Signs Stop Stop Signs

Understanding the effectiveness of Stop signs in your neighborhood. Washington County receives many requests from citizens for STOP signs. When used at the right place and under the right conditions, a Requesting New STOP Signs STOP sign can be a very effective traffic The decision to install a new STOP sign is made by Traffic Engineers at the Department control device. of Land Use and Transportation after study- ing federal guidelines, traffic volume, intersection configuration, and accident However, STOP sign installations have many records. If you would like to request a STOP effects. The decision to place a new STOP at study, or to discuss any other traffic issue, SStoptop an intersection must be made with care. contact: Traffic Engineering Services 1400 SW Walnut St. MS 17B Hillsboro, OR 97123-5625 SignsSigns Phone: (503) 846-7950 Fax: (503) 846-7910 Washington County Department of Land Use & Transportation Criteria for New STOP Signs STOP signs are considered for installation at an intersection when circumstances What STOP Signs Can and Cannot Do indicate that the Right-of-Way Rule is not being observed. Washington County Traffic Engineers and most other STOP signs are effective in helping drivers and pedestrians transportation officials use federal guidelines known as decide who has the right-of-way at an intersection. Many “warrants” to determine whether or not to install a STOP people also believe that they are an easy solution to sign. By adhering to these warrants, they ensure consistent Determining Right-of-Way neighborhood speeding and other traffic problems. signing from community to community. Unfortunately, studies and experience show that using stop STOP signs are intended to help drivers and pedestrians signs for these purposes does not work. Unwarranted stop Two-Way STOP Signs determine who has the right-of-way at an intersection. signs can actually result in increased accidents. They also As a general rule, two-way STOP signs are installed where Intersections not controlled by stop signs are subject to the increase noise and pollution levels. an accident problem is identified, where unremovable Oregon ROW Rule, which states that: visibility restrictions exist (such as buildings or topography), STOP Signs and Speeding or where traffic volumes are high enough that the Right-of- A driver when approaching an uncontrolled highway Because they can only be used at intersections and not at Way Rule is unduly hazardous. In most cases, the lower intersection shall look out for and give right-of-way to any mid-block locations, STOP signs are not effective speed volume road is stopped for the higher volume road. driver on the right simultaneously approaching a given reduction devices. Studies show that drivers accelerate point, regardless of which driver first reaches rapidly after a stop. Within 100 feet of a STOP sign they Four-Way or All-Way Stops and enters the intersection... This eliminates the need to approach their top operating speeds, which can be just as A two-way STOP is usually sufficient to define right-of- determine whether the other vehicle is close enough to high (and sometimes higher) than the speeds at way. A four-way STOP constitute a hazard and simply says that the driver must uncontrolled intersections. or all-way STOP is generally considered when an yield to the vehicle on the right. intersection controlled by a two-way STOP is the site of STOP Signs and Accidents accident or delay problems that are correctable by the Properly placed STOP signs can greatly reduce the risk of additional stops. traffic accidents. However, where STOP signs are installed as “speed breakers”, there is a high incidence of violation or running the STOP sign. Most drivers are reasonable and prudent with no intention of purposely violating traffic regulations. However, when an unreasonable restriction is imposed, it can result in flagrant violations. In these cases, the STOPGoals sign creates a false sense of security in pedestrians and motorists. The result can be an increase in serious accidents. Neighborhood Traffic Patterns Anticipating how a new stop sign will affect nearby roads is a difficult aspect of traffic engineering. Experience shows that a STOP sign in one location affects nearby traffic patterns. Drivers may seek new routes to avoid the obstacle. Traffic engineers try to ensure that they don’t solve one problem by creating another..

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