Who goes first at a 4-way stop in Ontario?

The first vehicle to come to a complete stop goes first. If two vehicles stop at the same time, the driver on the left yields to the driver on the right.

Where exactly do I stop at a stop sign?

Stop at the white stop line if there is one. If there is no stop line, stop before the crosswalk. If there is no crosswalk, stop at the edge of the sidewalk, and if there is no sidewalk, stop at the edge of the intersection.

Is a rolling stop legal in Ontario?

No. A stop sign means a complete stop, with the car no longer moving, before you go. Slowing down and rolling through is an offence and a common reason people fail the road test.

What should I do if the traffic lights are out?

Treat the intersection as an all-way stop: come to a complete stop and yield to vehicles that got there first or arrive from your right at the same time.

Stop Sign and 4-Way Stop Rules in Ontario

Last updated: October 6, 2026

Stop signs look simple, but questions about them show up on the G1 test all the time, and rolling through one is one of the most common ways to fail a road test. Here's where to stop, how long to stop and who goes first.

What a stop sign means

A red octagon means you must come to a complete stop, with the car no longer moving, and go only when the way is clear. Slowing down and rolling through, even when nobody is around, is not a stop.

Where to stop

Ontario's rule tells you exactly where to stop, in this order:

at the white stop line, if there is one painted on the road
if there's no stop line, before the crosswalk
if there's no crosswalk, at the edge of the sidewalk
if there's no sidewalk either, at the edge of the intersection

If you can't see cross traffic from where you stopped, creep forward slowly and look again before you go. Watch for pedestrians and cyclists, who can be hidden by parked cars.

Who goes first at a 4-way stop

At an all-way stop, every road into the intersection has a stop sign. Most have a small "all-way" or "4-way" tab under the sign. The right-of-way rules are:

First to stop, first to go. The first vehicle to come to a complete stop goes first.
Tie? Yield to the right. If two vehicles stop at the same time, the driver on the left lets the driver on the right go first.
Facing each other? If two drivers stop at the same time facing each other, the driver going straight or turning right usually goes before the driver turning left, who has to wait for a gap.
When in doubt, wait. Your right-of-way is something other drivers give you. If someone goes out of turn, let them go rather than risk a crash.

Two-way stops

At a two-way stop, only your road has stop signs and cross traffic doesn't stop. After stopping, you must wait for a gap big enough to cross or turn safely. Traffic on the main road has the right-of-way, so don't expect drivers to slow down for you.

When traffic lights are out

If the traffic lights at an intersection aren't working, treat it as an all-way stop. Stop completely, then follow the same order: first to stop goes first, and yield to the right in a tie. For more on signals, see Ontario traffic light rules.

Common mistakes

The rolling stop. The wheels must stop turning. On the road test, examiners watch for this closely.
Stopping past the line. Stop behind the line or crosswalk, then creep forward if you need a better view.
Going out of turn. Keep track of who arrived before you while you're slowing down.
Forgetting pedestrians. People crossing in front of you have the right-of-way, even when it's your turn.
Not signalling. Other drivers at the stop need to know whether you're turning.

For more detail, read the intersections chapter of the Official MTO Driver's Handbook. Stop sign questions are part of the rules section of the G1 practice test, and the sign itself is on our Ontario road signs page.