Welcome to Wiggins, Mississippi

Proposed Stop Sign Policy

 

Control of Speed and Safety

Each year, the City receives many inquiries about installing stop signs as way to reduce speeding or improve safety. However, research shows that other measures are often more effective in addressing the issues of speed and safety than adding stop signs. The purpose of stop signs is to assign right-of-way at an intersection, not to control speeding. Also, stop signs do not necessarily improve safety at an intersection.

Frequently, residents think stop signs at an intersection are needed because an accident has occurred there recently. It is important to keep in mind that accidents are random events. Many collisions are the result of driver error and are not the fault of poor design or insufficient traffic control.

The City does review accident records periodically to determine if patterns of multiple collisions occur at particular locations. When several collisions occur at the same location, engineering studies are performed to determine the need for possible corrective action. Removal of sight obstructions and other measures are considered as well as the possibility of additional stop signs.

Public understanding of the function of stop signs is one of the most critical elements in reducing speeding and traffic accidents. The following information explains Wiggins policies on intersection traffic control and the correct use of stop signs.

Philosophy of Traffic Control

Effective traffic control is achieved by exercising the least intrusive control to achieve safe traffic flow. When excessive control or unnecessary control is used, motorists feel imposed upon and frequently will ignore the traffic control device. This can lead to severe consequences involving collisions and possibly personal injury.

Installation Policies

The Federal "Uniform Traffic Control Devices Manual" dictates the size, shape and color of all traffic signs. This manual has guidelines for installing signs and thus creates uniformity from state to state.

The City has proposed adopting policies for the installation of two-way stop signs in residential areas. These policies identify specific traffic volumes, accident history, and any unusual conditions that must be present at the intersection before these traffic control devices may be installed.

Our experience has shown that simply improving the intersection visibility by prohibiting parking or removing vegetation near the intersection is often more effective in reducing traffic accidents than installing stop signs. This often reduces the need to install more restrictive intersection controls. Overuse of stop signs reduces their effectiveness. If signs are installed where not justified, they are largely ignored with many drivers not making complete stops.

Two-Way Stop Signs

Two-way stop signs shall be installed at an intersection only after a careful engineering evaluation of the existing conditions indicates that their installation is appropriate.

Good neighborhood traffic control produces smooth trips for the motorist and avoids the "stop and go" effect of excessive stop signs. Experience shows that motorists have a tendency to speed up between stop signs. This is contrary to the wishes of residents who want motorists to slow down while traveling on residential streets.

Two-way stop signs at an intersection may only cost $100 to install but they can add about $4,600 in additional operating costs per year for motorists (assuming 500 cars are forced to stop at the intersection each day). Other costs of unjustified stop signs are:

Increased air pollution when cars are idling at a stop sign;

Increased noise from braking and accelerating; and,

Increased wear and tear on cars forced to slow down, stop and then accelerate through stop signs.

Our review of stop sign requests includes an examination of:

Relevant  speed, accident records and sight obstructions when considering a stop sign at a particular location.

If the presence of a sight obstruction is contributing to accidents at the intersection, staff should seek to remove the obstruction before considering a stop sign.

If an intersection experiences five (5) or more right angle accidents in a five(5) -year period, stop signs should be considered.

If fifteen (15) percent of the cars are more than five (5) M.P.H. over the speed limit, then stop signs should be considered.

If traffic volumes on one of the streets exceed 1,000 vehicles per day, stop signs may be considered.

Absent engineering data that clearly indicates the need for a stop sign, a residential intersection should be left uncontrolled.

Removal of stop signs must be approved by the Board of Aldermen.

Four-Way or Multi-Way Stop Signs

The standards for four-way or multi-way stop signs are even more restrictive than for two-way stop signs.

If an intersection experiences five (5) or more right angle accidents in a one (1) -year period that are correctable by multi-way stop signs.

If total vehicle volumes entering the intersection from all approaches average 500 vehicles per hour for any eight hours of an average day.

If the combined vehicular and pedestrian volume from the minor street averages at least 200 units per hour for the same 8 hours, with an average delay to minor street vehicular traffic of at least 30 seconds per vehicle during the maximum hour.

When the 85th-percentile approach speed of the major street traffic exceeds 40 miles per hour, the minimum vehicular volumes can be reduced to 70 percent of the above requirements.

Rarely do residential areas have the traffic volumes or accident history to warrant four-way stop signs.

Uncontrolled Intersections

An uncontrolled intersection is the most common form of traffic control for residential intersections in the City. Motorists need to approach the intersection cautiously, look both ways and yield to the vehicle on the right. This is the legal way to enter an uncontrolled intersection.

Citizen Concern

The City takes its role in solving traffic problems very seriously, yet the ultimate burden of safety rests with you, the motorist in Wiggins. Since we receive many citizen requests per year, we cannot always investigate them as quickly as we would like. However, we will respond after carefully evaluating your request. If action is taken, it can usually take one or two months. We appreciate your patience and understanding.