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Can I get a "Slow, Children Playing" sign? | |
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No; this sign is not approved for use on state roads for several reasons.
The sign may convey to parents and children the message that they are protected
if they play in the street when actually there is no such protection;
it may make parents less vigilant if they think a sign protects their children;
and "Warning" signs are supposed to advise of unforseen hazards.
The presence of children in a residential area should not be unexpected.
The recommended treatment is a speed limit.
For further information,
questions, or comments write, call or email: |
Traffic Services |
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Contact: | Dan Cumbo, P.E.
Rod Wyatt Vacant |
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Can't you lower the speed limit so that traffic will slow down? | |
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The DOT looks at several criteria in setting speed limits. These
include roadway alignment, sight distance, 85th percentile speed (a weighted
average speed), crash history, and development. For any sign to be
effective, it must command the respect of road users. This means
speed limits must be reasonable and enforced. The NCDOT is responsible
for establishing speed limits, but local police, the State Highway Patrol,
and Sheriff 's Departments have enforcement responsibility.
For further information,
questions, or comments write, call or email: |
Traffic Services |
| Contact: | Dan Cumbo, P.E.
Bob Hammond Vacant | |
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or consult
your phone directory on how to notify your local
Law Enforcement office(s). |
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What is the speed limit on my road? | |
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If no signs are psoted, the General Statutes of North Carolina set all speed
limits outside of municipalities at 55 m.p.h. and municipal limits at 35 m.p.h. These
can be changed by ordinances enacted by the NCDOT. Changes, either
higher or lower, inside city limits, require the agreement of the municipality
and the NCDOT. If signs are not posted in areas outside municipalities, the speed
limit is officially 55 m.p.h. This does not mean it is recommended
to drive that fast; motorists should always drive at reasonable and
prudent speeds as dictated by driving conditions. When this office
conducts a speed zone study and recommends a speed limit, we draft the
ordinance and submit it to the State Traffic Engineer's office for approval.
When it is approved, our Traffic Services unit installs the speed limit
signs.
For further information,
questions, or comments write, call or email: |
Traffic Services |
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Contact: | Vacant Bob Hammond Dan Cumbo, P.E. |
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How can I get a speed limit changed? | |
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Contact our Traffic Engineering staff and request a speed zone study.
Changing development and road work often affect operating speed conditions,
and may warrant changes in the speed limit by the NCDOT. Division Three has a
firm policy of not reducing speed limits below 35 mph. We also do not normally
lower speed limits on dead end roads less than a mile long.
For further information,
questions, or comments write, call or email: |
Traffic Services |
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Contact: | Vacant Bob Hammond Dan Cumbo, P.E. |
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Can I get a "Blind" or "Hidden Driveway" sign? | |
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No, the responsibility for providing a safe driveway is that of the
driveway owner. A sign does not improve the view or make the driveway
safer. Vehicles entering the road from driveways are required to
yield to traffic on the road. For vegetation along the highway right-of-way
obscuring the sight distance, call your county maintenance office.
The DOT allows plastic mirrors to be installed on the right-of-way.
These are available at office supply stores. Permission from the
DOT should be secured with an "encroachment" agreement; these are
available at our District Offices. The recommended treatment includes
reviewing the appropriate speed limit.
For further information,
questions, or comments write, call or email: |
Traffic Services |
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Regarding speed limit | Dan Cumbo, P.E.
Rod Wyatt Vacant |
| Regarding clearing or encroachment | County Maintenance Office | |
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How can I find out how much traffic uses a given road? | |
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The NCDOT's Statewide Planning Branch publishes traffic count maps
each year. Information is collected during a year and usually published
by April of the next year. The Traffic Engineering office has up to the last ten years'
editions. These maps may be viewed in our Division and District offices or online
here. A verbal report can be given over the phone.
An 8-1/2" by 11" copy from a map can be provided at no charge by contacting Traffic Services;
or contact Diana Grady to request a 20" by 30" copy of an entire county
map, made at the Division office for $1 per sheet. Each county has
from one to three sheets depending on the density of the road network.
For further information,
questions, or comments write, call or email: |
Traffic Services |
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Contact: | Vacant
Rod Wyatt |
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Who's responsible for the reflectors on the road? | |
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Reflectors are installed on more heavily traveled roads with centerline markings about a year
after they are resurfaced, and are installed on major construction projects.
The Traffic Engineering office lets a contract each year for the installation
of new markers and the replacement of worn out lenses. All primary
routes, and secondary roads with over 3,000 vehicles per day are considered
for markers. To have a road considered for markers, contact
the traffic engineering unit.
