West Des Moines, IA

Crossing the street at a busy intersection can be stressful. Traffic signals are timed to give you enough time to get across safely. Here is what the symbols mean:

1. The "WALK" Symbol

When the white WALK symbol is on, it is your turn to start crossing. You typically have 4 to 7 seconds to enter the street. Before you step off the curb, always look in all directions for any vehicles that might be turning.

2. The Flashing "DON’T WALK" Symbol

If the orange hand starts flashing while you are already in the street, keep going. You will have enough time to finish crossing safely.

However, if you are still on the sidewalk when the hand starts flashing, do not start crossing. There is not enough time left for you to get to the other side before the light changes.

3. The Steady "DON’T WALK" Symbol

When the orange hand stays on and is not flashing, it is not safe to be in the crosswalk. Stay on the sidewalk and wait for the next walk signal.

We set speed limits at the speed that most drivers naturally travel on a road. This speed is usually the most reasonable and safe for everyone.

1. Safety comes from consistent speeds

The safest roads are those where every car moves at roughly the same speed. If a speed limit is set too low, some drivers will follow it while others ignore it. This creates a dangerous mix of fast and slow traffic, which increases the risk of accidents. It is actually safer for everyone to move at a steady, predictable pace than to have drivers traveling at very different speeds.

2. Standard limits in Iowa

In Iowa, drivers are expected to follow these standard speeds unless a sign says otherwise:

• Business Districts: 20 mph

• Residential & School Districts: 25 mph

• Residential Areas near City Borders: 45 mph

• Highways: 55 mph

We may increase these limits if the road is designed to handle higher speeds safely.

3. Other factors we consider

Before changing a speed limit, we also look at:

• The condition of the road surface.

• How many people are walking or parking nearby.

• The history of accidents in that specific area.

4. Where do we put speed limit signs?

We place signs at the beginning of a road and at specific spots where drivers need a reminder. Our goal is to make sure you always know the safe speed for the stretch of road you are on.

The safety of our children is a top priority. While many parents ask for "Children at Play" signs to slow down traffic, studies show these signs often don't work as intended. Here is why:

1. Signs don't change driver speed

Drivers usually choose their speed based on the road itself—like how wide it is or if there are parked cars nearby. Studies show that signs alone do not slow drivers down, especially if they don't see children playing right at that moment.

2. Overuse leads to "sign blindness"

Warning signs work best for permanent hazards, like a sharp curve. Because children aren't always playing in the street, drivers begin to ignore the signs when they see them everywhere but don't see any children.

3. A false sense of security

These signs can make parents and children feel safer than they actually are. Real safety comes from education. We encourage parents to teach children that the street is never a safe place to play and that they should never assume a driver sees them.