The city of Payson is experiencing growth at a rate the city has never seen before, and due to that growth, is getting some new shiny stop signs to improve safety and traffic flow. According to Chief of Police Brad Bishop, these stop signs have been a long time coming.
“Many of us at the department, as well as residents have voiced our concerns that the streets aren’t as safe as they should be,” Bishop said. “Several years ago, we had a company come out to assess the traffic needs in the city and suggest places that needed improvement. Putting in stop signs in high traffic areas was one of the things we have needed to do, and I’m glad we’re moving in that direction.”
It isn’t just Bishop who is excited for these signs. Lifelong resident Lisa Tarbox said one intersection in particular that just turned from a two-way stop to a four-way stop, will greatly improve safety in the area.
“The intersection at 500 west and 400 south was made into a four-way, and they also put yield signs going north and south at 600 west and 400 south,” Tarbox confirmed. “Having seen so many wrecks on 400 south from 650 west to 100 west, the stop signs do help people be more cautious with the hill. There isn’t an assumed right on way when everyone has to stop and think. I like the push for safer intersections.”
Tarbox has a personal tie to this, having had both her mom and sister involved in accidents in these intersections.
“My mom put her forehead into the windshield as she was hit on the back corner when someone didn’t see her due to some overgrown bushes,” Tarbox recalled.” She ended up with stitches in her forehead and had a few discs in her neck fused a couple years later, probably due to the accident. My sister Kacie was also hit on the side when a teenager hit her on the right side when they didn’t yield at the intersection. My sister got there first, but was on the left, and she thankfully wasn’t hurt. The officer cited the other car at the scene, and later came by the house to change fault to my sister for not yielding to the right. It should have been a no fault at best, but the officers have a hard time making calls of who ‘got there first’ when they aren’t there and the intersections are open without signs.”
Bishop agreed that the stop signs that are being put in by the street department, as well as other important changes made to the city’s streets, will help Payson be a much safer place to drive.
“The goal is always to improve safety and traffic flow, and as these stop signs roll out, it will be a big step toward doing that,” Bishop said. (Brown is a Serve Daily contributor.)
