Do you have to stop in front of the "Stop Line"?

Explanation

No; the light is green, and the signal's instruction takes precedence over the STOP sign.

In the picture the octagonal "STOP" sign is mounted on the same post as the traffic light, and at the moment of the photograph the light is green. When a traffic light is working, its instruction takes precedence over priority signs, including the STOP sign. At such a junction the STOP sign has a back-up role and its requirement becomes active when the light is off or a flashing amber is showing; that is when you must stop completely before the stop line and then enter observing priority.

The safety logic of this order matters: on green, the perpendicular flow at the junction has a red light and the danger the STOP sign was posted to cover does not exist. By contrast, stopping without cause on green is itself hazardous; the driver behind does not expect it, and a rear-end impact or a sudden swerve is the likely result.

Worth memorising: a STOP sign does not always mean an unconditional halt; at a signalled junction it is subordinate to the state of the light. Of course, a green light does not give an unconditional right of passage; if a pedestrian is finishing his crossing or a vehicle is still inside the junction, you must still give way.

• This answer comes from the sound habit of "STOP always means stop", but at a junction with a working signal the light's instruction sits higher; stopping on green is neither required nor safe.

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