Learner Driver Hub - Common Sense Idea? by Dieter Fischer
DO GIVE-WAY (YIELD) SIGNS HAVE A PURPOSE?

This article is more about STOP than Give Way (Yield) signs. It's a controversial thought I had when working as driving test examiner.  A common and most frustrating aspect of my job was to fail a student's driving test for rolling through a STOP sign, at snail's pace, but without the vehicle having come to a total halt! It's a practice seen everyday, by the best of drivers. If the road has been thoroughly checked and is clear, rolling on very, very slowly poses no danger to anyone! So why should learner drivers or motorists who do this be punished severely? Perhaps the history of the motor car may explain, why in the beginning there were both, stop and give way signs?

Here is my 'outside the square thinking' theory how this no-stop fiasco, which still exists today, came about:

Turn the calendar back to the years of early motoring. Motor cars did not have synchronized gear boxes. Approaching and turning at a blind corner in 2nd gear would have been too fast, too dangerous. To safely turn such a corner, therefore, required 1st gear to be engaged!

However, to engage 1st gear, was mechanically impossible without stopping. At the time gearboxes did not yet have synchro-mesh, which came much later, as did automatic transmission. Drivers had to first come to a complete STOP, to be able to engage 1st gear.

As traffic increased give way and stop signs were introduced. Logically, at blind intersections, those with limited visibility, STOP sign were needed to make them safe. 

At intersections, where a clear view could be obtained, Give Way signs were installed, since they could be negotiated slightly faster, without having to (stop and) engage first gear

Today, technology has progressed - all vehicles have synchronized gear boxes or automatic transmission.

TECHNOLOGY HAS MOVED ON. THE ANCIENT SYSTEM OF STOP/GIVE WAY SIGNS REMAINS.

 

From a safety point of view, when I completely stop at a stop sign, I often wonder if the drivers behind will also stop? If the road is clear I may be expected to move on? If he or she looks away, when I stop and obey the law, a minor rear end collision could be the result. (This is very common at 'turn left with care' turns at traffic lights.)

Here is an outside-the-box solution to the :

Abolish give way-signs! Replace all with STOP SIGNS. Psychologically, STOP is a stronger warning than Give Way. Cautious motorists will negotiate a stop sign at a safe speed. They will slow down enough, without having to totally stop, if no traffic approaches. 

Isn't this what drivers do at T-junctions that do not display any signs?

The idea could be taken further:

As a tool to assist drivers what kind of intersection they are approaching, the SIZE of the STOP sign could give drivers an indication as to the danger level (visibility) of the intersection or junction, i.e. small, medium or large! 

Alternatively, colour-coding stop signs in red, amber and green, could achieve the same result (Red - blind corner, amber - visibility limited, green - visibility reasonable).

Conclusion: To punish motorists with a hefty fine, or failing a driving test for merely rolling very slowly, but otherwise safely, through a stop sign, is unreasonable. It does nothing for road safety, but only causes otherwise safe drivers to become resentful and cynical.

Send us your thoughts! Email