Traffic and Pedestrian Safety

The City frequently receives concerns from residents regarding safety on the roadway and requests to install various traffic control devices or treatments. Below is a list of common concerns and traffic devices requested, their documented effect on driver behavior, and resources and educational material.

If you believe an area needs improvement, please report your concern using the form below or contact the Engineering Department at 952 895-4500. Concerns will be documented and assessed whether a safety issue is present and whether an improvement should be studied further. If you have concerns about speeding in your neighborhood, please contact the Lakeville Police Department by using this online form.

Report a Traffic or Pedestrian Safety Concern

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Stop Signs

Speed Limits

Children At Play & Slow Children Signs

The City frequently receives requests for "Children At Play" or “Slow Children” signs in residential areas. These requests stem from concerns for the safety of  children in the street and near their homes. 

These signs have not been shown to increase driver awareness and are not recognized as a standard highway sign by the Federal Highway Administration. Studies have shown no evidence that these signs prevent pedestrian accidents or decrease the vehicle speeds. "Children At Play" signs also give parents and children a false sense of security and can be misinterpreted to mean that it's acceptable to play in the street. It is important that parents teach their children about the dangers of playing near or in the street and should discourage them from doing so.

Another consideration with these signs is that nearly every street has children on it and would require a sign to be posted on every block. This is not only impractical but would render the signs meaningless. Streets with no signs might also imply that no children live there and could lead to unsafe driving on those particular streets. Warning signs are effective tools if used sparingly to warn motorists of uncommon hazards that are not apparent to drivers. The use of unnecessary signs generally promotes a disrespect for all signs. To address pedestrian safety, specific warning signs for school zones, pedestrian crossings, playgrounds and other recreational areas are used only where they are truly warranted.

Crosswalks

The City of Lakeville strives to provide a safe, sustainable and efficient transportation network, including our local pedestrian facilities and crosswalks. Traffic control devices such as signage, striping and other physical improvements may enhance the safety of local pedestrian facilities and crosswalks. The evaluation whether enhanced traffic control devices and physical improvements at crosswalks are warranted there must be a consistent and effective methodology, adhering to state, federal and engineering best practices. 

The City of Lakeville's Pedestrian/Bicyclist Crosswalk Policy (PDF) establishes the City’s guidelines for installing enhanced crosswalk treatments. It is intended to provide a consistent procedure for determining if enhancements and other physical improvements are warranted.

Some of the roads within the City are the jurisdiction of Dakota County and questions about crosswalks on these roads should be referred to the County. Visit Dakota County's website  or call them at 952-891-7000.

Speed Humps

The City of Lakeville does not install speed humps (bumps) on our public streets for the following reasons:

  • Speed humps cause delays for police and fire vehicles of 3-10 seconds per hump.
  • Speeds may increase between humps as drivers try to compensate for lost time.
  • Speeds may increase over time as drivers get used to the feel of the speed humps.
  • Traffic volume may be diverted to adjacent streets as drivers seek alternate routes to avoid the speed humps.
  • Some motorists may drive with their wheels in the gutter, bike lane, or road shoulder to minimize the impact of the humps
  • Noise levels may increase.
  • Maintenance activities, including snow plowing, are significantly more difficult to accomplish. In addition, they become a danger to the traveling public and maintenance staff when hidden by snow.

Ineffective Specialty Warning Signs: What's the Harm?

A video produced by the Minnesota Local Road Research Board is designed to help city and county engineers respond to common requests for specialty warning signs, such as children at play and deer crossings. The video explains why some of these popular warning signs are ineffective and can actually be counterproductive.

"Ineffective Specialty Warning Signs: What's the Harm?" (video)