1) What guidelines do the City of Jackson follow in installing street signs, traffic signals, and pavement markings?
The City of Jackson installs all signs, signals, and pavement markings in accordance to guidelines established in the Manual of Uniform Traffic Control Devices.
2) Who should I call if a stop sign is knocked down or a traffic signal is not working?
To report a knocked down stop sign, call Traffic Maintenance at (601) 960-1757 Monday through Friday, 7 AM until 4 PM. To report a knocked down stop sign after hours or on holidays, call the Jackson Police Department at (601) 960-1234.
3) Can an All Way Stop reduce speeding and the number of accidents in our neighborhoods?
No. Experience shows that unjustified stop signs reduce the effectiveness of justified stop signs at other intersections and cause motorists frustration when they are forced to stop for no apparent reason. Often, unjustified stop signs are ignored by motorists which can be more dangerous than speeding; therefore, it is the City of Jackson's policy not to install stop signs to control speeding. This is also in conformance with the MUTCD which states specifically "stop signs should not be used for speed control." The following criteria should be considered in an engineering study for a multiway STOP sign installation:
* Where traffic control signals are justified, the multiway stop is an
interim measure that can be installed quickly to control traffic
while arrangements are being made for the installation of the
traffic control signal.
* A crash problem, as indicated by 5 or more reported crashes in a
12-month period that are susceptible to correction by a multiway
stop installation. Such crashes include right- and left-turn
collisions as well as right-angle collisions.
* Minimum volumes:
The vehicular volume entering the intersection from the
major street approaches (total of both approaches)
averages at least 300 vehicles per hour for any 8 hours of
an average day, and
The combined vehicular, pedestrian, and bicycle volume
entering the intersection from the minor street approaches
(total of both approaches) averages at least 200 units per
hour for the same 8 hours, with an average delay to minor-
street vehicular traffic of at least 30 seconds per vehicle
during the highest hour, but
If the 85th-percentile approach speed of the major-street
traffic exceeds 40 mph, the minimum vehicular volume
warrants are 70 percent of the above values.
Where no single criterion is satisfied, but where Criteria B, C.1,
and C.2 are all satisfied to 80 percent of the minimum values.
Criterion C.3 is excluded from this condition.
* Other criteria that may be considered in an engineering study include:
The need to control left-turn conflicts;
The need to control vehicle/pedestrian conflicts near locations
that generate high pedestrian volumes;
Locations where a road user, after stopping, cannot see
conflicting traffic and is not able to reasonably safely negotiate
the intersection unless conflicting cross traffic is also required to
stop;
An intersection of two residential neighborhood collector (through) streets of similar design and operating characteristics where multiway stop control would improve traffic operational characteristics of the intersection.
4) Will a "Children At Play" sign help protect our children?
Studies show no evidence that these signs prevent injury or decrease the speed of vehicles. The signs are also deceptive for children and give parents a false sense of security. There is an all too common misconception that these signs provide an added degree of protection when motorists, particularly local motorists who are used to seeing the signs, actually pay little attention to them. Since children live on nearly every residential block, if used, the signs would have to be placed on each street. Blocks with no signs might imply that no children live there, so motorists don't have to watch out. Motorists should always watch for children in any neighborhood.
Children should not be encouraged to play in the street. The children at play sign is an open suggestion that it is acceptable to do so.
For these reasons, "Children At Play" signs were removed from the MUTCD and are no longer standard signs. To address pedestrian safety, specific warning signs for school zones, pedestrian crossings, playgrounds and other recreational areas are used where clearly justified.
5) The streetlight on my corner is out. Were do I report this?
Report streetlights that are out to Entergy at (800) 9OUTAGE or (800) 968-8243. Entergy will need the streetlight number on the pole to know the exact location.
Streetlights that are out may also be reported to City of Jackson Code Services at (601) 960-1159.
