Signage at Uncontrolled Intersections

[twinsfan87]

Has anyone ever seen any signage indicating an uncontrolled intersection? If so (and you remember the location of said signage), could you send me a Google Maps link or the like to the intersection? My company and I are investigating  ways to increase awareness of uncontrolled intersections, one of which being signage. Thanks in advance!

[kphoger]

I have never seen any.  But I find it hard to believe that any jurisdiction would rather pay for any sort of 'uncontrolled intersection' signs than pay for YIELD signs.

[twinsfan87]

The problem is that if you install yield or stop signs all over the place, the overuse of the signs discredits the locations where the signs are truly needed. People run through stop and yield signs much more frequently when they find those signs are installed without any regards to traffic volume, and they continue to run through other stop/yield signs that are really needed. Also, some people may assume that if they don't have to stop then the side street does (which is not the case when encountering an uncontrolled intersection). Thus it may be helpful to have some sort of alternate signage for an uncontrolled intersection.

[DaBigE]

The problem is that if you install yield or stop signs all over the place, the overuse of the signs discredits the locations where the signs are truly needed. People run through stop and yield signs much more frequently when they find those signs are installed without any regards to traffic volume, and they continue to run through other stop/yield signs that are really needed. Also, some people may assume that if they don't have to stop then the side street does (which is not the case when encountering an uncontrolled intersection). Thus it may be helpful to have some sort of alternate signage for an uncontrolled intersection.

If there is no cross-traffic, how do you "run" a YIELD sign?  All it does is assign right-of-way.  I don't see how you can overuse that sign, except by posting more than 2 signs for the same approach.  IMO, if you're going to spend money on installing a sign, you might as well put up a YIELD sign.

[JREwing78]

I'll echo DaBigE's sentiments - use Yield signs - but only for the traffic movements that need them. Problem solved.

[agentsteel53]

People run through stop and yield signs much more frequently when they find those signs are installed without any regards to traffic volume, and they continue to run through other stop/yield signs that are really needed.

I have not noticed this.  People seem to run stop signs because they are inattentive, or because they are assholes.

[NE2]

You could try an all-way yield, which is logically the same as uncontrolled. But people might not understand it.

[Brian556]

All-way yields are not legal.

[kphoger]

People run through stop and yield signs much more frequently when they find those signs are installed without any regards to traffic volume, and they continue to run through other stop/yield signs that are really needed.

I have not noticed this.  People seem to run stop signs because they are inattentive, or because they are assholes.

Oh, I used to do this when we lived in Herrin, Illinois.  There were almost no residential streets in town that went more than two blocks without a STOP sign.  In a town on 12 000 people, that's really unnecessary.  I quickly developed the habit of treating all STOP signs as YIELD signs.  More than one person commented to me during that time that Herrin mechanics see a lot of transmission and brake jobs, and that the rash of STOP signs was to blame.

I currently live along a three-block section of road with uncontrolled intersections.  Most people slow down at the intersections or drive at less than 30 mph.  But, yes, there are those who blow through them at 35 mph–hardly safe when cross traffic might do the same.  Yet I would still rather see two-way YIELDs at each intersection than any sort of 'uncontrolled intersection' signage.  My street could be considered the more major one, and the cross streets the lesser ones.  That's the way traffic flows so, if signs are needed, just sign it that way.

[NE2]

All-way yields are not legal.

Where? Under which law?

[KEK Inc.]

All-way yields are not legal.

Why?  It's essentially a signed uncontrolled intersection.  If multiple people approach at the same time, then you'd use right-of-way.

Is it because it may be confusing?  Does the MUTCD specifically have something stating it's illegal to use yield signs in more than one direction? 

[Central Avenue]

If I'm reading this correctly, it looks like the MUTCD does prohibit using yield signs in such a manner:

Standard: Other than for all of the approaches to a roundabout, YIELD signs shall not be placed on all of the approaches to an intersection.

[KEK Inc.]

I guess it's to avoid confusion.  To be honest, uncontrolled intersections are placed in neighborhood roads where you don't really exceed 25 MPH.  If collisions become an issue, then they control it.

[PHLBOS]

The problem is that if you install yield or stop signs all over the place, the overuse of the signs discredits the locations where the signs are truly needed. People run through stop and yield signs much more frequently when they find those signs are installed without any regards to traffic volume, and they continue to run through other stop/yield signs that are really needed. Also, some people may assume that if they don't have to stop then the side street does (which is not the case when encountering an uncontrolled intersection). Thus it may be helpful to have some sort of alternate signage for an uncontrolled intersection.

Not to hijack the thread but the worst offenders of overusing STOP signs are the 5 southeastern PA counties (Bucks, Chester, Delaware, Montgomerey & Philadelphia).  On non-PennDOT roads, there are STOP signs at nearly every intersection (including low-density residential streets).  Many of those STOP signs erected in totally irrational locations (through street has a STOP sign for a dead-end road or driveway... no joke) were erected as a means of speed control; a MUTCD no-no.

While other areas are minimal in terms of placing signage at intersections of residential streets beyond a simple sign bearing the street name; these 5 PA counties seemed to have gone on a MUTCD binge with signs.  In the Borough of Glenolden (Delaware County PA), the less-than 1000 foot long Benson Drive has a "SPEED LIMIT 25" sign erected mid-way along the road (actually 2 of them, one facing each direction) despite the fact that one can clearly see the end of the road a short distance away. The road ends in a cul-de-sac with a circular grass island in the center.