Last modified Wed., December 13, 2006 - 06:18 PM
Originally created Thursday, December 14, 2006

Christmas lights on stop signs?

By MC3 David Didier, Special Contributor

New stop signs with lights were recently placed at the intersections of Mustin Road and Saratoga Avenue and the intersection of Child Street and Saratoga Avenue. The signs were purchased by Commander, Navy Installations Command and placed at various locations on bases throughout Navy Southeast Region to decrease the number of accidents that occur from people running stop signs. Photo by MC3 David Didier

Did someone put Christmas lights on the stop signs on Saratoga Avenue at Mustin Road and on Child Street?

The answer is no. The lights are on the signs to increase their visibility to drivers and hopefully reduce the number of accidents and tickets at those intersections.

''At first I thought they were Christmas lights. But they definitely caught my eye and my attention,'' said NAS Jax Equal Opportunity Advisor HMCS(AW/FMF) Bryce McNair.

The signs were purchased by Commander, Navy Installations Command for Navy Southeast Region and cost around $600 each. That's nearly three times the cost of a normal stop sign. However, the cost is justified because the new signs will help reduce the number of accidents aboard the base.

''If the new signs can prevent one accident from occurring then they were worth the cost,'' stated NAS Jax Deputy Safety Officer Dave Colburn.

The lights are high intensity light-emitting diode lights that can be seen from two miles away even in the daylight. When asked what he thought of the new high visibility stop signs, Tim Jeror of the NAS Jax Safety Office, said, ''Can you see them? Well then, I guess they are doing the job.''

NAS Jax hopes to increase awareness of stop signs and crosswalks throughout the base, and provide safer driving conditions for all personnel at NAS Jax.

So, when you are driving down Saratoga Avenue and come to a stop at the flashing red stop signs, remember they are not Christmas decorations, they will be there all year long.