Compliance with Stop Signs under Perceived Appropriateness versus Inappropriateness of the Sign

Abstract

Driver behavior was observed at two intersections with stop signs in a suburban neighborhood when no other vehicles were present. Both the risk of an accident or being observed by police thus was low. Stop signs at one intersection were perceived by the local community as being highly appropriate. Those at the other were perceived as highly inappropriate. Under the observed conditions, only 37 percent of the drivers stopped at the inappropriate sign, but 82 percent stopped at the appropriate sign. The results suggest that people will comply even under conditions of low perceived risk if they deem the warning appropriate, but not if they deem the warning inappropriate.