Over Half of Drivers Blow Off Stop Signs

In addition, at intersections with marked crosswalks, one quarter (25%) of vehicles stopped in or past the crosswalks. Further, when only child pedestrians were present, nearly a third (32%) of motorists violated the stop signs.

And, at intersections where pedestrians were crossing, nearly a quarter (24%) of drivers did not come to a complete stop. This carelessness and stupidity can be a real killer. Each year, stop sign violations are associated with approximately 200 fatal crashes and 17,000 non-fatal injury crashes.

In other words, there is a good chance that your child could be laying hurt on the street unless you and other parents in your community get involved in stopping these uncaring monsters wielding multiple ton weapons.

How?

Determine where the danger is. Walk to school with your children to see at what intersections drivers are failing to stop at stop signs – especially marked crosswalks in school zones.  While watching, jot down the license plate numbers of any drivers you see blowing off the intersection and give the information to police.  You may have to testify against the driver in court but is not a child’s safety worth a few hours of your time?

Demand that your community install devices on streets where drivers blow off red lights or stop signs that slow drivers and give priority to pedestrians crossing streets.

Get your police to increase traffic enforcement in areas where children walk to school.  Drivers will slow down when word gets out that blowing off stop signs in a certain area can get a driver a very expensive ticket or even jail time.

Have teachers educate your children about safe biking and walking.  Simple precautions such as looking both ways before crossing a street can go a long way to increasing your child’s safety on the streets.  If you can not get your school to take on the job of teaching bike and walking safety, do the job yourself.  In fact, the more your children are reminded about safe biking and walking, the more likely they will practice safety in the streets.

And, set up a schedule of parents walking with children to school.  Help the children watch for careless drivers.  Have a cell phone with you to call police with license plate numbers of drivers who do not obey traffic regulation signs.

These hasty drivers do not care about your child’s safety so you have to.