Stop Lines and Box Junctions
You must stop before the stop line — never on it or past it. Do not enter a box junction unless your exit is clear.
At a signal or stop sign, vehicles must halt before (not on, not past) the painted stop line. Crossing into a box junction when the exit is blocked is an offence.
Penalty Under Law
₹500–₹1,000 (Sec. 177 MV Act).
Legal Source
MV Act Sec. 119; CMVR Rule 3; IRC:67
What the Law Says
CMVR Rule 3 and IRC:67 require vehicles to stop at the marked stop line and not encroach on the pedestrian crossing or intersection during a red signal. Box junctions (yellow criss-cross markings) must not be entered unless the exit ahead is clear — a vehicle that enters and gets stuck is blocking cross-traffic.
💡 Why This Rule Exists
Stop lines create a safe buffer between waiting traffic and the active intersection. Encroaching past the stop line puts the vehicle into the path of crossing traffic and pedestrians. Box junction rules prevent intersection gridlock — a self-perpetuating cycle where cross-traffic blocks through-traffic, which blocks more traffic, halting the entire intersection.
Key Facts
- 1
Stop line: white solid transverse line across the lane.
- 2
Bicyclists' stop line (ASL — Advanced Stop Line): sometimes provided ahead of the vehicle stop line; cyclists may use this area.
- 3
Box junction: yellow criss-cross hatching. Enter only if exit is clear.
- 4
Parking on yellow kerb lines = no parking; red kerb = no stopping.
- 5
If the stop line is worn/faded, stop before the pedestrian crossing, or if absent, before the intersection.
⚠️ Common Violations
- ›
Vehicles stopping on or past the stop line, blocking the pedestrian phase.
- ›
Entering a box junction in heavy traffic and blocking cross-traffic.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the penalty for stop lines and box junctions?
What does the law say about stop lines and box junctions?
Why does stop lines and box junctions matter?
Know Someone Who Breaks This Rule?
Share this page. Awareness is the first step to safer roads.
More Traffic Controls Rules
Traffic Signal Rules — Red, Amber, Green
At a red light: stop before the stop line. At amber: prepare to stop (do not accelerate). At green: proceed cautiously — green does not guarantee the road is clear.
Red light jumping: ₹1,000–₹5,000 (Sec
Pedestrian Right of Way
Drivers must stop for pedestrians at zebra crossings. Pedestrians have right of way at all designated crossings. Pedestrian fatalities at crossings are a major category of road deaths in India.
Failure to yield to pedestrian at crossing: ₹500 (Sec
One-Way Street Rules
On one-way roads, all vehicles must travel in the direction shown by the arrow. Entry from the wrong end is dangerous driving. No overtaking from the left — overtake from the right (which is standard flow).
Wrong-way on one-way: Sec
Railway Level Crossing Rules
You must stop at a closed railway gate. At unmanned crossings, you must stop, look both ways, and verify no train is approaching before crossing. The penalty for ignoring a closed gate: ₹1,000 + 1 year imprisonment.
₹1,000 + imprisonment up to 1 year (Railways Act Sec