All-Way Stop Signs

The City of San Antonio installs all signs in accordance with the guidelines established by the State of Texas in the Texas Manual on Uniform Traffic Control Devices (TMUTCD). Stop signs are installed:

  • on lesser volume roadways.
  • at locations with restricted view.
  • at locations where crash records indicate a need for control by a stop sign.

An all-way stop sign is a traffic control device used to assign the right of way at intersections where the volumes of traffic on both intersecting streets are high. Because stop signs cause a significant delay to motorists, they should be installed only where warranted.

Necessary Conditions

The TMUTCD provides the necessary conditions, including specific traffic volumes, which must be present at an intersection before the installation of an all-way stop sign should be considered.

According to the TMUTCD an all-way stop sign may be warranted when any of the following conditions exist:

  • Where traffic signals are warranted and urgently needed, the multi-way stop may serve as an interim measure which can be installed quickly to control traffic while arrangements are being made for the installation of a traffic signal.
  • There are five or more reported crashes per year, which can be corrected by the installation of all-way stop signs.
  • Where the following minimum traffic volumes exist:
    • the total major street vehicular volume entering the intersection from all approaches averages 300 vehicles per hour for any eight hours of an average day, and
    • the combined vehicular and pedestrian volume from the minor street or highway averages at least 200 units per hour for the same eight hours, with an average delay to minor street motorists of at least 30 seconds per vehicle during the peak hour, but
    • when the 85-percentile approach speed of the major street traffic exceeds 40 miles per hour, the minimum vehicular volume warrant is 70% of the above requirements.

Air Quality

Vehicle emissions account for much of the pollution in the air. These emissions increase when vehicles are accelerated and decelerated.

It is important to minimize unnecessary stops since steady speeds increase fuel economy and reduce vehicle emissions. Unwarranted stop signs:

  • cause motorists delay by unnecessarily requiring them to stop.
  • reduce the efficiency of our transportation system which results in increased air pollution.

Request a Traffic Sign

For assistance with adding a stop sign or other traffic control device:

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