Residential Traffic Safety
Residential Area Traffic Safety
Traffic conditions on residential streets can greatly affect neighborhood livability. When our streets are safe and pleasant, the quality of life is enhanced. When traffic problems are a daily occurrence, our sense of community and personal well-being are threatened. With your help and the City's efforts in education, engineering, and enforcement, we can work together to address neighborhood traffic Concerns by the Neighborhood Traffic Harmonization Program (NTHP)
Why not install more stop signs?
Multiway STOP Signs -- National Research
safekids.org
Children at Play Signs
Pedestrian and Bicycle Safety Q & A
What is the Neighborhood Traffic Harmonization Program?
How can you make your neighborhood street safer?
As a driver...Drive slower
Realize that speeding through residential neighborhoods will make very little, if any, difference in the total time it will take to complete your entire trip. In addition, driving at slower speeds allows you more time to react to the unexpected, such as a child darting out from behind a parked car.
Remember that the legal speed limit on all residential streets is 25 mph, unless otherwise posted.
Make a conscious effort to drive 25 mph or slower on all residential streets. Remind family members and neighbors of the speed limit.
Avoid using local streets as short cuts
The more we use residential streets as short cuts, the more we disrupt the quality of life in neighborhoods. Neighborhood cut-through traffic increases noise and pollution in residential areas and results in a greater threat to the safety of children.
Observe all the rules of the road (traffic laws)
Do not take chances even on short local trips to the shopping mall, etc. Most accidents occur close to home.
Change your driving pattern on residential streets
Learn to adopt a different attitude! You should expect the unexpected on residential streets. It may not be your fault if you have an accident, but imagine the pain you would live with if you hit a child or elderly pedestrian.
Yield to pedestrians
Pedestrians have the right-of-way at intersections whether crosswalks are painted on the street or not. Remember that it is someone's child, mother, father, brother, or sister crossing the street!
Be aware that children are the primary pedestrians on neighborhood streets and that they are the most likely victims of careless drivers. Most young children -- especially those under nine years of age -- have great difficulty in making sound and safe judgments about traffic dangers.
As a parent...
Teach your children the rules of the road
Ensure that your children know and understand the rules of the road.
Studies have shown that smaller children have difficulty in making safe judgments about traffic dangers. Do not let your children play in the street. Warn them against darting into the road after pets or toys. Teach your children to stop, look both ways, and listen before crossing streets. Make sure your children know that even though cars are supposed to stop, they may not.
Supervise your children's trip to and from school
Plan a safe walking route to school. Walk it with your child and point out areas where they should be especially careful. Check with your school district for safe walking routes. Advise the school district of unsafe walking and crossing areas for children.
Take or arrange for transport of smaller children to and from school.
Set a good example
Drive the speed limit and drive with courtesy. Do not double park. Do let children off on the correct side of the road when delivering or picking them up from school.
Ensure that your children are properly equipped to ride bicycles on local streets.
You need to equip your children with two things:
1. The proper equipment, bright clothing and an ANSI (American National Standards Institute) approved helmet.
2. A sound understanding of the rules of the road.
Don't rush
Do not rush while driving. Organize yourself to leave a little earlier. In particular, do not rush getting children to and from school. Your urgency may transmit to them, causing them to disregard traffic safety and run headlong across the street.
As a resident...Take the initiative
Let the City know about problem areas along your street, such as:
Damaged or missing traffic signs
Dangerous pot-holes
Brush or trees that obscure driver's vision of signs, curbs, other vehicles, intersections, etc.
Talk with the Troy Police Department
Consistent traffic problems, particularly speeding, should be reported to the police. Let them know when the problem is more prevalent so they can conduct more effective enforcement. Ask for occasional traffic enforcement to deter speeders.
Get involved and do your part to improve traffic safety
Work with your Neighborhood / Subdivision Association to educate neighbors on Traffic Safety. Work with City staff on the Neighborhood Traffic Harmonization Program.
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Last modified: 8/30/2010
