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Traffic Engineering

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1. What is the general maximum speed limit in Ponca City?

No vehicle, unless otherwise specifically authorized by the City Code shall be driven at a speed greater than 25 miles per hour upon any street within the City, except as the Board of Commissioners, as authorized by State law, declares and determines upon the basis of engineering and traffic investigation that certain speed regulations shall be applicable upon specified streets or in certain areas, in which event it shall be unlawful for any person to drive a vehicle at a speed in excess of any speed so declared when signs are in place giving notice thereof.

2. What is the White Cane ordinance?

Ordinance 8-1-17 states that no person, except those wholly or partially blind, shall carry or use on any street, highway, or in any other public place a cane or walking stick which is white in color, or white tipped with red. Any driver of a vehicle who knowingly approaches within 15' of a person who is in the roadway or at an intersection and who is wholly or partially blind and who is carrying a cane or walking stick white in color, or white tipped with red, or who is using a dog guide wearing a specialized harness, or who is wholly or partially deaf and is using a signal dog wearing an orange identifying collar, or who is physically handicapped and is using a service dog, shall immediately come to a full stop and take such precautions before proceeding as may be necessary to avoid accident or injury to the person wholly or partially blind, deaf, or physically handicapped.

3. Does there have to be an accident before a stop sign is put up?

On the surface it doesn’t seem to make sense; but think about it like this – suppose you went to your doctor and told the doctor you wanted to start treatments for some disease or condition. Would the doctor do it if you showed no signs of the disease? Certainly not. What if you were convinced that you would get the disease if the doctor did not begin the treatments. Would the doctor treat you on that basis? No. The same holds true for stop signs. The need for treatment must be indicated.

4. What can I do about speeders on my street?

When a complaint about speeding traffic is received, the Traffic Engineering Department will schedule a spot speed study at the location. Traffic counters which are capable of recording vehicle speeds by time of day are set out for several days to collect data on traffic volume, speed, and direction. This information provides an accurate picture of traffic conditions including the number of speed limit violations, the severity of the violations, and the times of day when violations are highest. A report is prepared and forwarded to the Ponca City Police Department. The Police Department will schedule enforcement efforts as it deems necessary.
A common suggestion to reduce speeding traffic is to install stop signs at intersections. Stop signs are not intended to be used as speed control devices. In fact, the Manual on Uniform Traffic Control Devices, the national standard on traffic control published by the Federal Highway Administration, specifically states the stop signs should not be used for speed control. Stop signs are intended to assign right-of-way at intersections. As such, they are not used for speed control in Ponca City.
If you wish to report a speeding problem in your neighborhood call the Traffic Engineering offices at (580) 767-0327.

5. How are speed limits established?

Setting an appropriate speed limit is based on the premise that most drivers are concerned for their own safety and will not drive in a manner that feels threatening to them. Admittedly, there are variations in driver comfort levels. There are extremes on both ends of the scale. Some drivers are very aggressive, some are overly cautious. Most of us fall somewhere in between and we select safe and proper speeds based on roadway and traffic conditions. The maximum safe speed at any location will vary as traffic, road, weather, and light conditions change.