QUESTION:  What are the legal stopping points at a STOP SIGN controlled intersection?

THE ANSWER:

TITLE 21
Motor Vehicles
Operation and Equipment
CHAPTER 41. RULES OF THE ROAD

Subchapter VII. Special Stops Required
§ 4164. Stop signs and yield signs.
1. Except when directed to proceed by police officers or traffic-control devices, every driver of a vehicle approaching a stop intersection indicated by a stop sign shall stop at a marked stop line, but if none, before entering the crosswalk on the near side of the intersection or if none, then at the point nearest the intersecting roadway where the driver has a view of approaching traffic on the intersecting roadway before entering the intersection.

Please note: Delaware Law does not identify the STOP SIGN location as a required stopping point. However, it does identify the presence of a STOP SIGN as requiring a full stop at one of the three stopping points in a specific order – see picture #2-13 above:

1. marked stop line,

2. but if none, before entering the crosswalk on the near side of the intersection,

3. or if none, then at the point nearest the intersecting roadway where the driver has a view of approaching traffic on the intersecting roadway before entering the intersection.

SPECIAL ALERT #1

“Smart Defense” by the “The D Team” identifies while only one stop is required by Delaware Law at a STOP SIGN intersection, there are times when traffic will require a second stop due to line of sight problems at the original stopping point.

SPECIAL ALERT #2

“Smart Defense” by the “The D Team” suggests when there is no stop line and/or a crosswalk present in a STOP SIGN controlled intersection, the final stopping point should not be before reaching the STOP SIGN location.