Why don't we see more of these?

Yes, just a simple Yield sign, this being one of a consecutive pair near the exit of Toyota Canada's Head Office in Scarborough.

Private property, so I guess they can do what they want.

But good on them, because Yield signs make so much more sense than Stop signs.

More municipalities - including Scarborough - should have more of them.

In fact, virtually every 'controlled' intersection should have a Yield, instead of a Stop.

Ever since the advent of synchromesh first gears on manual transmissions (and of course automatics), the vast majority of drivers treat Stop signs like Yield signs anyway.

And in the vast majority of cases, that's all that's necessary. You can almost always see if any traffic, pedestrians or cyclists are coming while rolling through at a couple of klicks per hour - there's just no need to come to a full and complete stop.

That only puts extra wear and tear on your brakes, and of course wastes fuel because it requires more fuel to launch a 2,000 kg weight from a dead stop than to just accelerate it.

Creates more pollution too.

With all due deference to the beauteous Julie Bowen in her Emmy-winning role as Clare Dunphy on the brilliant TV show Modern Family (a recent plot point had her trying to get a Stop sign erected at an intersection near their house), the only purpose of a Stop sign appears to be to give police a chance to run up some tickets.

If someone runs a Yield and fails to give right of way where it was required, the cops can still easily ticket that.

But nailing someone for going 5 kph instead of 0 kph for a nanosecond?

Pointless.

Except for the points on your licence.

Most jurisdictions around the world utilize more Yield signs than we do. What makes them so special?

They're just smarter, is all.

Of course, all those 'controlled' intersections should be roundabouts - again, like many jurisdictions around the world.

One step at a time...

Comments

[John B]

Jim, that's a rhetorical question and you answered it yourself: "Ever since the advent of synchromesh first gears on manual transmissions (and of course automatics), the vast majority of drivers treat Stop signs like Yield signs anyway." However, slowing instead of stopping won't work anymore because the morons can will be texting instead of looking out for traffic. Also, I don't think the police like Yield signs because more investigation is required to determine if someone yielded or not. That's not as cost-efficient unless the fines for not yielding are a lot higher than for not stopping.

[Brian]

When I visted my friend in Montreal, he warned me that the local gendarmes love to pick people off for "arrets Americans". I found it quite different driving in Holland where there are more yields and hardly any stop signs. As opposed to what I like to call "political stop signs" that are put up to placate voters complaining about cars speeding through their neighbourhoods rather than have to put police resources on enforcing the existing safety measures.

[Stephen Parker]

Ah! Jim,you've read my mind. I've been saying for years exactly this. It really gets me when you see a new housing development and just the roads have been laid out, no buildings yet and there they are, stop signs at every corner!!! It's pathetic and I get mad as hell and can't take it any more!!! There's a couple of intersections in Brampton with Yield signs and guess what? I don't know of any collisions there. Sure, put them at the major roads where side roads meet them but in and around residential streets??

[FRANCOIS]

In a perfect world, stop signs would only be where conditions warranted the time to make a complete stop and take a good look. As it is, most drivers on the 400 series of highways display an obvious need for yield signs; they compensate for the lack of yield signs by treating those merge signs at the end of on-ramps as though they were yield signs for the traffic on the on ramp. Too bad.

[Gerald Pilla]

I live in Ajax, and most "secondary" intersections have yield signs, and not Stop signs. Always thought that was a great idea.