stopcontrolled

Stopcontrolled, or stop-controlled, is a traffic engineering term for an intersection where at least one approach requires drivers to come to a complete stop before entering the intersection. The term covers two common configurations: two-way stop-controlled (TWSC) and all-way stop-controlled (AWSC). In a TWSC, the minor-road approach has a stop sign while the major road does not; in an AWSC, all approaches have stop signs.

Operations rely on drivers stopping at the stop line, yielding to vehicles and pedestrians in the intersection or crosswalk, and proceeding when safe. At AWSCs, entering order is typically based on arrival times, with local practice guiding simultaneous arrivals.

Advantages of stop-controlled intersections include lower construction and maintenance costs and suitability for low- to moderate-volume roads. They can improve safety over uncontrolled intersections by reducing high-speed entries and, in AWSCs, by providing predictable gaps for turning and crossing traffic. Disadvantages include longer delays on minor approaches during peak periods and a higher potential for rear-end crashes from abrupt stops when traffic on the major road is heavy.

Design considerations include traffic volumes on each approach, sight distance, turning movements, pedestrian and bicycle activity, and proximity to other controls. Guidelines from national standards bodies (such as the Manual on Uniform Traffic Control Devices) influence stop-sign placement, the number of stopping approaches, and the type of control used in a given location.

Stop-controlled intersections remain common in rural and suburban areas and are frequently used as interim or transitional configurations when upgrading from stop signs to signals.