What are the wide white lines painted across a traffic lane before you enter an intersection called?

The wide white lines painted across a traffic lane before entering an intersection are known as stop lines. These lines indicate the point at which a vehicle must stop when facing a stop sign or traffic signal. Their purpose is to ensure that drivers stop in a designated area, allowing for better visibility of oncoming traffic and pedestrians, and promoting safety at intersections.

Stop lines are specifically designed to communicate to drivers where they should halt their vehicle to comply with traffic regulations. This helps maintain an organized flow of traffic and reduces the risk of collisions. In contrast, the other options serve different functions; yield lines indicate where to yield to oncoming traffic, crosswalk lines indicate pedestrian crossing areas, and guide lines provide directional assistance but do not specifically dictate stopping protocols at intersections.