Patch Readers Sound Off on Stop Signs in El Cerrito

EL CERRITO, 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 El Cerrito 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 El Cerrito better than its residents. Here’s what Patch Readers shared with us about their neighborhood’s intersections:

• "Pomona Avenue at Curry"

• "Richmond and Schmidt - outside my house. Have seen few accidents there!"

• "Arlington and Madera!!! Waaaay too dangerous with school being there to not have a stop sign, or signal. The crossing lights are NOT enough."

• "Jordan at Tamalpais. After the church became a school there is more traffic and lots more kids and people don't pay attention when turning off Jordan."

• "San Diego and Yosemite. It's a small neighborhood but everyone blows through it to get to 99 Ranch, and I have to drive across this intersection blind every day. It's literally impossible to see traffic coming from either direction."

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