Comments on: Montreal’s Curious Stop Signs http://www.howwedrive.com/2008/10/11/montreals-curious-stop-signs/ Just another WordPress weblog Wed, 08 Sep 2010 14:17:57 +0000 http://wordpress.org/?v=2.5.1 By: Daniel http://www.howwedrive.com/2008/10/11/montreals-curious-stop-signs/#comment-1582 Daniel Wed, 15 Oct 2008 14:32:17 +0000 http://www.howwedrive.com/?p=308#comment-1582 The additional signs under the stop signs in Quebec are actually meant to be the equivalent of the "ALL-WAY" signs ("TOUTES DIRECTIONS" in Quebec) that are found elsewhere in North America and that warns drivers that all oncoming vehicles must stop at the intersection. Symbolic signs such as these have been created in order to avoid the use of text, therefore making them easy to read at a quick glance (at least in theory). They also have the advantage of avoiding the language issue. A comprehensive set of symbolic "ALL-WAY" signs have been designed in order to fit the different possible intersection configurations such as T junctions, Y junctions, 4-Way, 5-Way, and intersections with one-way streets (only approaches with oncoming traffic have stop signs). However, it is true that such detail may become an obstacle to clarity, especially when used with one-way streets as they suggest that not all vehicles will stop. I agree that the need for "ALL-WAY" signs, symbolic or textual, may be debatable. Of course, as pointed out with the picture, there is also the problem of overabundance and misuse of road signs... The additional signs under the stop signs in Quebec are actually meant to be the equivalent of the “ALL-WAY” signs (”TOUTES DIRECTIONS” in Quebec) that are found elsewhere in North America and that warns drivers that all oncoming vehicles must stop at the intersection. Symbolic signs such as these have been created in order to avoid the use of text, therefore making them easy to read at a quick glance (at least in theory). They also have the advantage of avoiding the language issue.

A comprehensive set of symbolic “ALL-WAY” signs have been designed in order to fit the different possible intersection configurations such as T junctions, Y junctions, 4-Way, 5-Way, and intersections with one-way streets (only approaches with oncoming traffic have stop signs). However, it is true that such detail may become an obstacle to clarity, especially when used with one-way streets as they suggest that not all vehicles will stop.

I agree that the need for “ALL-WAY” signs, symbolic or textual, may be debatable. Of course, as pointed out with the picture, there is also the problem of overabundance and misuse of road signs…

]]> By: dlam http://www.howwedrive.com/2008/10/11/montreals-curious-stop-signs/#comment-1541 dlam Tue, 14 Oct 2008 18:25:32 +0000 http://www.howwedrive.com/?p=308#comment-1541 I live in Ontario and I've driven in Montreal often. I find teh additional sign useful. The additional sign is actually a graphical alternative to the standard North American practice of putting a small "all-way" sign at 4-way STOP intersections and omitting said sign at non-all-way STOP intersections. Arguably, a driver would be able to read and understand this graphical sign faster than if he spends time looking for the presence or absense of the small "all-way" sign (or searching for the back of STOP signs at the intersection). I live in Ontario and I’ve driven in Montreal often. I find teh additional sign useful.

The additional sign is actually a graphical alternative to the standard North American practice of putting a small “all-way” sign at 4-way STOP intersections and omitting said sign at non-all-way STOP intersections. Arguably, a driver would be able to read and understand this graphical sign faster than if he spends time looking for the presence or absense of the small “all-way” sign (or searching for the back of STOP signs at the intersection).

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