For further information,
questions, or comments write, call or email: |
Traffic Services |
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Contact: | Rod Wyatt |
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Why do some paved roads not have centerlines and edgelines painted? | |
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Generally, dead end roads and subdivision roads do not require marking.
Exceptions have been made where a traffic engineering investigation has
determined that safety is enhanced by providing markings. Generally,
dead end roads and subdivision roads do not require markings. Striping
of residential roads is only considered if requested in writing by the
Homeowners Association. Associations need to canvass their members
on this issue because many residents often don't want a road painted.
For further information,
questions, or comments write, call or email: |
Traffic Services |
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Contact: | Rod Wyatt
Vacant |
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Who fixes broken traffic signals? | |
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Except for signals inside the City of Wilmington, Signal Technicians are
dispatched from the Wilmington DOT office ((910) 341-0300). They may respond from wherever
in the Division they are working. Very often a signal they are called
to is working fine when they get there. It is very helpful to report
what the signal appears to be doing wrong (flashing, power out, bulbs out, etc.), and leave a follow-up phone
number where the technician can call to ask what problem was observed.
Police, Sheriff, and the State Highway Patrol will also relay "trouble
calls" to our technicians. The phone number for after hours emergency repairs for signals &
signs outside the City of Wilmington is: (888) 813-6508. For signals inside the the City of Wilmington call the City of Wilmington
Traffic Dispatch office at: (910) 341-7888 from 7:00am to 3:30pm M-F or 911; afterhours and on
weekends: 911 only. For non-emergency or timing questions about signals inside the City of Wilmington
contact Don Bennett at (910) 341-7888.
For further information,
questions, or comments write, call or email: |
Traffic Services |
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Contact: | Rod Wyatt Vacant **ETSII** Don Bennett |
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Who's going to get this traffic paint off of my vehicle? | |
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Painting centerlines and edgelines on roads is a routine part of highway
maintenance. When painting, our forces use a "slow moving caravan"
to identify the work area and protect the paint job and traffic from each
other. We also place cones on the wet paint, and warning signs are
placed in advance of the work area before painting begins or are on the
lead caravan vehicle.
If you think the Department is at fault for the paint on your vehicle, you can receive a claim form from the Traffic Services unit. The decision to pay a claim or not rests with our insurance company. Although the paint we use now is water-based, once it is dry it is difficult to remove. We recommend you talk to a professional body shop about removal. Best of all, if you find yourself in a long line of traffic moving slowly, it may be because the flashing lights and yellow vehicles way up in front are spraying paint on the centerline and edgeline, so don't ease over the line to look! For further information,
questions, or comments write, call or email: |
Traffic Services |
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Contact: |
Vacant Rod Wyatt |
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The STOP sign at the end of my road has been stolen or knocked down. | |
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A missing STOP sign is an urgent matter to us, and we will respond
immediately to replace one. If the sign is on or entering a state
road please call Traffic Services or your local county maintenance office
to report these. If the sign is on a municipal street, call that municipaility.
If before or after normal working hours please call the after-hours number 1-888-813-6508.
For further information,
questions, or comments write, call or email: |
Traffic Services |
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Contact: | Vacant Rod Wyatt After-hours, 1-888-813-6508 |
| County Maintenance Office | ||
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How do I get a street name sign for my road. | |
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Street name signs are installed by the counties and municipalities. Contact your
County Manager's office or emergency/911 coordinator (Do NOT call 911)
to find out your county's policy for erecting street name signs.
The NCDOT allows the counties by encroachment agreement to install these
signs on the right-of-way so long as they conform to NCDOT standards.
For further information,
questions, or comments write, call or email:
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Your County Government offices |
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Consult your phone directory on how to notify your local officials. | |
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How do I get a "Camping" (or other service) sign put up? | |
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The traffic engineering office will send you a request for information
form, which when returned is compared to the criteria needed to have the
sign erected. If the conditions are met, the Department erects the
sign.
For further information,
questions, or comments write, call or email: |
Traffic Services |
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Contact: | Bob Hammond |
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What are "LOGO" signs, and who can get one? | |
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LOGO signs are service signs that show the symbol or "logo" of the
service business that is signed. Availability is limited by many
factors, including the presence of other signs in the area and the number
of positions on the LOGO sign. Businesses pay maintenance fees to
have their signs in place.
For further information,
questions, or comments write, call or email: |
Traffic Services |
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Contact: | Bob Hammond |
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