Where Exactly Do You Stop at a Red Light in Ohio?

The manual lists where a driver must stop, and the first item covers this question. At any stop sign or red traffic signal you stop behind the stop line or crosswalk before entering the intersection. Rolling up to the corner with your bumper over the line does not count.

The rule holds when you plan to turn on red, too. You stop behind the stop line or crosswalk, come to a full stop, and then yield to all crossing traffic and all pedestrians before making a legal turn.

One more rule from the same list catches people on the test. Even with a green light, do not enter an intersection if there is not enough space on the other side for your vehicle.

Source: Ohio Driver Manual (HSY 7607, October 2025), page 15. Read the handbook ↗