Why doesn’t Whatcom County install “Children at Play” Signs?
An often-heard neighborhood request concerns the posting of generalized warning signs with “SLOW CHILDREN AT PLAY” or other similar messages. Parental concern for the safety of children in the street near home, and a misplaced but widespread public faith in traffic signs to provide protection often prompt these requests.Although some other jurisdictions have posted such signs widely in residential areas, studies have shown that many types of signs attempting to warn of normal conditions in residential areas have failed to achieve the desired safety benefits. If signs encourage parents and children to believe they have an added degree of protection, which the signs do not and cannot provide, a great disservice results.Because of these serious considerations, Whatcom County does not install “Children At Play” signs on county roads. This type of sign may give children a false impression that it is safe to play in the road.
An often-heard neighborhood request concerns the posting of generalized warning signs with “SLOW CHILDREN AT PLAY” or other similar messages. Parental concern for the safety of children in the street near home, and a misplaced but widespread public faith in traffic signs to provide protection often prompt these requests. Although some other jurisdictions have posted such signs widely in residential areas, studies have shown that many types of signs attempting to warn of normal conditions in residential areas have failed to achieve the desired safety benefits. If signs encourage parents and children to believe they have an added degree of protection, which the signs do not and cannot provide, a great disservice results. Because of these serious considerations, Whatcom County does not install “Children At Play” signs on county roads. This type of sign may give children a false impression that it is safe to play in the road. It is never safe for children to play in or near the edge of the
