CO Regulatory Signs
You are driving in Colorado and you approach a red octagonal sign at an intersection. What is required of you?
- Slow down and proceed only if no other vehicles are visible
- Come to a complete stop, then yield to cross traffic and pedestrians before proceeding ✓
- Treat the sign as a yield because no traffic is approaching
- Stop only if a police officer is present at the intersection
The answer explained
In Colorado and in every other U.S. state, the octagonal red sign means STOP without exception. You must bring the vehicle to a full stop with no forward motion. Stop behind the painted stop line if one is present. If there is no line, stop before the crosswalk. If neither exists, stop where you can see cross traffic clearly. Once stopped, scan left, right, and left again, yield to any vehicle or pedestrian with right of way, and proceed only when it is safe.
Why this rule exists
Stop signs are placed at intersections where collisions are likely without an enforced pause. A rolling stop violates the law and roughly doubles the risk of a side impact crash, which is the most lethal collision type at urban intersections.
The most common mistake
New drivers often perform a California roll, slowing to about 5 mph instead of stopping. Examiners and traffic cameras catch this every day. The wheels must be motionless for the stop to count.
Colorado specific note
Colorado tests heavily on mountain driving, chain laws, and downhill braking technique. For this question in particular, the Colorado Division of Motor Vehicles aligns with the standard interpretation explained above. Always verify against the most recent Colorado driver handbook before relying on these details for the live exam.
Study tip
When the exam shows an octagonal sign, the answer is always full stop, scan, then yield. Memorize the shape rather than the word in case the image is rotated or partially obscured.
Related questions for Colorado
- While driving on a rural road in Colorado you see a yellow diamond shaped sign with a curved arrow and the number 35. What does it mean?
- You are driving on an interstate in Colorado and see a large green sign overhead listing the next exit and a destination city. What kind of sign is this?
- You arrive at a four way stop in Colorado at the same time as another vehicle on your right. Who has the right of way?
- What is the typical maximum posted speed limit on a rural interstate highway in Colorado?
- In Colorado how close are you allowed to park to a fire hydrant?
- What is the per se blood alcohol concentration limit for an adult driver of a passenger vehicle in Colorado?