When you see a stop sign, do you usually stop completely?

Question

People have asked me, “Why do you wait two to three seconds after stopping completely (the car feels like it rolled back after braking) at a four way stop sign interception when you know there are no cars?” My answer is that I am just following the law. I neither want to be involved in an accident or receive a roll stop (pause) ticket. I know that it is a hassle, but I always tell others you could never be too sure if a reckless drunk decides to run a stop sign. Also, what happens if there is a cop hiding around the corner?

Now, my question is: personally, do you stop completely because:

(a) you feel it is the law
(b) you are trying to be alert (watching for careless people that run stop signs)
(c) you are checking to see if no cop are hiding around the corner

If you want to know my opinion, I stop completely for all three of the reasons. I have never received a ticket for a stop sign violation. The only time I would probably run a stop sign is (by accident) if I just did not see it. My only one ticket that I received came for speeding, doing 49 MPH on a 35 MPH zone.

If you picked answer (c), there is really nothing to be ashamed of. I rather see bad drivers think this way than not stop completely at all. My point is that drivers should stop giving away free money to the cops. Cops receive enough salary and benefits that much harder working citizens do not even get.

Answer 1

It takes less time to make a complete stop, than go to court.

Answer 2

A,B, and C.
I bought my first car when I was 13 and had to drive carefully. The 3 second stop rule made sense and years later when taking my first drivers license test the examiner even commented on it. Stop means stop, its just that simple, the 3 second rule isn't as practical as it once was but still in most situations it is a good practice. In 37 years of ticket free driving and over 2 million accident free class A truck driving miles it has proved itself. Here in a Portland Oregon suburb there is yet another reason for the 3 second rule to make good financial sense. Traffic court is conducted by a Magistrate that has the power to find your case not guilty, yet by virtue of being not fully empowered like a judge would be, can only reduce a fine by 1/2 at most. So with ticket fines doubled over the years a cop can write an errant ticket and you pay even when found not guilty. A great reason to follow the 3 second stop rule.

Answer 3

ok ok a lot of people might boo me on this but i just hate to stop. even if it is a railroad. just hate it. so in my vast years of driving i have had about 4 of these tickets. and after 4 of them i have learned to stop and count to 4 like 1 tousand and 1, 1 thousand and 2. the prices on these ticket are outragouse. like 140.00. i'm more worried about the cop then anything. i never hit people. i never have gotten hit. the only other time i stop at them are like a 4 way stop. other then that they should make them all yeild signs. but then i do about 80 on the highway almost daily in my commut to work. and NO i have NEVER gotten a speeding ticket. so go figure.

Answer 4

I stop completely because it is the law, to make sure no one's coming from either direction, and -most of all - because it's a habit.

In fact, it's SUCH a habit, that I have been known to stop at a 4-way stop sign, on a country road, and to just wait for the fool thing to turn green.

I have been known to stop at the little yellow sign with the red octagon that is there to tell you that a stop sign is coming up soon.

Have red octagon, WILL stop. Alone in my car, and without someone to honk their horn at me, I have stopped for as long as 5 minutes!

Answer 5

A,B and C. There are too many crazy drivers to begin with. I'm not going to risk my life because some idiot feels they are above the law. I would rather wait the three seconds!

Answer 6

I do it because of my favorite cartoon...a guy rolls though a stop sign and is pulled over for it! The officer says...I pulled you over because you didn't stop at the stop sign! The guys says "oh give me a break I slowed down whats the difference?..." the Officer takes out his stick and starts beating the guy over his head and asks "do you want me to stop or slow down?" I stop... Its the law!

Answer 7

I pick (b)
I always come to a complete stop behind the stop line. After stoping I look every way then go if safe to.
You would not beleive the number of people who run stop signs in my area.

Answer 8

b. I stop all the way to ensure that no one is gonna tag me.

I ride a motorcycle or a vehicle with my kids in it. Also being Type A, answer A fits well. Answer C is just a bonus

Answer 9

B. I do it to make sure I avoid an accident.

Center-punch (t-bone) accidents, the type that occur most from a run stop sign, can be deadly.

Answer 10

I do this all the time, A and B. I live in NJ, we have the highest car insurance in the country and I don't need to get any points that will make it go higher!