Where Are Smithtown's Most Ignored Stop Signs?

Kel August 11, 2012 at 01:33 am

They don't even slow down, Brooksite Drive and Brook Lane. Rarely a cop sits down the street.

A Concerned Resident August 11, 2012 at 01:37 am

Also, Marquette & Fifty Acre Road South where the kids try to cross after school. So many time I have seen kids almost hit when leaving school and trying to cross. Not only is going through the stop sign bad, but many people use that intersection to make u-turns which totally confuse kids trying to cross after school.

St. James Mom August 11, 2012 at 02:06 am

Why does the second car think it has the right away?

Michael K August 11, 2012 at 12:16 pm

Forget Red Light Camera's, a fortune could be made out there with "Stop Sign Camera's" or just plain old "Enforcement" These intersections are dangerious to say the least.

NesConRes August 11, 2012 at 12:31 pm

Alexander Ave. & Dover Hill Drive. They all must be in a rush to get to the mall. Imagine if they do put Sonic there!!! If you are guilty of this--- STOP

Nesconset resident August 11, 2012 at 02:18 pm

The problem in that Smithtown is peppered with stop signs simply for the convenience of the residents that live on that particular street. There are many stop signs that are needed, but tell me why you need a stop sign in the middle of a neighborhood, when you can only make a left turn because to the right there is one house and a dead end? I would say that 95% of those stop signs are illegal. According to the NYS Traffic Law, stop signs are NOT to be used to control speed. They can only be legally installed AFTER a complete traffic study has been made and it has determined that the volume of traffic warrants a stop sign at that corner. I think that if you are ticketed for going through one of those "convenience" stop signs, you could probably have it dismissed if you can show that no formal traffic study was made for that corner.

James Moncsko August 11, 2012 at 02:31 pm

ALL of Plymouth Blvd.

April August 11, 2012 at 02:53 pm

How about the stop signs within Avalon Commons? I've lived here almost 3 years and when I'm on my way out (or coming back), seems most residents act like its optional to stop at most stop signs. Ive had to slow down and look at people to remind them to stop.

Linda Syskowski August 11, 2012 at 03:05 pm

All stops on Brooksite Drive. I have seen police at Brook and Brooksite but haven't in some time.

John Meyer August 11, 2012 at 09:44 pm

Absolutely, you could raise a lot of money on that corner if there was someone to write the tickets.

Mary Smith August 11, 2012 at 09:49 pm

Rarely do people stop at sign leaving St. Patricks church to use light on Hemlock. Very unsafe for everyone who lives in the neighborhood.

Smithtown Observer August 12, 2012 at 03:13 am

Here is the real story. Smithtown, and other townships have gone Stop Sign Crazy. Any time someone calls Town Hall to complaint, the knee-jerk reactionis that the Town throws them a stop sign to satisfy them. No traffic study, no solicitation of opinions from the public, just another stop sign installed. It is impossible to travel through this Town. I have lived in this town since 1966, driving the same roads through the same neighborhoods I travled by bicycle in the 1960's. Every week, another stop sign shows up at a random intersection. Once you over pollute the roads with stop signs, they cease to have any meaning, and drivers disrespect them. If the Town removed most of the signs they put up in the last ten years, the remaining signs would get respect.

localguy August 12, 2012 at 05:04 am

or you could just stop

Nesconset resident August 12, 2012 at 12:40 pm

Well said.

Denise Laurenti August 12, 2012 at 12:52 pm

Washington Ave. and 7th Street in St James, a common cut through since it is one block in from Lake and Woodlawn. Can't even count how many accidents in past 20 years!

Betty August 12, 2012 at 04:52 pm

I agree to Meadow Road all at Dillmont and Pine Acre.

robkoz August 12, 2012 at 07:17 pm

So let's take away all the stop signs on Lake Avenue and see what happens, again. Back in the 90's, BEFORE the stop signs on Lake, I've see 3 head on's, and 5 t-bones. I'm sure the Nesconset FD will appreciate it.
And while we're at it I'll take away the stop sign we all fought for on our block, so people that are too impatient to wait for the light, use our street as a cut-through and just maybe a few of the 14 kids on our short block will avoid getting run over while walking to Ralph's ices. Maybe if people behind the wheel didn't need to go 50+ mph down a residential street and drive like douchebags we wouldn't need all these stop signs.

BALL BEATER August 12, 2012 at 10:08 pm

TERRY RD AND STEVEN PL

Nesconset2012 August 13, 2012 at 07:50 pm

AMEN, my friend. There are too many stop signs placed because of speed complaints and residents' conveniences rather than legitimate safety concerns. NOTHING irritates me more than when the town drops stop signs at cup-de-sacs with only a few houses in them! you absolutely can have those tickets dismissed, because they ARE "stop-tional." no formal traffic study = NOT a legal stop sign

Gale Cortelyou August 13, 2012 at 08:27 pm

Don't forget Oakside Road and Neil Drive. It was always ignored by many, but since the town moved the stop lines 20 feet past the stop signs nobody knows which place to stop so they don't bother at all. Occasionally a cop sits there and always nails a few.

