This video looks eastbound on 57th Ave., at the intersections of Adair Ave. N. and Yates Ave. N. during the morning peak traffic hour.

It is a side-by-side comparison of two easterly views of 57th St. N. in Crystal, Minn. The left video is of Yates Ave. N., which has a stop sign. The right video is of Adair Ave. N. which has a yield sign.

The traffic volume on 57th Ave. varies throughout the week, but the highest traffic volume recorded by data counters was under 40 vehicles in one hour. More commonly, traffic volumes were around 20 vehicles per hour (or one vehicle every 3 minutes on average). Traffic volumes on Yates and Adair were not counted, but likely similar or lower than 57th Ave. N.

These two videos show a full hour of traffic (at 4x speed) at both of these intersections so viewers can see:
• How many vehicles use the street in the hour;
• How the drivers obey – or don’t obey – the stop or yield signs at the intersection;
• How rarely two vehicles arrive at intersections at the same time or in conflicting directions, and;
• How pedestrians or school busses affect traffic flow.

Under Minnesota State Law, when a vehicle or bicycle is approaching a stop sign, it must come to a full and complete stop (or as written in Statute “complete cessation from movement”) regardless if there is cross traffic or not. For residential areas, where traffic volumes are lower and the likelihood of two vehicles approaching the intersection at the same time is less, this means that most time vehicles and bicycles are required by law to stop, even though there is no other traffic. In addition to creating unneeded delay, stopping vehicles can increase wear and tear, vehicle emissions, and noise. Furthermore, there are standards on where stop signs, and other traffic control signs, should be placed (these are called “warrants”). Traffic control signs that do not meet warrants are commonly not respected by drivers and not obeyed.

National studies and local observations support this finding that drivers to not obey signs that are not warranted. Drivers and bicyclists that do not come to a full stop at stop signs, whether other vehicles are there or not, are breaking the law. However, based on the intersection conditions the driver, and others, may feel and agree that coming to a full stop is not needed every single time. That is where the application of a yield sign comes in. Under State Statute (emphasis added): “The driver of a vehicle approaching a yield sign shall slow to a speed that is reasonable for conditions of traffic and visibility, and stop if necessary." In essence, this is what many drivers are already doing at intersections with stop signs across the City which is reasonable considering the intersection conditions, not including the stop sign.

Minnesota State Statutes
169.011 DEFINITIONS
Subd. 79. Stop.
"Stop" means complete cessation from movement.

169.20 RIGHT-OF-WAY
Subd. 3. stop sign.
(b) The driver of a vehicle shall likewise stop in obedience to a stop sign, as required herein, at an intersection where a stop sign is erected at one or more entrances thereto although not a part of a through highway, and shall proceed cautiously, yielding to vehicles not so obliged to stop which are within the intersection or approaching so closely as to constitute an immediate hazard, but may then proceed.

169.201 YIELD SIGN
The driver of a vehicle approaching a yield sign shall slow to a speed that is reasonable for conditions of traffic and visibility, and stop if necessary, and yield the right-of-way to any pedestrian legally crossing the roadway, and to all vehicles on the intersecting street or highway which are so close as to constitute an immediate hazard.

169.222 OPERATION OF BICYCLE
Subdivision 1. Traffic laws apply.
(a) Every person operating a bicycle has all of the rights and duties applicable to the driver of any other vehicle by this chapter, except in respect to those provisions in this chapter relating expressly to bicycles and in respect to those provisions of this chapter which by their nature cannot reasonably be applied to bicycles. This subdivision applies to a bicycle operating on the shoulder of a roadway.

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