Numerous community members have reached out to me recently about traffic safety issues in the area. More specifically, they expressed concern about drivers failing to stop for stop signs, especially in areas where children are playing or pedestrians are walking.
In response I parked my police car near an area I was receiving the most complaints about – the entry to University Houses at the top of Haight Road. It didn’t take long for me to witness the problem myself. I ended up stopping several vehicles for driving through the stop signs. I should note this was at the time of day when children and others frequently walk or bike through the area to Shorewood Hills Elementary School. I’ll also say I was pretty forgiving in my enforcement, stopping only those that drove straight through the intersection with no apparent attempt to stop or slow down. I reminded all stopped drivers of the requirement to stop – not slow down, but STOP! – for any stop signs.
Someone asked if stop signs on University-owned roads are enforceable. The answer is, unequivocally, yes, and it’s even specifically addressed in Wisconsin state law [Wis. S.S. UWS 18.04(3)].
All of this is to say that It’s very important to stop for stop signs, not just in our community, but wherever you’re driving. These signs are not posted without thought, and are placed for a variety of safety reasons. The extra few seconds one may save by ‘rolling through’ a stop sign isn’t worth the potential danger to pedestrians, bicyclists, or other drivers.
Please drive safely.
Jeff Kirchman
University Apartments Community Police Officer
608-264-2677 | jkirchman@wisc.edu
University Apartments Community Center, Room 131