Patch Readers Sound Off on Stop Signs in Alameda

ALAMEDA, CA - 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 Alameda 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 Alameda better than its residents. Here’s what Patch Readers shared with us about their neighborhood’s intersections:

• "Broadway at Lincoln"

• "ANY kind of sign would be wonderful at the crosswalk on Encinal & Benton."

• "Harvard and Fernside - 1. To allow people from Marina to actually cross the road to south shore and 2. allow people at the crosswalk to not get run over by 45mph cars on a blind curve."

• "Central and Park Ave, near the Kaiser parking lot"

• "Stop signs are nice, but controlled left turn signals would be fantastic!"

• "Blinking crossing lights on Constitution & Eagle Ave"

• "On Lincoln at Ninth, plus keep the crossing guard."

• "Everett at both Santa Clara and Central. Also Alameda Ave and Oak. But they could ALL use better visibility. When trucks park right next to any intersection it's dangerous. And the blinking crossing lights should be installed anywhere there's a crosswalk."

• "Any of the intersections on Clement! It's a speedway!"

• "Four-way stop at San Jose/Oak!!"

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