How to distinguish between outside and inside of an intersection?
2 Answers
Outside the white stop line is considered outside the intersection, while inside the white stop line is inside the intersection. An intersection refers to the place where roads converge. Article 90 of the Road Traffic Safety Law stipulates that illegal parking in areas marked with no-parking lines, no-long-term-parking lines, guiding lines, or grid lines is identified as the violation of 'parking in violation of prohibitory marking instructions'. Below are precautions for parking: 1. No parking in areas with no-parking signs: No-parking signs indicate that within the designated range, all vehicles are prohibited from parking temporarily or for a long time. 2. No parking within yellow grid lines: Yellow grid lines indicate that parking is prohibited in this area for any reason. They are commonly seen at intersections and entrances/exits. 3. Yellow solid lines: Parking is prohibited on roads with yellow solid lines. The length of the yellow solid line indicates the size of the no-parking area. 4. No parking near bus stops: Parking is prohibited in areas such as bus stops, gas stations, emergency stations, fire hydrants, etc.
I've been driving for over a decade, and remembering the distinction between inside and outside intersections is crucial. The inside area stretches from the stop line back to the opposite crosswalk—once your vehicle crosses the stop line, you're in the inner zone where you must obey traffic signals strictly, avoiding sudden turns or stops. The outside area lies before the stop line, where you can wait at red lights or slow down to prepare. Key identifiers are the presence of stop lines and signal poles; at crossroads, the traffic lights on the poles mark the boundary. Experienced drivers know to stay sharp in the inner zone due to heavy traffic and rear-end collision risks, while the outer zone is safer but requires vigilance for pedestrians darting across. Regularly checking mirrors to position yourself can prevent many hassles.
