Stopping

One evening while patrolling in an unmarked police car I approached a cross street that was controlled by stop signs. I could see a car approaching from my right going fast enough that I was concerned that the driver did not intend to stop.

Would you believe me if I told you that the positioning of a stop sign at an intersection has nothing to do with where you must stop? Yes, the sign tells you that you must stop, but the markings on the roadway, or lack of them, tell you where the stop has to take place. There are four possibilities for a driver to consider.

I drove to a 4 way stop intersection that had only single lanes in all four directions BUT also had a yield sign on my right hand. I stopped and then proceeded to turn right. My passenger said I had no need to come to a full stop and could proceed to turn right so long as I yielded to oncoming traffic or traffic from the left.

I recently received a ticket that I plan to dispute. The alleged offense was disobeying a stop sign. I would like to know if/how road conditions can factor into a dispute. The stop sign was at the end of a downhill exit ramp that led to a straight-ahead-or-left-turn-only intersection (left turn through underpass), and onto a different highway.

(1)  what happens if you are the 2nd car in line stopped at a red light for instance, and a 3rd car rear ends you pushing you into the car in front?  Can you be charged for rear-ending the 1st car in line even though you weren't moving?  

I was stopped for several seconds behind one car at a stop sign. Does my stop count as a stop at the sign?

How often have you seen a driver exit an alley, parking lot or parkade and either zoom right across the sidewalk or make a first stop directly over top of it? This can make life difficult for pedestrians who may happen to be in the way. It shows that the driver is not thinking ahead as the sidewalk is there to be seen and the potential conflict with pedestrians recognized.

This excellent video by Young Drivers of Canada explains the philosophy of the stop sign. If you approach thinking "stop", you are more apt to grant the required right of way to other road users. If you approach intending to slow down just enough to avoid a ticket, you are thinking "go" and will be less likely to take the necessary action, stopping, if you are required to grant right of way to others.

I have noticed many drivers stopping at a red light several feet behind the car in front. Having asked my daughters who had recently passed their driving exams about this and both told me that their instructor had told them, even when stopped, they must leave at least one car length distance behind the car in front. Is it really true that our young drivers are taught to stop several feet behind the car, also stopped, in front?

I approached a 4 way stop, and I know without a shadow of a doubt that I stopped. I waited & proceeded straight through the intersection as there were no cars approaching the intersection from any direction.  This happened about 10 pm at night, at an intersection about 3 blocks from my home, so it is an intersection I am very familiar with.