Traffic Calming Alternatives and/or Fighting Against Misuse of 4-Way Stop Sign...
Traffic Calming Alternatives and/or Fighting Against Misuse of 4-Way Stop Sign...
(OP)
Hello,
I need some alternative suggestions about sound traffic engineering ways to calm traffic speeds in a private community and/or fight against a 4-way stop sign intersection planned...
My property owners association has announced that they will be installing 4-way stop signs at an intersection. Our community is in a rural area (wide setbacks from the roadway and clear visibility in all directions), considered private property, very low traffic volume, has coded gates at all entrances, and no surrounding traffic is able to use the roads as a shortcut. If the Manual on Uniformed Traffic Control Devices was used, yield signs as are present now would be the standard at this intersection, as well as the surrounding 25 MPH speed limit would also be increased to 35-40 MPH per the 85th percentile guidelines.
This intersection originally had such stop signs a few years ago, but were replaced with yield signs on two directions of travel due to the increased complaints by property owners. The current POA Board has stated the reason for this pending change is because of their perception of speeding, near accidents, and their legal responsibility to the community. Speed bumps were ruled out due to the higher resulting maintenance on the chip-seal roadway, there is little money for a roundabout, and any lighted signaling devices would disturb the surrounding neighbors. As usual, stop signs are the cheapest and realistically the most ineffective solution to such a larger issue of "out dated thinking".
Before I rally up a petition of neighbors to block such a traffic control change, I should at least investigate alternative solutions to the perceived problem of speeding and/or safety at this intersection. Does anyone have any suggestions or at least ideas for further research. BTW, I am an activist for the National Motorist Association, so if anyone appreciates sound traffic engineering for safety and efficiency, then it is me!
Thanks,
Dr. Z.
I need some alternative suggestions about sound traffic engineering ways to calm traffic speeds in a private community and/or fight against a 4-way stop sign intersection planned...
My property owners association has announced that they will be installing 4-way stop signs at an intersection. Our community is in a rural area (wide setbacks from the roadway and clear visibility in all directions), considered private property, very low traffic volume, has coded gates at all entrances, and no surrounding traffic is able to use the roads as a shortcut. If the Manual on Uniformed Traffic Control Devices was used, yield signs as are present now would be the standard at this intersection, as well as the surrounding 25 MPH speed limit would also be increased to 35-40 MPH per the 85th percentile guidelines.
This intersection originally had such stop signs a few years ago, but were replaced with yield signs on two directions of travel due to the increased complaints by property owners. The current POA Board has stated the reason for this pending change is because of their perception of speeding, near accidents, and their legal responsibility to the community. Speed bumps were ruled out due to the higher resulting maintenance on the chip-seal roadway, there is little money for a roundabout, and any lighted signaling devices would disturb the surrounding neighbors. As usual, stop signs are the cheapest and realistically the most ineffective solution to such a larger issue of "out dated thinking".
Before I rally up a petition of neighbors to block such a traffic control change, I should at least investigate alternative solutions to the perceived problem of speeding and/or safety at this intersection. Does anyone have any suggestions or at least ideas for further research. BTW, I am an activist for the National Motorist Association, so if anyone appreciates sound traffic engineering for safety and efficiency, then it is me!
Thanks,
Dr. Z.





RE: Traffic Calming Alternatives and/or Fighting Against Misuse of 4-Way Stop Sign...
RE: Traffic Calming Alternatives and/or Fighting Against Misuse of 4-Way Stop Sign...
Mike Lambert
RE: Traffic Calming Alternatives and/or Fighting Against Misuse of 4-Way Stop Sign...
More serious answer would be, depending on the size of the junction, either a roundabout, or perhaps a mini-roundabout on a raised junction table, which has the advantage of catering for peds by creating at-grade crossings (the raised area to extend slightly further than a car's length down each arm. such that the first waiting vehicle is on the level - will need to take into account delivery/refuse vehicles).
RE: Traffic Calming Alternatives and/or Fighting Against Misuse of 4-Way Stop Sign...
RE: Traffic Calming Alternatives and/or Fighting Against Misuse of 4-Way Stop Sign...
Lat 34.693097°
Long -112.251990°
RE: Traffic Calming Alternatives and/or Fighting Against Misuse of 4-Way Stop Sign...
Other studies will show that there are actually more accidents at four-way stops.
You should search through FHWA and the MUTCD research files along with their forums/chat rooms to find these tidbits and more.
When you show the Board that installing stop signs acutally decreases safety it should change their opinion.
RE: Traffic Calming Alternatives and/or Fighting Against Misuse of 4-Way Stop Sign...
Thanks,
Dr. Z.
RE: Traffic Calming Alternatives and/or Fighting Against Misuse of 4-Way Stop Sign...
Roundabouts are generally used to increase the capacity of an intersection or to address non-standard intersections (i.e. intersection with five roads, frontage roads, etc.). If I'm a homeowner, spending money on a roundabout (which is expensive) would seem like overkill for this perceived problem and for the remoteness of this area.
RE: Traffic Calming Alternatives and/or Fighting Against Misuse of 4-Way Stop Sign...
RE: Traffic Calming Alternatives and/or Fighting Against Misuse of 4-Way Stop Sign...
I will indeed make a presentation when they will allow it, but most likely it will have to wait for a Board member reelection to do so. It is elected officials like this that make a traffic engineers job more complicated than it needs to be. Oh, not to mention confusing local drivers!
Thanks,
Dr. Z.
RE: Traffic Calming Alternatives and/or Fighting Against Misuse of 4-Way Stop Sign...
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