Coasting through stop signs legally

Roundabouts, which less than 10% of the US population understands, only work to replace 4-way stop intersections. There is no way to safely implement the OP's suggestion....there is a reason they chose to erect stop signs and not yield signs at the affected locations.

 

In my neighborhood a good percentage of people used to greatly exceed the 25 MPH posted speed limit. It seems that the town most likely was proactive and decided to put stop signs up every 2 blocks to prevent people from speeding and running over the kids on their bikes and skateboard rather then put a cop on every corner handing out citations.

 

I'll agree in general, but as usual, there are many qualifications.

North -American drivers aren't used to roundabouts, and will often freak-out in one, especially if other drivers are pushy and/or speeds are high. That makes for danger, unless it's a lightly used intersection.

Clover-leafs are interesting, trading lane changes for stops, much like a roundabout, but on a bigger scale, improving safety, at the cost of land usage and build and maintenance costs. "Normal intersections" with dedicated right turn lanes are similar, but without a left turn crossover.

And I agree, that stop signs are often used as traffic (eg: reduce traffic on side street) or speed control measures. Sometimes it should NOT be a 4-way stop it should be 2 way, but too many people were speeding and residents complained. Perhaps speed bumps would be better for FE.

I'd hope that if everybody slowed down, some of these 4 ways will go back to 2 way. OTOH, safety is often an issue too, especially in higher speed rural areas.


Then there is the issue of the individual driver who chooses to slide through stop signs. I've heard it called the California stop, and here in Quebec, the "Quebec Stop" (or "Arret Quebec" ).

I'm coming to the conclusion that Quebec cops concentrate almost entirely on speed, and ignore "slide through" stops. How else to explain over 50% of Quebec drivers in my area sliding through at least at 5-10 MPH when there is no other traffic at an intersection ??

Frankly I was getting pretty ticked at this behavior. My wife just about had her car taken out by a truck doing one of these at normal no-stop cornering speed before he saw her at last moment and hit brakes. So clearly this can be very dangerous !

OTOH, I've decided that if I can't beat them I will join them. I am now "sliding through" at 10-16 KMH (6-10 MPH) or lower generally, when everything is clear. I don't speed anymore. I think this is safer than speeding, but as always when driving remain vigilant.

I'm NOT recommending this for anyone else, but heck, I'm just looking to join the majority where I drive. Let's see if they ticket me. If so I'll go to court and plead fuel efficiency.

 

SInce driving in Ireland I have come to LOVE the roundabout. The few we have in the US were built too small, from what I've seen, to be a real practicle test platform.

Roundabouts can replace any intersection reguardless of the number of sections, and they make it easier to do a Uie.

Problem with roundabouts is people will have to learn how to be courteous or it'll end up being a race to go around in circles, hey... NASCAR.

I was thinking about this last month. No matter the speed limit the more stop signs and stop lights you have the less mileage you make. And stop signs and lights are popping up all over the place like rabbits multiplying. Could it be that oil companies are investing in sign companies and paying off the NTSB to increase stop and go traaffic and not explore more energy conserving alternatives?

Yes it was late when I thought this up. That's also why I can't watch tv when I'm tired, I end up buying stupid stuff.

 

Point One: Read federal rules --Stop signs are not designed for speed control. They are placed so that similarly used streets have rights of way at intersections.

Point Two: Coasting through stop signs is illegal (often called California stops). Yield signs probably would be more efficient at many stop-governed intersections, but OP would be better advised to campaign for changing the signs rather than violate the laws in place.

Point Three: I've used 3-, 4- and 5-road traffic circles. I'm not a fan, because most drivers who use them regularly drive as if they have the right of way. (Usually, car in the circle first has the right of way, which means taking more care in approaching.) That said, they probably would benefit Prius mileage. They also would take more land (one in North Carolina takes about half a city block).

 

All that being said -- I LOVE ROUNDIES!!! As long as I remember which side of the road I'm supposed to be on...

 

i noticed more roundabouts in the peninsula area of the bay area... It's really nice to see.

I've seen a larger one that had 5 or 6 roads breaking off of it with two lanes wrapping around. i thought it was funny to have two lanes.. till one day when people were all going 1 or two streets over when i had to do the whole circle... oh!... that helped.

I think roundabouts encourage better behavior. *shrug* Not to mention.. circling one is fun

My only reasoning for not having them is so that medical and emergency crews can speed though faster... so that limits them to simple roads.. suburbia blocks.. etc.

what i would like to see reworked is every stoplight... what a terrible design.. why don't we have intersections like highway overpasses yet?... continuous driving from point a to point b.

 

I regret to say that my Prius has improved my driving habits in just about every area but one -- stopsigns. I dislike stopping now and hate looking at the consumption screen during that looooong acceleration period. I only do it on little-used back roads when I am alone but I don't want to mistakenly do it when my kids are in the car so I have started to curb the bad habit.

 

Hi Ct...,

I do not think there is any legal way to not stop at a stop sign in normal driving. I believe the only point the law permits running a stop sign is to avoid a damage to people or property. IE, avoiding an accident.

But that said, at least 50 percent of the people out driving when traffic is low, are doing it here in suburban Chicagoland (informal estimate based on my evening walk).

But that said, driving like a hypermiler in a Prius is going to get allot more attention at the moment than other drivers. One media outlet stalked an Insight hypermiler and made a big deal about him/her rolling a stop sign. Something half the other cars on the road were/are doing. And a whold bunch of people pilled on in their comments section in a negative fashion. Never mind half those commenters are probably doing the same thing.


So, its best to be on better than average behavior when your hypermilling. Human nature is basically Luddite. People do not like anything different first. And it takes a while for them to get used to it. And then once its explained rationally, accept it.

 

People will get used to roundabouts.
We have two in my subdivision and more in the city as a whole.
Even more are in the works,I luv them,perfect for a Prius.

 

It doesn't have to be that way. I've seen one or two in the UK that are nothing more than a white spot in the middle of the intesection plus a dashed line across each lane where it enters the intersection. That's enough to indicate that standard roundabout rules apply.

 

Wrong!
Don't worry about how many streets intersect with a roundabout, worry about how many roundabouts are in the intersection!



ENGLISH ROUNDABOUT

And check out this Youtube of a guy going around and around in this thing . . .

 

I can't imagine ANY non-bizarre way one could avoid damage to people or property by going through a stop sign.

 

that's awsome

 

Happened to me! Serious accident happening behind me as I approached a red light . . . you bet your sweet bippy, I ran the light . . . and the police said it was legal.

 

BAM, how do like those apples hiremic el r d, whatever your name is.

 

I got in a pretty bad accident in a roundabout several years ago - I don't like 'em. I was hit by a large GAS truck that wasn't paying attention. Yup, really.

It was the PCH roundabout in Long Beach, if anyone is familiar with it - they call it "the circle."

That being said, I agree with you about stop signs, but here in CA rolling through them is what we affectionally call a "California stop," and yes, I've gotten a ticket for that before, too.