Patch Readers Sound Off on Stop Signs in Baltimore County

BALTIMORE COUNTY, MD--If you’ve noticed an intersection in your neighborhood that could use a stop sign, you’re not alone.

The Insurance Institute for Highway Safety says that one-third of all intersection crashes in the United States occur at crossings controlled by stop signs. While they aren’t a perfect solution to dangerous intersections, studies have shown that installing all-way signs can reduce accidents by 40 to 60 percent.

When we asked Patch Readers in Baltimore County where they wanted to see a stop sign, some asked for stoplights while others just requested that drivers stop at the signs that are already in place. That’s not too much to ask according to a report from the Federal Highway Administration that showed the simple, and cheap, addition of “Stop Ahead” wording on roadways reduced accidents at controlled intersections by 15 percent.

We realize that no one knows the roads in Baltimore County better than its residents. Here’s what Patch Readers shared with us about their neighborhood’s intersections:

• "Buckschoolhouse and Perry Hall Blvd."
• "York Road between Cockeysville Road and Sherwood Road."
• "Butler Rd and Central Ave could use something during evening rush hour."
• "There is a 'T' on Riverview Road into Wildwood Beach Rd.. We've contacted the county numerous times-tried to get the stop sign replaced that used to be there. The reply was that people should KNOW to stop at the 'T' on Riverview Rd... Well they don't, they come flying around that turn all day long. I can't even count how many accidents we've almost had and close calls we witnessed with neighbors due to this. I guess it's going to take someone getting hurt for action on replacing that stop sign. I don't get it why something so simple to avoid something so serious is such a problem!"
• "Put back the sign removed at Girdwood and Treherne. Since they took it down traffic coming from the 4 laned Cranbrook/Girdwood just zooms right past Treherne into the 2 lane residential street."
• "Margate and picket. By the time those cars come down from just being on the expressway, they are doing 50 coming down the hill. Nothing wrong with a four way stop there."
• "Dunfield Rd and Walther ave.. please or a circle would be nice."
• "None. But a few functional speed traps would be fiscally beneficial."
• "Rt 7 forge rd... i cant even turn out of my street"

• "I would like people to stop at the ones that are already there."

Is there a dangerous intersection on your block that didn’t make the list? Share it with us in the comments below or on our Owings Mills Patch Facebook page.