Ammie August 13, 2012 at 10:39 pm

I agree. I cringe driving down (numbered) side streets St. James. Why are the stop signs alternating between every other corner? Very confusing. I find myself slowing down/stopping even when I don't have a stop sign just to be cautious.

Bill August 14, 2012 at 06:41 pm

Fifth Street and Second Ave in Saint James and all the numbered streets in 'the grid'.

Bill August 14, 2012 at 06:41 pm

Fifth Street and Second Ave in Saint James and all the numbered streets in 'the grid'.

P. J. Miller August 14, 2012 at 08:29 pm

Besides the STOP SIGN issue, I think the new traffic pattern on Main St westbound is a joke. It is a bottle neck all the time. Whoever was responsible for this stupid idea should be ashamed of themselves. I know it was because of the girl that ran across the street and got killed by a girl on heroine. But how is it that the eastbound lanes have 2 lanes and the westbound lane is 1 lane. Does that mean that people drive eastbound are not high on drugs or drunk? I feel sorry for the people driving home from work and having to sit in this traffic jam, or for the person trying to get home to meet a school bus, or make a doctor's appointment. It was a stupid idea and the road should go back to being 2 lanes in both directions. Police enforcement is the only way we will be able to stop the speeding on any road. Also... are they trying to tell us that at night that this one lane is going to stop a person from speeding? I don't think so. If the girl was holding her mother's hand and the mother was paying attention and then told her okay - it is safe to cross now - this tragedy would not have taken place. I always hold my children's hands - they DO NOT cross without me telling them it is safe.

Jim Bennett August 14, 2012 at 08:43 pm

The biggest problem is that all of the people who are complaining here about other people ignoring stop signs rarely stop for the signs themselves. They think that people only have to stop for the sign on THEIR block. All others can be ignored. If they tell you otherwise, they're lying. By the way, STOP means total cessation of movement. "Tap and goes" don't count.

parent August 14, 2012 at 09:39 pm

Rhoda Ave and Southern Blvd. Most people do not even slow down and run through it at 40 + miles an hour. And many children walk along this road because Great Hollow Middle School is just down the road. What a shame. When I moved to Southern Blvd in the early 80's there wasn't even a traffic signal at Southern and 347 and I was able to make a left turn onto 347 with no problem, now with all the signals and stop signs throughout the town the problem of getting people to stop has gotten worse. There should be lights at the stop signs and not just the traffic signals and maybe then people will learn to stop.

Rita August 15, 2012 at 01:55 am

Your probably the one of the ones who doesn't stop. How can you be so inconsiderate and insensitive using a 12 yr old girls death as an example because your in a rush to get home from work and having to sit in a traffic jam, or trying to get home to meet a school bus, or make a doctor's appointment. Boo Hoo!!! You should be the one ashamed of yourself.

P. J. Miller August 15, 2012 at 01:57 pm

RITA: I do stop - so much for you knowing so much. I never said it was me coming home from work or meeting a school bus, so boo hoo to you for not reading and absorb what is written. And YOU should be ashamed of yourself for being closed minded and listening to the other side of the stories. I am not the only one that complains about this ridiculous traffic pattern change. In fact, more accidents will occur because of the merging.Plan on it. But you never answered the question: why is okay to have 1 lane in one direction and 2 lanes in the other direction? Does that mean that the people driving eastbound don't do drugs and drive? If someone is going to get behind the wheel intoxicated nothing can be done to stop them, they are a moving weapon. I was at a church meeting awhile ago and this topic came up and over 100 people all said that 'today you need to really hold onto your children when crossing the streets because with all the texting, cell phones and drugs/alcohol no one is safe from harm. I guess you let your children run across the street on a red light and hope they make it! Shame on you. I will and always will look both ways, even down the road to see what's coming down the road, and hold onto my child's hand - At least I have some control if they are safe. I will not leave it to fate. 100+ people can't be wrong.

CJ M. August 18, 2012 at 02:01 am

Howell drive and Ingram court

Aidan August 19, 2012 at 12:39 am

Many of the stop signs that are mentioned are illegal. An all way stop should only be installed when the side street meets certain volume thresholds, such 200 vehicles per hour for 8 hours. The town just has unwarranted stop signs installed to pacify residents. There should be none on Lake Ave, Woodlawn, Meadow Rd, Mt Pleasant Rd, etc. Stop signs should not be used to control speed. But many people want them for this reason. The Manual of Uniform Traffic Control Devices (MUTCD) sets forth criteria for stop signs. Follow this criteria and you will get full compliance.