Copyright WDIV ClickOnDetroit
LIVONIA, Mich. – Drivers increasingly ignoring stop signs and creating hazardous conditions at a busy Livonia intersection have put residents and police on high alert. At the corner of Farmington and Joy Roads, a pattern of rolling stops and aggressive driving is turning a standard four-way stop into what drivers describe as an accident waiting to happen. Rising safety concerns at Farmington and Joy roads Multiple instances of drivers rolling through stop signs and near-misses have been documented at the intersection of Farmington and Joy Roads in Livonia. Local 4’s cameras captured numerous vehicles performing “rolls” – slowing down but not coming to a complete stop – while others completely disregarded the stop signs. “They mainly roll through the stop signs and everybody wants to go at the same time,” says Heleena Beckman, a Livonia driver who frequently uses the intersection. “It becomes like a lot of horns blowing.” Driver education and enforcement Beckman believes the root of the problem may lie in driver education. “They took away the driver’s education programs that were in schools, and I think they need to bring it back,” she explains. “People don’t understand the rules and the laws, and it seems like everybody’s just put on the street to take care of themselves.” Law enforcement response The Livonia Police Department acknowledges the ongoing issues at this intersection and regularly conducts enforcement operations in the area. In response to these concerns, the department has scheduled additional traffic enforcement measures. Four-way stop rules reminder For drivers who need a refresher on four-way stop rules: All vehicles must come to a complete stop When multiple vehicles arrive simultaneously, yield to the vehicle on your right Wait for other vehicles to clear the intersection before proceeding Looking ahead Beckman worries the situation could worsen if left unchecked. “I think people have become so impatient, and everybody is so self-serving, that they’re out there just doing whatever,” she said while emphasizing the need for increased awareness and enforcement of traffic laws.
