Often, residents and community groups look to four-way stops as a solution to problems of neighborhood traffic volume and speed. However, stop signs are strictly regulatory devices intended to establish right-of-way at intersections. They are not designed to affect volume and speed and can create other problems when applied inappropriately. For example, they may cause motorists to speed through blocks to make up for lost time, or redirect traffic to other streets which are even less equipped to handle increased volume.

Factors considered by the Traffic Engineering Division when studying requests for four-way stops include:

• Pedestrian, bicycle, and motor vehicle volumes,
• Vehicle speed,
• Collision history,
• Visibility, and
• Special conditions such as hills and curves.

When receiving a request to investigate a neighborhood traffic problem, Traffic Engineering will consider all alternatives and work closely with the community to develop appropriate solutions. For volume and speed, there are many other options available that may be more effective than four-way stops, including parking restrictions, tree or hedge trimming, pavement markings, or speed enforcement.

If you have questions, please call the City's Customer Care Center at 3-1-1
or send an e-mail to DPW@ci.richmond.va.us.