What does the STOP sign mean?
You must come to a complete stop at the solid white line and give way before emerging.
A red octagon (eight sides) with STOP in white. It is the only octagonal sign, so it is recognisable even if dirty or obscured.
What you must do
Stop fully, even if the road looks clear, then move off only when it is safe. Rolling through is an offence.
Where you will see it
Junctions where visibility is poor and a give way alone is not enough.
Easy to confuse with: Give way
Give way lets you keep moving if the road is clear; stop means a full stop every time. See the give way sign.
Test yourself
The theory test asks you to recognise signs like this one. Try the road and traffic signs quiz (with an easy and a hard set), or read the signs revision notes. Source: Highway Code rule 171.
Other common road signs
Meaning based on Know Your Traffic Signs and The Highway Code under the Open Government Licence v3.0. The sign image is our own simplified rendering for learning. Always check the current Highway Code on gov.uk. Not affiliated with or endorsed by the DVSA.