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The Bay County Road Commission often receives
requests to install signs warning drivers of the
possible presence of children at play. Concerned
citizens fail to realize that these signs are
deceiving and ineffective.
Drivers already expect the presence of children
in residential areas, especially at certain times,
and studies show that devices attempting to warn
motorists of normal conditions or conditions that
are not always present fail to achieve the desired
safety benefits.
False Sense of Security
"Children at Play" signs also tend to
create a false sense of security for parents and
children who believe the signs provide an added
degree of protection when motorists, particularly
local ones, actually pay little attention to them.
The use of “Children at Play” and
similar signs such as “Slow” or “Slow
- Residential Area” has long been discouraged
since these signs are a direct and open suggestion
to small children that playing in or beside the
roadway is acceptable.
Parents also seem to believe such signs may
help reduce speeds. There is no evidence that
these signs prevent accidents or reduce the speed
of vehicles. If problems with speeding exist,
stricter enforcement should be sought from the
appropriate law enforcement authorities.
Road Commission Policy on "Children
At Play" Signs
“Children at Play” and similar signs
are not recognized by the State or the Federal
Highway Administration as official traffic control
devices and therefore, the Bay County Road Commission
discourages their use. However, under special
circumstances, and at the request and expense
of Townships the Road Commission will install
them.
Lower Speed Limits
Citizens frequently request low speed limit signs
on residential streets where children are playing.
The un-posted speed limit on a residential street
is automatically 25 mph and can be enforced. The
Road Commission cannot post speed limits lower
than 25mph because the posting of such signs by
a government agency is considered a speed trap
and therefore makes enforcement of such limits
illegal.
Prohibiting Trucks in Residential Areas
To help make residential streets safer for children
to play on, citizens also frequently request signs
that say:
"COMMERCIAL VEHICLES OVER
3000 LBS PROHIBITED" or “NO TRUCKS”
Whenever such signs are installed, not all vehicles
over 3000 lbs. are prohibited from using these
posted streets. Exemptions to posted weight restrictions
include: emergency vehicles; vehicles used in
transporting passengers such as buses; vehicles
used in conjunction with building construction
or delivery; vehicles used for local pickup or
delivery; vehicles used by local businesses to
gain access to and from the business. It requires
a Road Commission resolution to establish weight
restrictions on a street and high visibility enforcement
to make such signs effective. Therefore the Road
Commission posts such signs only on streets where
there is a documented large volume of heavy traffic
that does not have a legitimate reason to use
such streets.
Addressing the Safety of Young Children
Unnecessary signs confuse and annoy drivers and
fosters disrespect for all signs, but signs in
accordance with the Michigan Manual of Uniform
Traffic Control Devices can and should be posted
for school zones and pedestrian crossings as well
as playgrounds and other recreational areas where
a need exists.
Most importantly, parents should teach children
the dangers of playing in or near roadways and
strongly discourage them from doing so, and encourage
them to play in areas they can play safely with
proper supervision.
Citizen Concern
The Bay County Road Commission takes its role
in solving traffic problems very seriously, yet
the ultimate responsibility for safety rests with
you, the citizens of Bay County. Since we receive
an abundance of citizen requests per year, we
cannot always investigate your request as quickly
as we would like to. However, we will respond
after carefully evaluating your request. We appreciate
your patience and understanding.
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