An important safety reminder: Get back in the habit of coming to a full stop at stop signs. | ILLUSTRATION: AMA

ADVOCACY

The Full Stop

Get back in the habit. Come to a complete stop to prevent collisions — and save lives.

By Kait Kucy

BRINGING YOUR VEHICLE to a complete stop at a stop sign might seem simple enough, but in terms of road safety, it has a huge impact. It prevents collisions and saves lives ­— but too often people fail to take the time to do it.

Failing to come to a full stop is one of the top contributors in collisions causing injury and death in Alberta, according to the provincial government’s collision statistics. But drivers can change this by simply getting back in the habit of giving stop signs a brake.

A complete stop means all the wheels of your vehicle must stop moving. It’s important to practice this even when the intersection appears to be clear. Doing this consistently reinforces a good driving habit that saves lives and reduces accidents for drivers and pedestrians alike.

It’s important not to assume it’s safe to go just because you believe you have the right of way. Take the time to scan the intersection completely and assess whether others are doing what is expected. Remain cautious and wait to go until you have scanned the intersection and have confirmed it is safe to proceed.

Small habits have a big impact. A rolling stop may seem like a minor transgression, but by not coming to a complete stop, you won’t have the time to react if you didn’t see another vehicle or a pedestrian before entering the intersection — an entirely preventable situation. When you approach a stop sign, make a complete stop. If it helps you build a better habit, you can count to three after coming to a complete stop — that pause gives you enough time to scan the intersection and confirm it’s safe to proceed. AMA

Get back in the habit when approaching a stop sign.

A diagram shows a T-intersection. A yellow car approaches from the top left, and a blue car is on the ‘upright’ of the T. The blue car sits several feet behind the striped lines marking the entrance to the intersection.

STEP ONE:

Stop completely. Stop behind the stop line or crosswalk. (If there’s no line, stop within three metres of the intersection.)

A diagram shows a car at a T-intersection with its right-hand turn signal flashing.

STEP TWO:

Scan the intersection. Look all ways to check for pedestrians, cyclists and other vehicles. Allow them enough time to clear any possible blind spots before you proceed.

A diagram shows a T-intersection. A yellow car approaches from the top right, and a blue car is pulling into the intersection beside a stop sign on the ‘upright’ of the T.

STEP THREE:

Proceed safely. Move forward only when the road is clear.

ILLUSTRATIONS: AMA

Learn more about safe driving habits.

Visit Get Back in the Habit

< PREVIOUS PAGE

Share

AMA Insider

NEXT PAGE >

White text on a black background reads “GIVE STOP SIGNS A BRAKE” and “SAFE DRIVING - GET BACK IN THE HABIT.”
A diagram shows a T-intersection. A yellow car approaches from the top left, and a blue car is on the ‘upright’ of the T. The blue car sits several feet behind the striped lines marking the entrance to the intersection.

STEP ONE:

Stop completely. Stop behind the stop line or crosswalk. (If there’s no line, stop within three metres of the intersection.)

A diagram shows a car at a T-intersection with its right-hand turn signal flashing.

STEP TWO:

Scan the intersection. Look all ways to check for pedestrians, cyclists and other vehicles. Allow them enough time to clear any possible blind spots before you proceed.

A diagram shows a T-intersection. A yellow car approaches from the top right, and a blue car is pulling into the intersection beside a stop sign on the ‘upright’ of the T.

STEP THREE:

Proceed safely. Move forward only when the road is clear