What’s the Right Way to Stop at a Sign?

A driving instructor went viral on TikTok after showing viewers the right way to pull up to a stop sign, and plenty of viewers admitted they’ve been stopping “wrong” this whole time.

Moe (@moethedrivinginstructor), who regularly posts lessons on everything from parallel parking to steering wheel hand placement, recently responded to a comment asking, “Can you make a video on how to stop [at] a stop sign? I feel like I’m stopping wrong.”

In the clip, he walked another driver through the correct way to approach two signs: one at a four-way stop and another at a regular stop. By the time of this writing, Moe’s tutorial had racked up more than 10,700 views.

What’s the Right Way to Stop?

At a four-way stop marked “ALL WAY,” every car must come to a complete stop at the line or crosswalk. Whoever gets there first goes.

“If you arrive first,” Moe said, “you go first.”

But not without pausing. Moe instructs drivers to stop for three full seconds before proceeding. “Stop for three seconds first and then you check,” he explained. “If you arrived first, then you’ve got the right of way.”

If multiple cars pull up together, the one on the right goes. Pedestrians always come first. And when two vehicles arrive at the same time, the one turning left yields to the driver going straight or turning right.

Four-way stops aren’t about slowing traffic. They’re meant to keep intersections safe where traffic lights aren’t needed.

Moe also broke down regular stop signs. In that case, cars on the main road without a stop sign have the right of way. “As you can see, cars on the road don’t have a stop sign,” he pointed out.

His advice: Stop for three seconds, then creep forward if you need a better view. Once you’ve pulled up again, wait another three seconds, check your blind spots, and only go when it’s safe.

Is It Necessary to Wait?

Moe was clear: Stop signs mean to stop and wait a full three seconds before moving on.

However, not everyone was convinced.

“Why do you have to stop again for 3 seconds? Is it a law?” one commenter asked.

According to DJC Law, the largest Austin, Texas-based veteran-owned personal injury law firm, the answer is no, there’s no law requiring an exact three-second pause. What is needed is a complete stop. A slow roll doesn’t count and can land you a ticket.

Moe’s “three-second rule” isn’t written into the traffic code, but it does align with common safety advice. Driving instructors often tell students to pause for two to three seconds to scan for cars and pedestrians. Whether you wait two, three, or even four, the point is to ensure the intersection is clear before you proceed.

Rolling stops, on the other hand, are flat-out illegal. They’re treated as failing to stop and can mean fines, points on your license, or worse—causing a crash.

The rules are generally consistent across states, although details may vary. As DJC Law put it: “Not obeying stop signs, particularly at intersections, is one of the leading causes of injuries and deaths on the road. These laws are designed to protect drivers and other road users from harm.”

Motor1 has reached out to Moe via a direct message on TikTok.