Qld government rejects petition to change stop signs to give way

The Queensland government has rejected a petition to swap all stop signs with give-way signs in the state. A petition signed by 391 Queenslanders argued that stop signs provide "no safety significance" and cost drivers more in fuel. Transport Minister Brent Mickelberg said the safety benefits outweigh any operational impacts associated with stopping. The Queensland government has rejected a petition to change every stop sign in Queensland into a give-way sign. The petition was signed by 391 Queensland residents and was tabled to the government late August. It argued "requiring vehicles to come to a complete stop is almost always of no safety significance". "Collectively, it wastes a significant amount of fuel or electrical energy," the petitioner said. Minister for Transport and Main Roads, Brent Mickelberg, responded to the petition confirming the Crisafulli government would not be making the change. The petitioner said petrol, diesel and LPG powered vehicles use more fuel to come to a complete stop. They also stated stop signs could create more traffic accidents by drivers rear ending cars that have come to a complete halt. "It is important to note up front that stop and give-way signs are not interchangeable traffic controls," Mr Mickelberg wrote in his response. "They serve different road safety and traffic management functions and are installed in accordance with nationally recognised engineering standards and traffic control guidelines." He said stop signs are more often used on intersections where visibility is restricted, in an attempt to limit crashes. The minister admitted bringing vehicles to a complete stop "may result in some additional fuel or energy consumption compared with giving way". But he wrote that despite that, the safety benefits outweigh any operational impacts associated with stopping. "I recognise that unnecessary traffic controls can impose costs on road users and that traffic control devices should be proportionate to the level of risk. "Installation of stop signs is based on an assessment of site-specific conditions, including sight distance, intersection geometry, traffic volumes and safety performance. "They are not installed as a matter of routine." He finished his response by reminding any Queenslander that if they feel an intersection may be incorrectly signed, to contact the relevant council.