Stopping and Parking

Stopping

Stop: When stopping, drivers should completely cease all forward motion for a minimum of three seconds. This gives the driver time to look left, look right, look center, look left again, and proceed with caution.

Where to stop:

RIGL 31-20-9 Obedience to stop signs. – Every driver of a vehicle approaching a stop sign shall stop before entering the crosswalk on the near side of the intersection. In the event there is no crosswalk, the driver shall stop at a clearly marked stop line. If no stop line exists, then stop at the point nearest the intersecting highway where the driver has a view of approaching traffic on the intersecting highway before entering the intersection, except when directed to proceed by a police officer or traffic control signal.

Four-Way Stops

Follow these procedures when at an intersection with a four-way stop:

  • Once stopped, you must yield to all other vehicles that were stopped prior to your arrival at the stop sign.
  • Once having stopped, all other vehicles arriving at the intersection after you must yield the right of way to you.
  • If two vehicles arrive at the intersection at the same time, you must yield the right of way to the vehicle on your right.
  • As always, being courteous and respectful will help prevent dangerous situations and make the roadways safer for all drivers.

To leave a traffic lane to enter a parking space/parallel parking

  1. Move into the traffic lane nearest the parking space.
  2. Use a turn signal to indicate your intentions.
  3. Enter the parking space using the four (4) steps shown in the diagram below.
  4. Stop the engine, lock the ignition switch, remove the key, and set the parking brake.
stopping and parking image 1

To enter a traffic lane from a parked position:

  1. After starting the engine and releasing the parking brake, maneuver the vehicle to a position from which reentry into the traffic lane can be made in one motion.
  2. Look to the rear. Check the rear view and side view mirrors and look over your left shoulder to cover the blind spots.
  3. Signal first, then drive from the parking spot carefully.
  4. Enter the driving lane that is closest to the parking space.

How to park on hills:

stopping and parking image 2

Where you may not park or stop:

  1. On the travel portion of the highway.
  2. Beside a vehicle stopped or parked at the side of a street (Double Parking).
  3. On a sidewalk.
  4. Within an intersection.
  5. Beside any roadwork so that you block traffic.
  6. On a bridge or in a tunnel.
  7. On any railroad tracks.
  8. Any place where official signs prohibit stopping.
  9. In front of any driveway.
  10. Within 8 feet of a fire hydrant.
  11. Within 20 feet of a crosswalk at an intersection.
  12. Within 30 feet of a flashing red or yellow light, a stop sign, or a traffic light.
  13. Within 20 feet of the driveway of a fire station or across the street within 75 feet of the driveway, where there are signs.
  14. Any place where a sign says, ‘No Parking’.
  15. Within 50 feet of the nearest rail or a railroad crossing unless you stop for just a short time to load or unload passengers or packages.
  16. At any curb cut or ramp for handicapped persons.

Unless a law prohibits parking, a vehicle parked on a two-lane road must have the right wheels a maximum of twelve (12) inches from the right side of the road or curb. On a one-way road, a parked vehicle may have either wheel a maximum of twelve (12) inches from the side of the road and headed in the same way the traffic goes.

< previous topic

> next topic