STOP SIGN VERSUS YIELD SIGN

This paper investigates the relative effectiveness of STOP and YIELD signs at low-volume intersections (less than 500 vehicles/day on minor roadway) in rural and urban environments. Traditional rationales for installing STOP signs, such as inadequate sight distance and high volumes on major roadways, are examined. It is shown that the current use of STOP signs is unrelated to sight distance availability and that STOP signs do not categorically reduce accidents at low-volume intersections. Further, no relation is demonstrated between accidents and major roadway volumes up to 6000 vehicles/day. STOP signs are shown to increase road user costs by more than 7 percent over YIELD signs. (Author)