Warrants for Stop and Yield Signs

Warrants for Stop Sign
Because the STOP sign causes a substantial inconvenience to motorists, it should be used only where warranted. A STOP sign may be warranted at an intersection where one or more of the following conditions exist:

1. Intersection of a less important road with a main road where application of the normal right-of-way rule is unduly hazardous.
2. Street entering a through highway or street.
3. Unsignalized intersection in a signalized area.
4. Other intersections where a combination of high speed, restricted view, and serious accident record indicates a need for control by the STOP sign.

Warrants for Multiway Stop Signs
The "Multiway Stop" installation is useful as a safety measure at some locations. It should ordinarily be used only where the volume of traffic on the intersecting roads is approximately equal. A traffic control signal is more satisfactory for an intersection with a heavy volume of traffic.

Any of the following conditions may warrant a multiway STOP sign installation (sec. 2B-4):

1. Where traffic signals are warranted and urgently needed, the multiway stop is an interim measure that can be installed quickly to control traffic while arrangements are being made for the signal installation.
2. An accident problem, as indicated by five or more reported accidents of a type susceptible of correction by a multiway stop installation in a 12-month period. Such accidents include right- and left-turn collisions as well as right-angle collisions.
   1. The total vehicular volume entering the intersection from all approaches must average at least 500 vehicles per hour for any eight hours of an average day, and
   2. The combined vehicular and pedestrian volume from the minor street or highway must average at least 200 units per hour for the same eight hours with an average delay to minor street vehicular traffic of at least 30 seconds per vehicle during the maximum hour, but
   3. When the 85-percentile approach speed of the major street traffic exceeds 40 miles per hour, the minimum vehicular volume warrant is 70 percent of the above requirements.

Warrants for Yield Signs
The YIELD sign may be warranted:

1. On a minor road at the entrance to an intersection where it is necessary to assign right-of-way to the major road, but where a stop is not necessary at all times, and where the safe approach speed on the minor road exceeds 10 miles per hour.
2. On the entrance ramp to an expressway where an acceleration lane is not provided.
3. Within an intersection with a divided highway, where a STOP sign is present at the entrance to the first roadway and further control is necessary to the entrance to the second roadway, and where the median width between the two roadways exceeds 30 feet.
4. Where there is a separate or channelized right-turn lane,without an adequate acceleration lane.
5. At any intersection where a special problem exists and where an engineering study indicates the problem to be susceptible to correction by use of the YIELD sign.

YIELD signs should not ordinarily be placed to control the major flow of traffic at an intersection.

For more information call Mankato's Engineering Office at (507) 387-8631 or email staff.