The same thing happened to me, but I saw that the person crossing Third was gonna go and I slammed on the brakes. Those signs are a fricken' hazard and they need to be removed.

To make matters worse, the new pedestrian law isn't working. We need the GPD to start employing stings where they only pass out warnings. It's the only way motorists will learn.

Jeff

Here's a thought, how about they put up a few stop lights along 3rd street? Trying to cross over 3rd anywhere is dangerous because you have to almost pull onto 3rd to see around the cars parked there. I'm surprised more people haven't had accidents along 3rd.

Here's a thought, lets build a parking garage or a bigger one at the train station. Then close third street,or at least part of it and make it open space. It's such a cluster to try and drive through there with out of town drivers rubber necking and pedestrians just walking out in front of cars everywhere but the crosswalks.

Just put a few real stop signs on 3rd. I too have nearly been hit when driving on 3rd. A driver coming from the opposite direction assumed I had to stop because of one of those "temporary" signs. There were no pedestrians in sight but they misinterpreted the sign, assumed I would be stopping, started to turn left in my space and I had to slam on the brakes!

How many people know that it is the state law in Illinois that all pedestrians have absolute right of way at any marked intersection where there is no light, regardless? Why are so many drivers so clueless?

The stop sign/pedestrian walk ways are a hazard. I now know that folks will pull out thinking this is a four way stop. This happens to me two to three times a week. They need to be removed before someone is badly hurt. The accident on Third was a warning. Or get the "stop" off the yellow post and just say "yield" to pedestrians.

Far to many people are not aware of the law. Laws on the books when we all received or renewed our Illinois Licenses. Colin has it right, pedestrians have the “right of way” with limits. With a speed of 25mph on 3rd St., accidents like the one above shouldn't happen at all. I wouldn't blame it on the sign.

The 3rd street signs (that we wouldn’t need if drivers obeyed the law) are there to remind and educate the drivers (vehicular) that our town is a pedestrian friendly. Unlike stop signs they aid to keeping the traffic flow moving. These signs are helping and are making a difference.

As guided by the The US Department of Transportation Federal Highway Administration; http://safety.fhwa.dot.gov/

And implemented by the Illinois Department of Transportation:
(625 ILCS 5/11-1002) (from Ch. 95 1/2, par. 11-1002) Sec. 11-1002. Pedestrians' right-of-way at crosswalks.

625 ILCS 5/11-1002.5
Amends the Illinois Vehicle Code. Provides that where traffic signals are not in place, vehicles must stop and yield to a pedestrian in a crosswalk rather than yielding the right-of-way by slowing down or stopping if need be. Provides that on a school day when children are present and so close that a potential hazard exists because of the close proximity of the motorized traffic and when traffic signals are not in place or in operation, vehicles must stop and yield to a pedestrian in a crosswalk rather than yielding the right-of-way by slowing down or stopping if need be to so yield.

More stop signs, traffic lights? Close third street? Are you kidding? Stop trying to legislate common sense. The accident happened because of an inattentive driver. Do we always have to look somewhere else to place blame? Maybe someone can sue the post office for placing the box too close to the street causing it to fall on the parked car.

I am so surprised more accidents don't happen. If we are trying to encourage a welcoming environment for shoppers, then we have to make it safe for them: 4 way stop signs on every corner. This should not be a street to hurry along. If you are in a hurry, take a different route. Geneva City Officials - please take action on this. And Jeff - don't go speeding along Third!

I don't see adding stop signs as government intervention. I see it as creating a good environment for people to shop and spend their money on Third. Have you ever seen seniors try to see around parked cars to cross or turn on Third? Frightening and I am a senior!

I was on the Geneva City Council for 8 years and have read many traffic studies. The city actually had a full time traffic expert on staff for may years (Bob Smith). The first reaction to a perceived problem is to ask for a light or stop sign. On more than 1 occasion I was threatened that if I didn't vote for a stop sign and someone got killed it would be my fault. The reality is that state law controls how many stop signs or lights can be placed and thankfully so. Studies prove that more stop signs do not equate to improved safety. If placed too close together they actually cause more harm than good. More stops always mean more rearend accidents and people will go faster between stop signs if placed too close to each other. Traffic control devices are primarily to facilitate the flow of traffic. . Safety is the primary responsibility of the driver.

Just put up stop signs. Low cost. Low confusion.

J.O.

Shockingly, it's not that simple as I learned from the aforementioned Bob Smith.

Because so many municipalities put stop signs on every corner (see Westchester), the state stepped in and specifically defined where they could be placed. And based on my own experience trying to a stop sign at Cambridge and Pepper Valley Drives, I guarantee you those Third cross streets do not qualify.

There either has to be a certain amount of cross traffic, or there has to be a visibility issue as defined by specific tests.

The truth is, most of the stop signs in the downtown historic district would be illegal by today's standards, but they're grandfathered in.

Jeff

If we have a guy spending the day riding up and down the street marking tires for parking enforcement might it not be a good idea to put some police resources on enforcing an actual safety law.?

A law that should be enforced not just on 3rd Street but also on State Street?

I heard those signs went in because Tubby Burns needed extra time to waddle his royalness across the street. Speaking of Tubby, did he disappear after his resounding loss?

I don't have any expertise on this but I have noticed that if you are travelling east or west it is difficult to see cars on 3rd street because of the cars parked on 3rd. You need to inch out as far as possible and that defeats the crosswalk because you are sitting in the middle of it. I know parking is a premium downtown but is it possible to realign the parking spaces farther away from the corners. Won't cost anything except re-stripping. Also, I don't think all pedestrians understand they have the right of way and sometimes those that do just walk without even looking for cars.