# Why do we have stop signs? **URL:** \ **Category:** Factual Questions\ **Created:** [July 27, 2010, 6:34pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-do-we-have-stop-signs/548211 "2010-07-27T18:34:44Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 6\ **Page:** 5
**Author:** ![Mk\_VII](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/5f9b8f/32.png) [@Mk\_VII](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Mk_VII)\ **Post date:** [July 30, 2010, 4:48pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-do-we-have-stop-signs/548211/81 "2010-07-30T16:48:50Z")
> [@Unpronounceable](#): > > There are two traffic circles in my neighborhood. > > Each of them has a little planter in the middle with a crepe myrtle…in theory. > > After replacing the trees over 30 times, the city gave up, and stuck huge reflector signs there instead. And they still have to tow at least one car a day off the damn things. We have one or two here like that too. Usually it’s because they didn’t make them large enough diameter to get people’s attention. ---
**Author:** ![Balthisar](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/balthisar/32/2825_2.png) [@Balthisar](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Balthisar)\ **Post date:** [July 31, 2010, 12:50pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-do-we-have-stop-signs/548211/82 "2010-07-31T12:50:56Z")
My SE Michigan county has been installing more and more modern roundabouts. They’re _greatr_! Except… some obtuse people screw the whole rhythm up by confusing “yield” for “stop.” Speaking of obtuse people and T intersections, there’s a T intersection right by my house. The north-south cross traffic has stop signs; the northbound traffic coming off the road that ends at the T has no stop sign. The reason is, that traffic crosses a very close railroad track, and so stopping traffic would present a danger. I nearly get T-boned no less than three times per month (when I’m home, that is). I’ve looked up the legal signage and petitioned the county road commission (it’s their road) for the appropriate DOT signals, but apparently every department in Michigan is broke. ---
**Author:** ![Si\_Amigo](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/si_amigo/32/2877_2.png) [@Si\_Amigo](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Si_Amigo)\ **Post date:** [August 2, 2010, 12:55pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-do-we-have-stop-signs/548211/83 "2010-08-02T12:55:28Z")
> [@Balthisar](#): > > My SE Michigan . . . roundabouts. They’re _greatr_! Except… some obtuse people screw the whole rhythm up by confusing “yield” for “stop.” > > . . . but apparently every department in Michigan is broke. It’s only because they invented the [Stop Sign](http://www.fatdux.com/resources/articles/happy-birthday-stop-sign/)in Michigan and we are quite nostalgic about our automotive pass here. Also, its hard engough to master the [Michigan Left](http://www.wfaa.com/news/local/Michigan-left-turn-spurs-confusion-for-drivers-in-Plano-99659594.html); even Texans have a hard time with it. 😃 We could discuss this in detail at the [Dopefest](http://boards.straightdope.com/sdmb/showthread.php?t=571915&page=2) in Milan (at **Gfactor’s** )on the 28th(?); you in? Spread the word. ---
**Author:** ![Patch](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/a183cd/32.png) [@Patch](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Patch)\ **Post date:** [August 2, 2010, 1:15pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-do-we-have-stop-signs/548211/84 "2010-08-02T13:15:26Z")
> [@Si\_Amigo](#): > > It’s only because they invented the [Stop Sign](http://www.fatdux.com/resources/articles/happy-birthday-stop-sign/)in Michigan and we are quite nostalgic about our automotive pass here. Also, its hard engough to master the [Michigan Left](http://www.wfaa.com/news/local/Michigan-left-turn-spurs-confusion-for-drivers-in-Plano-99659594.html); even Texans have a hard time with it. 😃 Nah. You want nuts, I present the [Australian Hook Turn](http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Hook_turn). ---
**Author:** ![Balthisar](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/balthisar/32/2825_2.png) [@Balthisar](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Balthisar)\ **Post date:** [August 2, 2010, 3:56pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-do-we-have-stop-signs/548211/85 "2010-08-02T15:56:06Z")
> [@Si\_Amigo](#): > > We could discuss this in detail at the [Dopefest](http://boards.straightdope.com/sdmb/showthread.php?t=571915&page=2) in Milan (at **Gfactor’s** )on the 28th(?); you in? Spread the word. I wish I could! That would be a blast. I’m still in Mexico at the moment and it’s looking like another month or two until we’re done. > [@Patch](#): > > Nah. You want nuts, I present the [Australian Hook Turn](http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Hook_turn). Actually that’s pretty common in parts of Mexico, except it’s a drive-on-the-right country so it’s backwards compared to Australia. ---
**Author:** ![Topologist](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/topologist/32/3208_2.png) [@Topologist](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Topologist)\ **Post date:** [August 2, 2010, 9:40pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-do-we-have-stop-signs/548211/86 "2010-08-02T21:40:23Z")
> [@jackdavinci](#): > > Where I am, Long Island, it would of course need a slight change in the definition of yield, if not in actual law, than at least in perception. I guess it’s different in other places, but here, I have never ever seen a yield sign at an actual 90° intersection. I’ve only seen it at road merges, or at T-intersections with a small turning lane that resembles a merge. When I moved to Long Island 25 years ago, Garden City used to have yield signs in some of its residential areas at ordinary 90° intersections. They changed them to stop signs not long after that. [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-do-we-have-stop-signs/548211.md?page=4)