Keep Your Kids Safe: The Value of the Proper Pedestrian Sign Selection for Your Community - By: Noel Dugenia

Gated community living which used to be the domain of the wealthy is fast gaining popularity among middle class families. In fact, six percent of all families living in the US are living in gated communities.

The advantages of living in a gated community include:
• Security-most gated communities have guards posted at their gates.
• Property value- being located within a community, homes have a better chance of gaining property value and tend to be steady during market fluctuations.
• Amenities-a number of communities have various amenities of which members can freely use such as gyms, swimming pools and function halls.
• Children’s play-families with children often look at the features of a potential neighborhood with their children in mind and a place where their kids can enjoy quality time both in and out of their houses is definitely a consideration.

It is because of this last factor that all intersections must have the proper pedestrian signs installed in the correct place. Every parent wants their kids to play freely in their place of residence and with other kids. And while through traffic is effectively controlled in a gated community, most families seldom have only one car. This fact could still contribute to having times of the day when traffic is busy.

This is where pedestrian signs come in. It’s not just where you place these signs that literally make the difference between safety and injuries or possibly even fatalities. And safety should be everyone’s concern because fact of the matter is there have been over 4,000 cases traffic accidents involving pedestrians in 2008.

Choose signs with the following characteristics:
• They should be big enough to see from a distance of at least 20ft. Nothing smaller than 18” width will do for signs that function as warnings.
• They should be made of highly reflective material so that it can be easily seen at night.
• They should be made of durable materials. After all, what good is a pedestrian sign if it can easily be rendered unreadable by the elements

Once you have chosen the proper sign for the area in which it is to be used, in this case an intersection, the sign should be placed in a way that is can be easily read by either a driver or a pedestrian. The MUTCD (Manual on Uniform Traffic Control Devices) recommends these dimensions:
• They should be placed 6” off the ground
• They should be situated at least 2’ away from the edge of the road
• They should not be obscured from view by things such as trees or utility posts
• If there are 2 signs or more, one shouldn’t obscure the other
• They should be highly visible even at night

There is a large selection of pedestrian signs for use on not just intersections but also schools, parks, etc. There also is whole line of mounting brackets and accessories that are not just sturdy but are also easy to install, all of which come in a price range that will suit any budget.

The proper pedestrian signs placed at the correct location will go a long way in making sure that your community is safe. And isn’t safety always worthy investment?

About the Author

Champion America is the leader in providing thousands of businesses with innovative safety product signs you can rely on. We believe in America. That is why we believe we can support our country and offer you the best for less – in fact, 30% less than our published pricing when you order from our website http://www.champion-america.com.

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