Rest area 75 Traffic mirror 76 Emergency telephone 77 International border 78 Pedestrian underpass 79 Cycling route 80 End of restriction 81 Parking 82 No parking 83 No stopping 84 Parallel parking 85 Park and ride 86 Kiss and ride 87 Alternate-side parking 88 Parking meter 89 Parking disc 90 Disabled parking 91 Traffic management 92 Merging 93 Reversing 94 U-turn 95 Carpool 96 Traffic jam 97 Detour 98 Uncontrolled crossroad 99 Road surface 100 Advisory cycle lane ...