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Alabama driving lesson · Traffic Laws

When you must stop

A 3-minute lesson from the Alabama course. Read the rules and examples, follow the handbook page references, and check your understanding before you move on.

Read time
3 minutes
Course unit
Traffic Laws
Checkpoint questions
6
Source pages
62, 63

A complete stop means your wheels stop turning. The law lists many places where you must stop, and it spells out exactly where to stop at a stop sign.

Where to stop at a STOP sign, in order:

  • At the marked stop line
  • If no stop line: before entering the crosswalk on the near side of the intersection
  • If no crosswalk: before entering the cross street, where you can see approaching traffic
Handbook p. 62 ↗

Know the rule

After stopping, proceed cautiously. If your view was blocked at the first stop and there's conflicting traffic, you may have to stop a second time.

Handbook p. 62 ↗

A complete stop is also required:

  • Leaving an alley, driveway or building in a business/residence district: before the sidewalk
  • When a school patrol member displays an official flag in the STOP position
  • For a red light or stop signal at an intersection or crosswalk
  • At railroad crossings with STOP signs, or when a flagman or signal device directs
  • At a flashing red signal (same as a STOP sign)
  • At bridges opening for water navigation
  • When ordered by a construction flagman or a police officer
  • After a crash, until you've done what the law requires
Handbook p. 62 ↗

Know the rule

When an emergency vehicle with flashing red or blue lights and a siren comes toward you or from behind, pull over to the curb or side of the road and stop completely.

Handbook p. 63 ↗

Know the rule

At a YIELD sign, you must stop if pedestrians or vehicles are crossing the intersecting street or highway.

Handbook p. 63 ↗

Know the rule

Right on red: after stopping, you may turn right if you're in the proper lane, yielding to traffic and pedestrians lawfully in the intersection.

Handbook p. 62 ↗

Know the rule

Left on red: only from a one-way street onto a one-way street with traffic moving right to left, after stopping and yielding.

Handbook p. 63 ↗

Know the rule

Turns on red are not allowed where a sign prohibits them. An inoperative traffic light is treated as a four-way stop.

Handbook p. 63 ↗

Put it into practice

You're stopped at a red light on a one-way street and want to turn left onto another one-way street whose traffic moves from right to left. After a complete stop, you may turn left on red, yielding to pedestrians and traffic, unless a sign prohibits it.

Check your understanding

Read the question, decide on an answer, then open it to check the explanation. These are Roadwise study questions based on the source handbook.

Where a stop sign is posted but there is no marked stop line or crosswalk, where must you stop?
  1. Before the crossing street, where you can see traffic
  2. You may proceed without stopping if no cars are visible
  3. In the intersection, where the view is clearest
  4. Exactly at the sign, regardless of visibility

Answer: Before the crossing street, where you can see traffic

If there's no marked stop line or crosswalk, you must stop before entering the crossing street where you have a clear view of approaching traffic.

Handbook p. 62 ↗
After stopping for a red light, when may you make a right turn?
  1. Never, regardless of the lane
  2. In the proper lane, yielding to traffic and pedestrians
  3. Only if a police officer waves you through
  4. Only when a green arrow is shown

Answer: In the proper lane, yielding to traffic and pedestrians

You may turn right after stopping for a red light if you're in the proper lane, yielding to other traffic and pedestrians, unless a sign prohibits it.

Handbook p. 62 ↗
On which type of street may you legally turn left after stopping for a red light?
  1. On any two-way street with light traffic
  2. Never; left turns on red are always illegal
  3. One-way onto a one-way street moving right to left
  4. From a two-way street onto a one-way street

Answer: One-way onto a one-way street moving right to left

A left turn on red is allowed when you're on a one-way street turning onto a one-way street with traffic moving from right to left.

Handbook p. 63 ↗
A complete stop is required at which of these locations?
  1. A yield sign with no cross traffic
  2. A flashing yellow signal
  3. A posted stop sign
  4. A crossbuck with no train in sight

Answer: A posted stop sign

A complete stop is required at any properly posted stop sign.

Handbook p. 62 ↗
When must you stop at a YIELD sign, rather than just slowing down?
  1. When pedestrians or cars are crossing
  2. Only if a police officer is present
  3. Never; you should never fully stop at a yield sign
  4. Only when the sign has flashing lights

Answer: When pedestrians or cars are crossing

At a yield sign, you must stop if necessary to yield to pedestrians or vehicles legally crossing the intersecting road.

Handbook p. 63 ↗
If a stop line is marked, a vehicle approaching a STOP sign should pull past it and stop at the edge of the cross street.
  1. True
  2. False

Answer: False

False. The handbook says a vehicle approaching a STOP sign must stop at the marked stop line. Only if there is no line do you stop before the crosswalk or the intersection.

Handbook p. 62 ↗
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