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1. Why doesn’t Whatcom County install "Children at Play" signs?

An often-heard neighborhood request concerns the posting of generalized warning signs with "Slow Children at Play" or other similar messages. Parental concern for the safety of children in the street near home, and a misplaced but widespread public faith in traffic signs to provide protection often prompt these requests.

Although some other jurisdictions have posted such signs widely in residential areas, studies have shown that many types of signs attempting to warn of normal conditions in residential areas have failed to achieve the desired safety benefits. If signs encourage parents and children to believe they have an added degree of protection, which the signs do not and cannot provide, a great disservice results.

Because of these serious considerations, Whatcom County does not install "Children At Play" signs on county roads. This type of sign may give children a false impression that it is safe to play in the road. It is never safe for children to play in or near the edge of the road.

2. Why aren't speed bumps put in place to slow down the traffic?

The control of speeding in residential neighborhoods, while maintaining acceptably safe street and roadway conditions, is a wide spread concern, which requires persistent law enforcement effort. The inability of posted speed limit signs to curb the intentional violator, leads to frequent requests for installation of "speed bumps" on public roads. However, actual tests of experimental designs have demonstrated the physical inability of a speed bump to control all types of lightweight and heavyweight vehicles successfully, In fact, a soft sprung sedan is encouraged to increase speed for a better ride, while some vehicles may lose control.

Courts have held public agencies liable for personal injuries resulting from faulty designs. Increased hazard to the unwary; challenges to the daredevils; disruption of the movement of both emergency and service vehicles; and undesirable increase in noise, have led Whatcom County to not consider speed bumps as a standard traffic control device on public roads.

3. How are crosswalks defined and used?

Washington State law states that crosswalks exist at all intersections except where prohibited by posted signs. At any crosswalk (marked or unmarked) drivers must yield the right of way to pedestrians.

Crosswalks are marked to encourage pedestrians to use a particular crossing. The Manual on Uniform Traffic Control Devices (MUTCD) states: "Crosswalk markings should not be used indiscriminately." Studies conducted on the relative safety of crosswalks support minimal installation of marked crosswalks.

The City of San Diego studied intersections at which there were both marked and unmarked crosswalks. The results were surprising. Although 2-1/2 times as many people used the marked crosswalks, 6 times as many accidents occurred in the marked crosswalks. Such research suggests that a marked crosswalk can give pedestrians a false sense of security. At all crosswalks, both unmarked and marked, it is the pedestrian’s responsibility to be cautious and alert while crossing.

4. What is the proper use of a stop sign?

A stop sign is one of our most valuable and effective control devices when used at the right place and under the right conditions. It is intended to help drivers and pedestrians at an intersection decide who has the right-of-way.

One common misuse of stop signs is to arbitrarily interrupt through traffic, either by causing it to stop, or by causing such an inconvenience as to force the traffic to use other routes. Where stop signs are installed as "nuisances" or "speed breakers," there is high incidence of intentional violation. In those locations where vehicles do stop, the speed reduction is effective only in the immediate vicinity of the stop sign and, frequently, speeds are actually higher between intersections. For these reasons, it should not be used as a speed control device.

Well-developed, nationally recognized guidelines help to indicate when such controls become necessary. "Because the stop sign causes a substantial inconvenience to motorists, it should be used only when warranted" - Manual on Uniform Traffic Control Devices (MUTCD).

5. What is the Federal Functional Classification of this road?

The Federal Functional Classification of any road can be found in this guide (PDF).