I've wondered this a few times after almost getting hit coming down either street, but without a stop or yield sign on Middle it seems that cars coming from either street have the right of way?
There used to be a stop sign on Middle...did it disappear? Otherwise, priority in uncontrolled intersections goes to the right, which would be Middle again.
When things go 2-way this is going to become even more important. It would seem the absence of a stop sign coming out of Middle Street is a real problem.
FWIW, this is the law in MA (I've never noticed there is no stop sign but if there are issues clearly there should be):
Intersections Not Controlled by Signs or Signals
Slow down at an uncontrolled intersection. Look left and right for oncoming traffic and
proceed if the way is clear. However:
• You must yield the right-of-way to any vehicle that has entered the intersection from
your right or is coming from your right.
• Look for traffic coming from the left. Even though you may have the legal right-of-way,
make sure that the other driver is yielding before you proceed.
Just as a FYI, in Massachusetts (as in most states), cars at uncontrolled T-intersections must yield to the through-street. In this case, Middle must yield to Shattuck.
"The TSC believes that through streets have the right of way and intersecting streets must
yield, and that the Town is not required to install stop signs at all T-intersections."
Middle turns onto Shattuck, so clearly Middle has to stop. I drive this every day, and never even thought about this. Shattuck has continuous traffic; you never have to stop to traffic from a side street. There's no issue here.
I get what the law says and I agree that it makes sense. But that's not helpful when people are driving right through since there isn't a visual cue to stop or at least yield. And Corey is right that there isn't one on the new plans, so this could get more difficult.
I'm leaving this open until a verified city worker sees it just so it can be on their radar.
According to the Lowell City Ordinances, there should be a stop sign on Middle Street at Shattuck. If the sign is missing, I will ask our sign shop to have it reinstalled.
14 Comments
Corey (Registered User)
jkgavin (Registered User)
Craig H (Registered User)
Corey (Registered User)
jkgavin (Registered User)
Corey (Registered User)
I don't see a new stop sign on the plans: https://docs.google.com/file/d/0B7i98ByItbw7MXhMQ05PVE1FLVU/edit?pli=1
FWIW, this is the law in MA (I've never noticed there is no stop sign but if there are issues clearly there should be):
Intersections Not Controlled by Signs or Signals
Slow down at an uncontrolled intersection. Look left and right for oncoming traffic and
proceed if the way is clear. However:
• You must yield the right-of-way to any vehicle that has entered the intersection from
your right or is coming from your right.
• Look for traffic coming from the left. Even though you may have the legal right-of-way,
make sure that the other driver is yielding before you proceed.
Chris Hayes (Registered User)
Corey (Registered User)
Ah yeah, that:
Throughways
On a designated throughway, you must yield the right-of-way to traffic
on the throughway before you turn.
Interesting read in Sudbury: http://www.sudbury.ma.us/departments/TrafficSafety/doc8443/TrafficSafety_2012-02-10_Minutes.pdf
"The TSC believes that through streets have the right of way and intersecting streets must
yield, and that the Town is not required to install stop signs at all T-intersections."
Закрыта Alex P (Registered User)
Reopened jkgavin (Registered User)
I'm leaving this open until a verified city worker sees it just so it can be on their radar.
Craig H (Registered User)
Rodney Conley (Registered User)
Признана Rodney Conley (Registered User)
Eric Eby (Registered User)