Traffic and Safety Informational Series - Frequently Asked Questions - FAQ 1 - Won’t a “Children at Play” Sign Help Protect Our Children?

Sep 25, 2026

Uploaded by Ezra

Traffic and Safety Informational Series Frequently Asked Questions explains how “Children at Play” warning signs should be designed, used, and placed under the Manual on Uniform Traffic Control Devices (MUTCD). It clarifies why requests for these signs are based on improving driver awareness and safety, while also noting that overuse or misuse reduces effectiveness as drivers begin to ignore signs. The content compares “Children at Play” with the nationally recognized “Playground” sign and highlights MUTCD guidance on nonuniform sign removal and uniform sign use.

LanguageEnglish

CategoryHealthcare

FormatPDF

Pages80

Reading Time3 h 22 min

AccessFree to download

Table of Contents

Won’t a “Children at Play” Sign Help Protect Our Children?

How Many Bullet Holes Does It Take to Kill a Sign? (Sign Vandalism)

Won’t a Lower Speed Limit Lower Travel Speeds and the Number of Accidents?

Why Can't I Have Several Driveways to My Property Wherever I Want Them?

Why Aren’t There Better and Longer Lasting Stripes on the Road?

Why Can’t I Place a Business-Related Directional Sign within the Roadway Right-of-Way?

What Factors Are Considered when Locating, Controlling, and/or Marking Pedestrian Crossings?

Why Isn’t There a “School Bus Stop Ahead” Sign Everywhere a Bus Stops?

Why Can’t Speed Bumps Be Used on All Streets to Slow Traffic?

TRAFFIC AND SAFETY INFORMATIONAL SERIES FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS TABLE OF CONTENTS Won’t a “Children at Play” Sign Help Protect Our Children?.................................................................... 2 How Many Bullet Holes Does It Take to Kill a Sign? (Sign Vandalism) .................................................. 5 Won’t a Lower Speed Limit Lower Travel Speeds and the Number of Accidents? .................................. 8 Why Can't I Have Several Driveways to My Property Wherever I Want Them? .................................... 11 Why Aren’t There Better and Longer Lasting Stripes on the Road?........................................................ 14 Why Can’t I Place a Business-Related Directional Sign within the Roadway Right-of-Way?................ 17 What Factors Are Considered when Locating, Controlling, and/or Marking Pedestrian Crossings? ...... 20 Why Isn’t There a “School Bus Stop Ahead” Sign Everywhere a Bus Stops? ........................................ 23 Why Can’t Speed Bumps Be Used on All Streets to Slow Traffic? ......................................................... 26 How Are Posted Speed Limits and the Locations of Speed Limit Signs Determined?............................ 29 Could Traffic Signals Be Timed So I Receive a Green Light at Every Intersection? .............................. 32 How Are Pedestrian Signals Timed to Accommodate Pedestrians? ........................................................ 35 Why Can't Stop Signs Be Placed at Intersections to Reduce Speeding along My Street? ....................... 38 Why Can’t a Multiway Stop Sign Be Placed to Reduce Accidents at an Intersection? ........................... 41 What Is the Harm in Installing an Unwarranted Traffic Control Device?................................................ 44 Wouldn’t Installing a Traffic Signal Reduce the Number of Crashes at an Intersection?........................ 48 What Are the Recommended Safe Driving Practices at Railroad Crossings?.......................................... 51 How Are the Locations of Traffic Signs Decided?................................................................................... 55 How Does a County Make Decisions about Dust Control on Gravel Roadways? ................................... 59 When Are Stop Signs and Traffic Signals Appropriate for Intersections? ............................................... 62 How Can Converting a Four-Lane Street to a Three-Lane Street Improve Safety without Increasing Congestion?............................................................................................................................................... 65 How Are the Locations of Light Poles Decided? ..................................................................................... 68 How Does a County Make Decisions about Paving Gravel Roadways?.................................................. 71 Why Aren’t Crossing Guards Present at All School Crossings? .............................................................. 75 Won’t a Flashing Yellow Light Draw More Attention to a Sign?............................................................ 78 TRAFFIC AND SAFETY INFORMATIONAL SERIES FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTION \#1 WON’T A “CHILDREN AT PLAY” SIGN HELP PROTECT OUR CHILDREN? The Manual on Uniform Traffic Control Devices (MUTCD) regulates the design, use, and placement of signs and markings in the United States. According to the MUTCD, the “Children at Play” sign is considered a warning sign with a word message. This sign is sometimes used instead of the nationally recognized “Playground” sign (see Figure 1) . Requests for “Children at Play” signs are based on the belief that these types of signs will alert drivers to the presence of children and increase safety. The purpose of any warning sign is to inform drivers of conditions that they are likely to consistently encounter. However, drivers begin to igno

FAQs

Why are “Children at Play” signs requested, according to the guide?

They are requested based on the belief that they alert drivers to children and improve safety. The guidance explains that warning signs should inform drivers of conditions they will consistently encounter.

What does the MUTCD say about nonuniform “Children at Play” signs?

The MUTCD recommends removing nonuniform signs within a jurisdiction and replacing them with a uniform set of signs (word or symbol) used throughout the jurisdiction.

Why can overuse of “Children at Play” or “Playground” signs make them ineffective?

If too many signs are installed, drivers may see them constantly without an apparent hazard, leading them to ignore the signs. This undermines the purpose of installing them even where they are actually needed.

Sep 25, 2026

Uploaded by Ezra