When entering a paved thoroughfare from a private road or driveway, what must you do?

When entering a paved thoroughfare from a private road or driveway, it is essential to come to a complete stop and yield to others. This action is crucial for ensuring the safety of both the driver and other road users. Coming to a complete stop allows the driver to assess the traffic conditions on the thoroughfare thoroughly and ensure it is safe to merge into the flow of traffic. Yielding to others, including vehicles and pedestrians, is a legal requirement in this situation, as private driveways may not always provide a clear view of oncoming traffic.

In contrast, simply honking before entering does not provide any guarantee of safety and can distract other drivers. Proceeding without stopping if there is no visible traffic is risky, as it assumes an absence of vehicles, which may not always be the case. Checking only for pedestrians before entering neglects the need to assess vehicular traffic, which is critical for safe merging. Therefore, the requirement to stop and yield is designed to promote caution and prevent accidents when transitioning from a private road to a public thoroughfare.