Annoying Samaritan Redux

Since the pedestrian crosswalk stop signs have been installed, I've noticed a new variation of the annoying Samaritan driver.  Normally, drivers don't notice, or even just run over these signs.  They certainly ignore them regarding pedestrians.  But sometimes they think the signs are telling them to stop for cyclists.  It's risky to proceed out of turn, since one driver typically stops but others don't.  One more indication that driver education/competence are very much lacking...

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Permalink Reply by Tricolor on September 4, 2016 at 6:17am

Stop should only ever mean stop. Too many conditions that have to be spelled out is no good for moving traffic. Arrows, shapes and colors are supposed to convey a sign's message. In most urban areas there should be better training to give crosswalks right of way by default except on streets with controlling signals.

Of course I also think we use way too many stop signs that increase congestion and pollution that would be better handled with through and yield marks at intersections. But no one trusts drivers to make those kind of decisions given the abysmal training people get when they're young that leads to all sorts of bad habits for the rest of their life.

Permalink Reply by Anne Alt on September 4, 2016 at 7:26am

If we could make YIELD the standard practice at most intersections of non-arterial streets, and people would actually make a habit of yielding when someone else has the right of way, we could make do with a lot fewer signs and those remaining would be more meaningful. I know that's a lot to ask. 

Permalink Reply by Bradford Smith on September 4, 2016 at 10:18am

Many of the stop signs, especially on side streets, appear to be only there as an attempt at getting motorists to slow down. Near me there are a number of intersection that do not need stop signs for any real traffic flow reasons.

Permalink Reply by Tricolor on September 4, 2016 at 11:18am

And in between them are crumbling speed humps.

Permalink Reply by Paul Lazzaro on September 4, 2016 at 12:11pm

The little traffic circles in residential areas are supposed to make that happen.  But drivers run over them(!).  I saw one today with smashed flowers and fence.  The real problem is that drivers don't know how to slow the hell down!

Permalink Reply by Paul Lazzaro on September 4, 2016 at 12:13pm

A very large percentage of drivers are unable to read (in any language), so your point is well taken.  Also, there is no time to pay attention to signage when looking at the phone.

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