Last week, we asked readers what they think about overhead street signs and if street signs should be bigger.
Dozens of readers said YES to overhead signs and bigger ones. State and county officials agree that overheads would be helpful to drivers. But don’t expect to see an explosion of them at Long Island intersections anytime soon.
The state has a handful of them on Route 110 and Route 25. State Department of Transportation spokeswoman Eileen Peters said, “We do consider them, if it’s appropriate and there’s no conflict with utilities in the area. We do install them where it’s feasible and appropriate.”
Mostly, the state uses advance street signs before major intersections, a system also used by Nassau County.
Gilbert Anderson, Suffolk Public Works Commissioner said the county follows federal highway signage regulations, but if a request was made for an overhead sign at a particular intersection, “We would consider it.”
Nassau Public Works Commissioner Ray Ribeiro said there’s no argument overheads are effective. But with undergound cables, utilities, sewers and other obstructions, it’s almost
impossible to find the space at major intersections for the infrastructure needed. “We don’t have the physical ability - even if there was major funding - to do that on every corner,” he said.
Here are some edited emails from readers on this issue and others for safer driving. See this Sunday's Newsday for more comments in the Community Watchdog column.
I drive all over America and the absolute worst signage of any location is Long Island. NYS DOT is passing the buck, again. "Hey Guys! Get some back bone and set some guidelines for large well placed readable, day or night street signs."! Stop passing the buck to the townships and counties who can't get their collective act together on somehting as simple as naming 25A, let alone put up a sign you could read.
God forbid you have a guest from out of town, fuggadaboutit. They're lost from the git go. Take a lesson from Florida, California and others. Large signs placed over the intersection for each road. When not possible, then large street signs on each, that's right! I said each corner. That makes four signs, one for each direction of traffic. Wow! Who'd paid for that? Hell we already are. Now do it!
--Mark kennedy
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I can't think of anything better than to have LARGE street signs. It can be most difficult when look for a particular street to be able to see the sign until the last minute.
--C. Baird
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This is a big big big pet peeve of mine; Of the signs or lack thereof on all our streets. I literally have to pas certain streets because I can't find a sign. In Freeport most intersections have only one sign for all four corners. Forget about sunrise highway. It's worse because you have to get into the turning lane before you can even see the sign. And how about the size! Way,Way too small. I'm tired of straining to see a sign and then have to go out of my way and back-track.
Nassau County officials should go to California!!!!!
Thanks for addressing the problem
--Barbara Sussman
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I believe street signs hanginging in the center of the street are
excellent.It prevents you from taking your eyes off the road. It
should also have the name of the next intersection below it so
you will be alerted well before time to get into the proper
lane. Also where right hand turns are prohibitd at the traffic light,
a X should be across the red lite traffic signal, again helping to
keep your eyes on the road instead of searching for signs.
--George Valente, Syosset
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I agree that there is a definite need for overhead street signs, maybe not at every corner, but at major intersections.They are extremely helpful in other cities.....why not on Long Island ? In forty years of driving, I've observed drivers almost get into accidents at major intersections because they weren't aware the turning lane was approaching for the street they wanted. I've seen this on busy roads like Sunrise Highway, Merrick Rd. etc.
--Betty K.
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I am definitely in favor of them. The signing on Long Island is just terrible. They're either too small to read or nonexistent. Bigger signs are definitely more helpful. The bigger, the better.
--Murray and Betty
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At certain intersections the No Turn on Red signs are prominently displayed high above the intersection and next to the stop lights where every driver can see it. But, at other intersections the No Right on Red signs are displayed on the street corner, on the right hand side of the road. This is the area where most cars have already passed the sign on there way to making the right hand turn, and therefore have no idea that a right on red is not allowed.
Please explain why Suffolk County does not have one system of displaying this particular road sign, preferably above the intersection next to the stop lights where every driver can see it.
Thank you.
--Liz Padilla
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A large print overhead sign at major intersections along busy roads such as Jericho Turnpike or Sunrise Highway lets the driver know which lane s/he should be in if a turn is necessary onto that road thus avoiding sudden lane changes or missing the turn.
--Anonymous
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Sorry it took so long to reply to your article about street signs. There is no doubt that we have some of the worst signage, or lack of signage, than most places in the U.s. that I visited. One of the comments reported for the reason not to change where the signs are placed was " we want to maintain consistency". Well, it's no great standard if you are consistently WRONG. I know when I'm in a place where the roads are unfamiliar and the street signs are displayed hanging from wires in the middle of the street it makes my driving much easier. When I have to search each street corner for a street sign it makes it difficult becaue I have to take my eye off the road. Other problems with corner street signs is that they get hidden behind stop signs and bushes, buses, and delivery trucks. And one more thing, they get stolen by individuals who are playing games or just want them as keepsakes because it's their name. Do everyone a favor and spend the money putting up large printed street signs in the middle of the streets. I'll bet it causes fewer accidents.
--Arnie
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