Atypical Stop Sign in City of Aurora, Ohio

Atypical Stop Sign

The Manual on Uniform Traffic Control Devices, or MUTCD defines the standards used by road managers nationwide to install and maintain traffic control devices on all public streets, highways, bikeways, and private roads open to public traffic.

This atypical stop sign is installed off of South Bissell Road at its intersection with West Pioneer Trail, near Walden of Aurora in City of Aurora Ohio.  Purists might find this City of Aurora sign unappealing but the City cannot be blamed, in this case, for being reactive to traffic issues.   A stop ahead warning sign, W3-1a, is installed in advance of this atypical stop sign on South Bissell Road.

According to James Jordan, Assistant Director, Department of Public Service, City of Aurora, this stop sign configuration is used because the stop sign area, ocassionally, get partially covered with vegetation.

At a few locations in City of Aurora, stop ahead warning signs are installed even where visibility is probably sufficient.  Traffic engineers whose motto is, Less is More, are likely to frown upon this.

W3-1a

MUTCD states that a Stop Ahead (W3-1 or optional W3-1a) sign shall be used where a STOP sign is not visible for a sufficient distance to permit the road user to bring the vehicle to a stop at the STOP sign.  This sign is prescribed for low volume roads.  MUTCD defines a low volume road as a facility lying outside of built-up areas of cities, towns, and communities, and having a traffic volume of less than 400 AADT.   Alleys and residential streets in a city or town are within the city or town and hence cannot be considered a low volume road for MUTCD purposes.