Flashing LED Stop Signs

When N. Jackson Drive was closed for construction recently, residents in the adjacent subdivision were alarmed at the number of detouring vehicles that rolled through the stop signs. The police department responded by devoting extra time to patrolling the area and watching certain intersections. Ironically, more than half of the violations were committed by people who lived in that same subdivision!

That's the problem with rolling through stop signs. It gets to be a habit, and it gets increasingly reckless, and when you're caught, you'd swear that you did stop.

The popularity of LED (light emitting diode) lights has led to their incorporation into traffic signs, one being the familiar stop sign. They were first used to mark intersections that had formerly been uncontrolled. Studies by traffic engineers have shown that these signs can also increase compliance at "problem intersections". With the approval of the Jackson Village Board, the police department used revenues from the sale of abandoned vehicles to purchase two LED signs. Working with the Department of Public Works, an LED sign is swapped for an existing stop sign for about two weeks.

The LED signs were first posted on Georgetown Drive at Ridgway Drive. Georgetown was recently extended to the east to connect with the new Stonewall Drive. Stop sign compliance has been a problem, and led to a serious roll-over collision at the intersection (rare for a residential street).

Future locations have already been identified by police officers. In addition, residents are invited to request the temporary installation of the signs in their neighborhoods. Contact the department at (262) 677-4949 or jacksonpd@sbcglobal.net.