Signs & Signals

Traffic Signals

Will a traffic signal help reduce accidents? How does the Town decide where to install traffic signals?

Signals don't always prevent accidents...

The Town of Gilbert's Traffic Engineering Department wants to ensure that when a traffic signal is installed at a specific location, traffic and pedestrian safety are improved. You may be surprised that traffic signals do not always prevent accidents.

Engineering studies have shown that in many instances, accidents increase after a traffic signal is installed. Not only are pedestrians lulled into a false sense of security because of the new signal, but studies have shown that rear-end collisions often increase too.

When is a signal installed?

Traffic signals are a tremendous investment for the Town. Design and installation costs can exceed $100,000 for every signal installed (plus monthly power and maintenance costs). Therefore, the Town must carefully prioritize where and when traffic signals will be installed.

When determining whether or not a traffic signal is necessary at a specific location, the Gilbert Traffic Engineering Department evaluates and tries to answer several questions:
  • How much traffic is there on the intersecting streets
  • Are high levels of traffic consistent throughout the day or just during a few hours?
  • Is there a lot of pedestrian traffic?
  • Are school children crossing the street?
National Standards

The Town of Gilbert collects all of the relevant data at a location that is being considered for a traffic signal. Once the data are collected, they are compared to standards that have been established by extensive research and experience. These standards, called "Traffic Signal Warrants" are used by traffic engineers throughout the United States to help determine appropriate signal locations.

A properly placed signal can improve the flow of traffic and decrease accidents. An unnecessary one can be the source of danger and annoyance to all who use the intersection including pedestrians, bicyclists, and motorists.

Drawbacks to a signal

A signal may increase the amount of traffic into and out of your neighborhood because a signal often can indicate that the street is a through street even though it may not be.

Signals cause unnecessary delays to drivers during certain times of the day. This increase in delay increases air pollution. It can also cause driver frustration if there is not much traffic on the major street.

Children at Play Signs

Promoting a false sense of security

Some neighborhood traffic control signs, designed with the intent to provide security and safety for the families who live there, can often have the exact opposite results. The "Children at Play" sign is perhaps the best example.



When are warning signs used?


National studies have shown that many signs which warn of normal conditions in residential areas fail to improve safety. Since children live on just about every single block in the Town of Gilbert, there would have to be signs on every single street in Gilbert. Blocks without signs might imply that no children live there, so it is okay to speed.

Not an official sign

The Town of Gilbert must comply with state and federal laws when it comes to traffic control devices. The "Children at Play" sign is not a recognized sign by the national "Manual on Uniform Traffic Control Devices." The primary reason that the sign is not approved for use is that research has proven that the sign does not reduce pedestrian accidents or lower vehicle speeds.

For more information...

The Town of Gilbert Traffic Engineering Department wants to work with you to ensure your driving safety. For additional driving and safety tips, please call 503-6932.

Walk/Don't Walk Indications

When can I cross the street?

Misunderstood sign

To this day, the Walk/Don't Walk lights at a signalized intersection are one of the most commonly misunderstood traffic control devices.


The WALK symbol is indicated by either the word WALK or the symbol of a person walking. In both cases, the color of the indication is white.

The WALK indication is typically on for 4 - 8 seconds. When the WALK is illuminated, it is okay for a person to enter the street or begin crossing.

Flashing "DON'T WALK"

The DON'T WALK indication is either the words DON'T WALK or a symbol of a hand. In both cases the color of the indication is orange.

After the 4 - 8 seconds of WALK time, the sign will begin to flash DON'T WALK. Most pedestrians will not have made it all the way across the street by this time. THIS IS HOW THE SIGNAL IS SUPPOSED TO FUNCTION. If you are already crossing the street, you will have plenty of time to make it to the other side. If you have not begun to cross, DO NOT step off the curb.


When the DON'T WALK signal is on and not flashing, do not step into the street or begin crossing. You will not have time to get across the street safely.

Push the Button

In order to maintain a smooth flow of traffic, WALK indications do not activate during every cycle of the traffic signal. This is especially true at locations that do not have a high level of pedestrians.

In order to bring up the WALK indication, you must push the pedestrian button located on the traffic signal pole. By using this button, you will have enough time to cross the street once the WALK signal appears.

Speed Limit Signs

Will a lower speed limit slow traffic down?

The Myth...


The law in Arizona

From Arizona Revised Statutes 28-701 'A person shall not drive a vehicle on a highway at a speed greater than is reasonable and prudent under the circumstances, conditions and actual and potential hazards then existing. A person shall control the speed of a vehicle as necessary to avoid colliding with any object, person, vehicle or other conveyance on, entering or adjacent to the highway in compliance with legal requirements and the duty of all persons to exercise reasonable care for the protection of others.'

Except as provided {elsewhere in the statute} or except if a special hazard requires a lesser speed, any speed in excess of the following speeds is prima facie evidence that the speed is too great and therefore unreasonable:

1. Fifteen miles per hour approaching a school crossing

2. Twenty-five miles per hour in a business or residential district (unless otherwise posted)....

Gilbert's policy on speed limit signs

Speed limit signs are typically installed at quarter-mile intervals on the major arterial streets such as Cooper, Elliot, and Val Vista.

Signs are also posted at half-mile intervals on collector streets such as Houston, Burk, and Neely.

Finally, 25 mph speed limit signs are installed at the entrances to subdivisions where the speed limit changes from a higher limit (35 or 45 mph) to the residential speed limit (25 mph). It is not practical to install speed limit signs at the end of every residential street in the Town of Gilbert.

Studies help set speed limits

If an unreasonably low speed limit is posted, many drivers tend to ignore the signs. There are some drivers who, on the other hand, always try to stay within the posted speed limit. This can cause conflict between faster and slower drivers, resulting in more accidents.

Traffic engineering studies help to determine the prevailing speed of most drivers using a certain street. Additionally, the studies take into account accident records and road conditions. An appropriate speed limit is then set based upon this data.

Stop Signs

Under the right conditions, STOP signs can play an important role in traffic safety.

Will more stop signs slow traffic on my street?

Many requests are received for STOP signs to interrupt traffic or slow traffic down. However, studies in Arizona and across the nation show that there is a high number of intentional violations when STOP signs are installed as nuisances or speed breakers.

Stop signs are installed at an intersection only after a careful engineering evaluation of the existing conditions indicates that their installation is appropriate.

Under the right conditions, STOP signs can play an important role in traffic safety. However, STOP signs installed in the wrong place usually create more problems than they solve.

Four-way STOPS are only helpful when traffic volumes are high and close to equal on all approaches to an intersection.

What is the law regarding who has the right of way?

When two vehicles enter an intersection from different streets at the same time, the driver on the left shall yield right-of-way to the driver on the right. The only exception is at a "T" (or 3-leg) intersection where the driver on the through street has the right-of-way.

Will the Town look into my concerns about stop signs?

The Town receives many requests every year to install STOP signs. The Town uses its engineering standards and the national standards to determine whether a STOP sign is a useful and reasonable traffic control device for that location.

Low volume streets within neighborhoods tend to operate best under the state right-of-way law. This law requires drivers to approach an intersection cautiously and to control their speed to a reasonable level. An interesting note is that when STOP signs are placed on one street, speeds tend to increase on the other street. In these instances motorists assume they no longer have to drive as cautiously through the intersection because the other car is required to stop.