Why doesnn't the City of Warwick install more stop signs, particularly at 4-way intersections, to reudce speeding and crashes?
Many people believe that installing more stop signs, particularly at all approaches to intersections, will slow traffic speeds and prevent crashes. There is no real evidence to indicate that stop signs decrease the speed of traffic. Impatient drivers view the additional delay caused by unwarranted stop signs as "lost time" to be made up by driving at higher speeds between stop signs. Unwarranted stop signs may lead to disrespect by motorists who tend to ignore them or slow down without stopping. These "roll through" stops can sometimes lead to tragic consequences. Unwarranted stop signs also create negative environmental impacts via increased CO2 emissions, decreased fuel efficiency, and degraded neighborhood sound/air quality.