An analysis of vehicular speed characteristics as a function of stop sign density

The research is an analysis of vehicular speed characteristics at midpoint between stop signs as a function of stop sign frequency per length of road in an urban setting. The purpose of analysis is to reveal issues that should be considered during the decision-making process regarding stop sign density and its impact on speed.; Previous research with respect to stop signs, vehicular speeds, and driver compliance with stop signs is summarized.; Data collection programs to understand vehicular speeds as a function of stop sign density and to analyse driver compliance with stop signs were designed, developed, and implemented.; The research found that the posted speed limits and the 85th percentile speeds are within 10 km/h of each other for each of the studied cases. Temporal characteristics for mean or 85th percentile vehicular speeds do not change for any of the analysed cases. Furthermore, depending on the study segment, a large proportion of vehicles travel at speeds greater than the posted speed limit of 50 km/h, but most stay within a 10 km/h range. The research found differences in the percentage of vehicles travelling greater than the posted speed limit of 50 km/h based on day of week, but not based on time of day, except for one of the analysed cases. There is no clear relationship between stop sign density and vehicular speeds. However, by removing Gilmore Avenue from the analysis, there is a trend of increasing speeds at midblock locations when comparing segments with two stop signs per kilometre to segments with greater than two stop signs per kilometre.; The analysis involving driver compliance with stop signs found a large number of violations of stop signs, regardless of the road segment. About one-quarter of drivers comply with stop signs and the remaining three-quarters do not comply with stop signs either because they roll through the intersection or because they do not stop at all (about 6:1).