Motorists, how many STOP signs actually make sense to you?

@mattbrowne stop signs IMO , are an integral part of controlling traffic flow. Without them, there could be an endless flow of traffic often faster than the posted speed limits. Stop signs give pedestrians, residents and businesses there a often needed break in this flow of traffic. Stop signs slowing down traffic is also a good way to keep neighborhood car traffic in check and IMO no amount of saved gas is worth the life of a kid.

Stop signs are there for a reason. traffic engineers do extensive studies, before a sign stop is erected. the object of a stop sign is for people to know who has the right-of-way. also, its purpose is to keep governments out of lawsuits, because a stop sign was not in place.

While we are on the subject, did you know that not all stop signs are enforceablel? example: stop signs that are not red and white and a certain measurement, are not enforceable. smaller red and white stop signs are not enforceable. also, the word STOP painted on the pavement is not enforceable.

I agree with John and Cruiser, but I’m also aware some stop signs are useless. For the first time, I saw a stop sign being removed. I guess enough complained, because everyone knew it was not needed. I’m not sure what the process is to request a stop sign be removed, though.

We have very few stop signs here, and they’re treated as “Take extra care when giving way” signs. If there’s nothing coming you’d be very unlucky to get a ticket for failing to stop.

I’ve noticed a lot more traffic circles being put in here in Kansas. Also, we don’t have a lot of 4 way stops (except for main intersections). I agree that stop signs have their place and sometimes they are necessary, but I don’t think there needs to be an over abundance of them. If it’s not a main intersection with a lot of traffic, a 2 way stop would suffice.

There are very few stop light out here so stop signs are the main form of control and work well.
HOWEVER!!! My son had an accident at one because he was driving on a country road that had 4 way stops at each intersection (about a mile+ apart). At one location it was only a two way stop. He stopped and then pulled out in to the intersection not seeing a car that had no stop. No one was hurt but the car was totaled. We have not been back to check but I’d be willing to bet that intersection is a 4 way stop now.

@worriedguy This is what roundabouts are for

@Cruiser – Yes, I totally agree. But most parts in Arizona and Utah aren’t residential areas. Still, stop signs almost everywhere.

@meiosis I agree, they are great . But it is hard to justify the land acquisition and a road tear up when you consider the low traffic volume here. I think 4 way stops should be marked differently from 2 way. Maybe the 4 way should have a large ”+” sign and the 2-way a ”-”

Stop signs don’t usually bother me. I rarely think they’ve been misplaced.

I have driven in Arizona though and there are many spaces where you have great long-distance visibility and not much to endanger. I can imagine stop signs could be out of place there, but I don’t remember that being the case. I do remember thinking there may as well be higher speed limits on many highways there, when traffic is low and the car is decent enough.

What I do get bothered by are speed bumps (DIE, SPEED BUMPS!), traffic lights timed to stop people rather than let them through, and speed limits that are way lower than my safe driving speed (or 10–20 mph lower than everyone regularly and safely drives there, even buses, garbage trucks, cops, even at night in the rain, etc. but no, it’s illegal – hypocritical folly).

Having lived in AZ for 5 years now, I’ve come to appreciate the STOP signs for my own safety. YIELD signs here would be all but ingored and treated as GO FASTER signs.

@Neizvestnaya – That explains it !