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Driving safety guide · Michigan City Ford · Michigan City, IN
Stop Signs and All-Way Stops Explained
The STOP sign is the most familiar sign on the road, but the plaques below it and the white line in front of it matter too. Here is what the federal Manual on Uniform Traffic Control Devices (MUTCD) says about STOP signs, stop lines and all-way stops.
Octagonshape reserved for the STOP sign (MUTCD)
Redcolor code for stop or prohibition
ALL-WAYplaque required under each STOP sign at an all-way stop
12-24 in.recommended stop line width
The short answer
A STOP sign means a full stop is always required on that approach. Stop behind the stop line if there is one. Look for a plaque below the sign: ALL-WAY means every approach stops, while CROSS TRAFFIC DOES NOT STOP means the cross street keeps moving.
The STOP sign
When it is used: the MUTCD says that when it is determined that a full stop is always required on an approach to an intersection, a STOP (R1-1) sign shall be used.
Shape and color: the octagon is used exclusively for the STOP sign, and red is the color code for stop or prohibition.
One message only: secondary legends are not allowed on the STOP sign face, and the STOP sign must not be displayed on a changeable message sign.
Not for speed control: the MUTCD says YIELD or STOP signs shall not be used for speed control.
Stopping for a school bus is a separate rule: see our guide to the school bus stop law. Driving after dark? Read our night driving tips.
From the Manual on Uniform Traffic Control Devices (MUTCD), 11th Edition with Revision 1, Sections 1D.05, 2A.05, 2B.04 and 2B.06, read November 4, 2026.
Plaques below a STOP sign
A small plaque mounted below the STOP sign tells you how the rest of the intersection is controlled:
| Plaque | What it means |
|---|---|
| ALL-WAY (R1-3P) | Every approach has a STOP sign. Required below each STOP sign at an all-way stop; white legend and border on a red background. |
| CROSS TRAFFIC DOES NOT STOP (W4-4P) | The cross street does not stop. May be used where drivers could mistake the intersection for an all-way stop. |
| TRAFFIC FROM LEFT (RIGHT) DOES NOT STOP (W4-4aP) | Traffic from one side keeps moving. Should be used where STOP signs control all but one approach, unless that approach is a one-way street. |
| ONCOMING TRAFFIC DOES NOT STOP (W4-4bP) | Traffic coming toward you keeps moving. Also an option where all but one approach stops. |
| EXCEPT RIGHT TURN (R1-10P) | Right-turning traffic on that approach may enter without stopping. May be used where an engineering study supports it. |
From the Manual on Uniform Traffic Control Devices (MUTCD), 11th Edition with Revision 1, Sections 2B.04 and 2C.66, read November 4, 2026. Plaques such as 2-WAY, 3-WAY or 4-WAY are not used with STOP signs.
Where to stop
The sign: the STOP sign is installed on the near side of the intersection, on the right-hand side of the approach it applies to, as close as practicable to the intersection. At wide intersections or on approaches with two or more lanes, an extra STOP sign may be added on the left side or overhead.
The stop line: a stop line is a solid white line across the approach lanes that shows the point behind which vehicles are required to stop. The MUTCD says stop lines should be 12 to 24 inches wide.
Crosswalks: where there is a marked crosswalk, the STOP sign should be installed in advance of the crosswalk edge nearest to approaching traffic, and a stop line should be at least 4 feet before the nearest crosswalk line. With no marked crosswalk, the stop line should be at the desired stopping point, no more than 30 feet and no less than 4 feet from the nearest edge of the intersecting traveled way.
Stop Ahead: when a STOP sign is not visible far enough ahead for drivers to respond, a Stop Ahead (W3-1) warning sign is required before it.
From the Manual on Uniform Traffic Control Devices (MUTCD), 11th Edition with Revision 1, Sections 2B.18, 2C.35 and 3B.19, read November 4, 2026.
Two-way and all-way stops
The MUTCD lists these types of control at intersections without traffic signals, from least to most restrictive:
| Control | How it works |
|---|---|
| No intersection control | No right-of-way signs on any approach. |
| Yield control | YIELD signs on the minor road approaches (or all approaches of a circular intersection). |
| Minor road stop control | STOP signs typically on opposing approaches of a four-leg intersection, or on a single approach of a three-leg intersection, normally on the minor road. |
| All-way stop control | STOP signs on all approaches to the intersection. |
From the Manual on Uniform Traffic Control Devices (MUTCD), 11th Edition with Revision 1, Sections 2B.06 and 2B.07, read November 4, 2026. The MUTCD says the control used should be the least restrictive that provides appropriate safety and efficiency for all road users.
When an all-way stop is used
The MUTCD says the decision to install all-way stop control should be based on an engineering study, and it lists these warrants:
Crash experience: at a four-leg intersection, five or more reported crashes in 12 months, or six or more in 36 months, of a type all-way stop control could correct.
