In La Rochelle, a 500-meter street was equipped with 14 stop signs. A situation that local residents deplore.
Road safety is one of the major concerns of public authorities. This is the case of the government, which wants to drastically reduce the number of deaths on the roads, but not only that. Local authorities, and in particular mayors, also have the right to take measures to limit accidents. And in fact, the one in La Rochelle has opted for a particularly surprising solution based on stop signs, which is far from being unanimously accepted by motorists. But what is it exactly? Don’t worry, we’ll explain everything to you below!
Stop signs everywhere
In fact, you should know that since the start of the school year, fourteen “Stop” signs were installed over a distance of only 500 meters on avenue de Fétilly, located in the town of La Rochelle. Thus, drivers are forced to stop approximately every 35 meters. This decision by the town hall aims to reduce the speed of traffic on this axis crossing a residential area, but it is not unanimous among local residents, traders and especially road users, who see red. And for good reason, the discontent on site is palpable.
Among the residents interviewed, many denounce permanent inconvenience. “It’s a real obstacle to the flow of traffic,” laments Anne, a resident of the neighborhood. “We spend our time restarting, which sometimes causes problems. caps.” Another resident, interviewed by BFM TV more measuredly, considers that the intention is good but that the method is questionable: “The number of ‘Stop’ is perhaps a little excessive. An intermediate solution, such as speed bumps or priorities on the right, would have been more suitable.”
The town hall does not budge
In addition to motorists, the avenue’s traders are also suffering the consequences of this experiment. Florence Martin-Duloz, owner of a tobacco shop located on the avenue, does not hide her concern: “Since November, I have noticed a 20% drop in my turnover. This represents around 450 customers in less each month. Many now avoid this avenue, which penalizes local businesses. But despite the criticism, the municipality defends its initiative and highlights the first encouraging results. So, she is not giving up and does not intend to return to the current experiment, which would be a success.
Christophe Berthauddeputy mayor in charge of mobility, welcomes a significant reduction in speed on this residential axis. According to him, “the nominal speed has really dropped. This considerably improves safety, especially for families who travel by bike or on foot.” The main objective is to reduce the risk of accidents in this area where vehicles, cyclists and pedestrians coexist. “This is a six-month experimental project. We consulted residents before setting it up, and a public meeting is planned for March to assess its impact and decide what to do next,” specifies the elected.
Pending the conclusions of the public meeting scheduled in two months, the debate remains open. The town hall will have to respond to a complex dilemma: maintain or adapt these fourteen “Stops” based on feedback from residents and traders, while pursuing its security objectives.
Source: www.autoplus.fr
