What should you do if you see a stop sign?

When you encounter a stop sign, the law requires that you come to a complete stop at the line or before entering the intersection. This action ensures that you yield the right of way to pedestrians and any other vehicles that may be approaching from different directions. Stopping fully allows you to assess the intersection safely to determine if it is clear before proceeding, which is crucial for preventing accidents.

Moreover, yielding to any pedestrians ensures their safety as they may be crossing the road at that point. Failure to come to a complete stop could result in traffic violations, accidents, or injuries.

The other choices do not align with safe driving practices. Accelerating past the stop sign compromises safety and increases the risk of collisions. Slowing down but not stopping does not fulfill the requirement of yielding and could also lead to dangerous situations. Finally, only stopping if there is traffic ignores the fact that stop signs are meant to control the flow of all traffic, not just when it is busy.