Sight distance: drivers stopped on the minor road cannot see far enough to turn onto or cross the major road.
Interim measure: all-way stops while a traffic signal, or yield control at a circular intersection, is being arranged.
8-hour volume: at least 300 vehicles, bicycles and pedestrians per hour from the major street and at least 200 per hour from the minor street, for each of any 8 hours of a typical day.
Other factors: such as left-turn conflicts, two similar residential collector streets, or pedestrian and bicyclist movements.
Meeting a warrant does not in itself require an all-way stop.
From the Manual on Uniform Traffic Control Devices (MUTCD), 11th Edition with Revision 1, Sections 2B.12 through 2B.17, read November 4, 2026.
Stopping safely
Stop fully, behind the line. If there is no stop line or crosswalk, stop before entering the intersection at a point where you can see cross traffic.
Read the plaque. Do not assume every driver must stop. If the plaque says cross traffic does not stop, wait for a safe gap.
Know your state's order. Who goes first at an all-way stop is set by state law, so follow your state driver manual and watch for pedestrians.
These tips are our own, based on the meaning of the signs and markings described in the Manual on Uniform Traffic Control Devices (MUTCD), 11th Edition with Revision 1, read November 4, 2026. State law sets the right-of-way rules where you drive.
Keep your brakes ready for every stop
The Works® at Michigan City Ford includes a synthetic blend oil change, tire rotation and pressure check, brake inspection, Multi-Point Inspection, fluid top-off, battery test, and a filter, belts and hoses check.
Schedule service online and see our service specials first. Michigan City Ford is at 3930 Franklin St. in Michigan City. Get directions.
Michigan City Ford service hours
| Days | Hours |
|---|---|
| Mon-Fri | 7:30 a.m.-5:30 p.m. |
| Sat | 8 a.m.-3 p.m. |
| Sun | closed |
From Michigan City Ford's website, November 4, 2026. Holiday hours can differ.
Stop sign FAQ
What does a STOP sign mean?
The MUTCD says a STOP sign is used when it is determined that a full stop is always required on an approach to an intersection. In other words, it means a full stop is required.
Where do you stop at a STOP sign?
If there is a stop line, stop behind it: a stop line is a solid white line across the approach lanes that shows the point behind which vehicles are required to stop. Where there is a marked crosswalk, the STOP sign should be placed in advance of the crosswalk edge nearest to approaching traffic.
Why is a STOP sign an octagon?
The MUTCD reserves the octagon exclusively for the STOP sign, and it says exclusive shapes like the STOP octagon should not be obscured by another sign mounted on the back of the same assembly. Red is the MUTCD color code for stop or prohibition.
What is the difference between a two-way stop and an all-way stop?
With minor road stop control, STOP signs are typically on the minor road only, and traffic on the major road does not stop. With all-way stop control, STOP signs are placed on all approaches, and an ALL-WAY plaque is mounted below each STOP sign.
Why do signs say ALL-WAY instead of 4-WAY?
The MUTCD requires an ALL-WAY plaque below each STOP sign where all approaches are stop controlled, and says plaques such as 2-WAY, 3-WAY or 4-WAY must not be used with STOP signs.
What does CROSS TRAFFIC DOES NOT STOP mean?
It is a plaque mounted below a STOP sign to warn you that traffic on the cross street does not have to stop, so the intersection is not an all-way stop. Wait for a safe gap before you go.
Who goes first at an all-way stop?
The MUTCD sets how the signs look and where they go; the order in which drivers proceed is set by state law. Stop fully, watch the other approaches and any pedestrians, and follow your state driver manual.
Can a STOP sign be used to slow traffic down?
No. The MUTCD says YIELD or STOP signs shall not be used for speed control.
What does The Works at Michigan City Ford include?
The Works® at Michigan City Ford includes a synthetic blend oil change, tire rotation and pressure check, brake inspection, Multi-Point Inspection, fluid top-off, battery test, and a filter, belts and hoses check.
Book a routine checkup
Book The Works, which includes a brake inspection, tire rotation and pressure check, and battery test, at Michigan City Ford.
Sources
Sign and marking descriptions are from the Federal Highway Administration's Manual on Uniform Traffic Control Devices, 11th Edition with Revision 1 (Revision 1 dated December 2025), read November 4, 2026. This page is a plain-language summary of national standards, not legal advice; state law sets the rules of the road where you drive. Service details, address and hours are from Michigan City Ford's own website, checked the same day. Photo is illustrative.
- Manual on Uniform Traffic Control Devices (MUTCD), 11th Edition with Revision 1 (Sections 1D.05, 2A.05, 2B.04, 2B.06-2B.18, 2C.35, 2C.66, 3B.19), Federal Highway Administration, Revision 1 dated December 2025 (PDF updated February 12, 2026), read November 4, 2026
- General service: The Works, Michigan City Ford, November 4, 2026
- Address and service hours (structured data), Michigan City Ford, November 4, 2026