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The number of vehicle accidents at the intersection of Fort Wayne and Maple Streets may decrease now that there will be a sign that informs drivers cross traffic does not stop.
The Warsaw Area Traffic Commission approved placing the sign at the intersection after the Warsaw Police Department received a request from a citizen for placing a three-way stop sign at the location.
The citizen reported July 12 a personal injury accident after a driver failed to yield at the intersection.
Lt. Kip Shuter said federal regulations require there be five crashes a year at a location for a three-way stop sign to be installed.
"We have only had two accidents reported at the location this past year so the standards to install a three-way stop sign have not been met," Shuter said.
Those who approved the item were commission members George Clemens, Ann Sweet, Bill Rhoades, Police Chief Steve Foster, Shuter and Street Department Superintendent Lacy Francis.
Shuter reported information to commission members of the number, times and causes of accidents that have occurred at the intersection since 2000.
Failure to yield was cited as the No. 1 reason for accidents occurring at the intersection.
There were two accidents reported this year. One accident was attributed to disregarding a stop sign. The other was failure to yield.
Two accidents that occurred in 2005 resulted from drivers failing to yield.
One accident occurred in each year of 2004 and 2003 as a result of drivers failing to yield.
Two accidents occurred in 2002 and were attributed to an animal and failure to yield.
One accident occurred in 2000 and was attributed to a driver disregarding a stop sign.
Shuter said he would contact the citizen informing them of the commission's decision to place the "cross traffic does not stop" sign at the intersection.
The commission also discussed traffic problems at Country Club Lane.
"There are becoming more children who live in the area and play close to the road and in driveways," said Clemens.
Clemens suggested there be a "children at play" sign placed at the lane to warn drivers.
Shuter informed the commission that it was outlawed in 2000 to put additional "children at play" signs on roads because it might lead people to think it is acceptable for children to play close to the street.
Francis suggested placing a sign warning drivers to slow down.
The next commission meeting is Sept. 7 at 10 a.m. at the Warsaw Police Department.
