Stopsignaal

Stopsignaal is a term used in Dutch to describe any signal that requires a halt before continuing. It applies across several domains, most notably road traffic, rail transport and industrial systems, and it can also appear in computing and communications as a control instruction to pause or stop.

In road traffic, a stopsignaal refers to the stop sign itself. A typical stop sign is an octagonal sign with a red background and white lettering. Drivers must come to a complete stop at the stop line or, if no line exists, before entering the intersection. After stopping, they may proceed only when the way is clear and the traffic situation permits safe passage, in accordance with local traffic rules.

In rail transport, a stop signal is a command that a train must not pass. Red signal lights or semaphore indications signal that the train must stop, and the crew may only proceed beyond the signal once authorization has been received from the signaling system or control center.

In industrial and process control, an emergency stop (E-stop) or stop request is used to halt machinery immediately for safety reasons. Operators activate Stop controls, such as buttons or switches, to cut power or disable motion. Restart procedures typically require verification that the area is safe and that normal operating conditions are restored.

In computing and telecommunications, a stop signal can denote a control instruction to terminate a process or pause data flow. The exact implementation and interpretation of a stopsignaal vary by domain and country, but the core purpose is to enforce a controlled halt.