Author: Brian A. Coon

Why Signs Are Not Installed
The main reasons the Lawrence County does not generally install “Autistic Child,” “Blind Child,” Deaf Child,” or “Children at Play” signs are:
These signs do not describe where the child might be. Most streets within a residential area have children who react in the same way, and each driver must be aware of all children in a neighborhood environment.
These signs provide parents and children with a false sense of security that their children are safe when playing in or near the street.
When the novelty of such a sign wears off, the signs no longer attract the attention of regular passersby.
Unique or unusual warning signs are a target for vandals and souvenir hunters and have a high replacement cost.
Unique message signs have no legal meaning or established precedent for use in basic traffic engineering references. Their use is discouraged because of both the lack of proven effectiveness and undesirable liability exposure.
http://mctrans.ce.ufl.edu/transportationTopics/tips.htm

References of Signs to Avoid
“Children at Play Signs: Seldom Effective, and Usually Unnecessary and Confusing,” Technology for Alaskan Transportation, v27, n2, Summer 2002.
"'Children at Play' Signs Can Cause Confusion," MASS Interchange, Fall 2001.
"Why are traffic engineers reluctant to install DEAF CHILD or BLIND CHILD warning signs?," Traffic Information Program Series, Institute of Transportation Engineers, District 10, Florida Section.
“Won't a CHILDREN AT PLAY sign help protect our kids?,” Traffic Information Program Series, Institute of Transportation Engineers, District 10, Florida Section.
“Won't a STOP sign slow traffic on our Street?,” Traffic Information Program Series, Institute of Transportation Engineers, District 10, Florida Section.

Lawrence County, AL
Road Department

Lawrence County Commission
Road Department
160 Parker Road
Moulton, AL 35650

Phone: 256-974-2478
Fax: 256-974-2516
http://www.lawrencecountyal.org

Cautionary Signs:
Do Children at Play, Autistic Child, or Blind Child Signs Improve Safety?

Lawrence County, AL
Road Department
160 Parker Road
Moulton, AL 35650
http://www.lawrencecountyal.org
Tel: 256-974-2478

At first glance, it might seem that a CHILDREN AT PLAY sign would help protect neighborhood youngsters from traffic hazards. It doesn’t. In fact, these signs send an unclear message about what the driver and the child are supposed to do. Because of that, these signs are seldom effective. This also applies to DEAF CHILD, AUTISTIC CHILD, or BLIND CHILD signs.
Signs are Not Approved by the MUTCD
Lawrence County follows the Manual on Uniform Traffic Control Devices (MUTCD), the national standard for traffic signs. The MUTCD does not designate DEAF CHILD, AUTISTIC CHILD, BLIND CHILD, or CHILDREN AT PLAY signs. The MUTCD requires that “all regulatory and warning signs installed on public roads and streets within recreational and cultural interest areas shall conform to the requirements” regarding general, regulatory and warning signs. http://mutcd.fhwa.dot.gov/
The only similar signs approved are the W11-2 Pedestrian and the W15-1 Playground signs . However, the MUTCD does allow for additional regulatory, warning, or guidance information subject to specific cautionary guidelines:
“The use of warning signs should be kept to a minimum as the unnecessary use of warning signs tends to breed disrespect for all signs.”
http://mutcd.fhwa.dot.gov/HTM/2003r1/part2/part2c.htm#section2C02
Signs Send the Wrong Message
Children should not be encouraged to play in the street, and they should be taught to look before crossing or darting out into the street. The CHILDREN AT PLAY sign may well be understood by kids and families as a suggestion that it is acceptable for children to play in the street, and, thus, produces a false sense of security.
Furthermore, CHILDREN AT PLAY signs tend to propagate through neighborhoods, popping up on every block that has a child living on it. Signs lose credibility with motorists when they appear too often. Instead of being extra diligent, drivers tend to ignore the signs, particularly if no children are playing near the CHILDREN AT PLAY signs. When these signs appear too often, they raise questions like: if there is no sign does that mean there are no children present and no need to watch for children?
Signs Are Not Effective
The Institute of Transportation Engineer’s (ITE’s) Design and Safety of Pedestrian Facilities states that “No accident-based studies have been able to determine the effectiveness of [such] warning signs.” ITE’s Traffic Control Devices Handbook, states that “Children at Play” and “Slow Children” signs should not be used since they may encourage children to play in the street and may encourage parents to be less vigilant.
The National Cooperative Highway Research Program (NCHRP) Synthesis of Highway Practice No. 186: Supplemental Advance Warning Devices (1993) states that these signs are “not considered effective.” It is also noted that “The use of this sign and its variations has been discouraged by many agencies because the message implies that it is acceptable for children to be playing in the street. It is nonstandard due to the use of a symbol not contained in the MUTCD.”
Signs Are Not Enforceable
Such signs also provide no guidance to motorists in terms of a safe speed, and the sign has no legal basis for determining what a motorist should do. Furthermore, motorists should expect children to be “at play” in all residential areas, and the lack of signing on some streets may indicate otherwise. The signs are unenforceable and act as another roadside obstacle to pedestrians and errant motorists. Use of these non-standard signs may also imply that the involved jurisdiction approves of streets as playgrounds, which may result in the jurisdiction being vulnerable to tort liability.
http://safety.fhwa.dot.gov/ped_bike/univcourse/swless14.htm
Existing Signs Should Be Removed
NCHRP Synthesis of Highway Practice No. 139: Pedestrians and Traffic-Control Measures (1988) states that “non-uniform signs such as ‘CAUTION—CHILDREN AT PLAY,’ ‘SLOW—CHILDREN,’ or similar legends should not be permitted on any roadway at any time” and that “the removal of any nonstandard signs should carry a high priority.”