Install an all-way stop at Sturdevant and W 42nd St

Recent signers:
LO OBrien and 19 others have signed recently.

The Issue

On October 9, 2025, Thomas Smith experienced a terrifying incident many parents dread - a speeding vehicle almost struck him and his companions on their morning walk to school. Thomas, accompanied by his mom, sisters, and neighbors, was traversing their intersection of N Sturdevant St. and W 42nd St. in Davenport, Iowa, when a car barreled through the painted crosswalk, missing him by mere inches.

This incident was not an isolated one. Reports from the community highlight how the intersection has become an accident waiting to happen. Children and adults of our neighborhood have repeatedly faced similar threats, as cars ignore the law assuming right of way at the intersection’s crosswalk. The Iowa Code clearly mandates that vehicles must yield to pedestrians within crosswalks, yet enforcement and preventative measures are scarce. 


In our ever-busy world, the safety of our children and community members should be our utmost priority. Pedestrians are granted the right of way by state law, but what good is that law if drivers continuously flout it and enforcement is lacking? The installation of an all-way stop at this intersection is not just necessary—it is imperative to prevent future tragedies. In 2024, 7148 pedestrians were struck and killed by vehicles, according to the Governors Highway Safety Association. 

The risks we take every day as we cross this dangerous intersection are wholly unacceptable. Traffic studies have shown that all-way stops significantly reduce accidents by managing the flow of vehicles and ensuring that everyone, both drivers and pedestrians, are acutely aware of their surroundings. According to the Federal Highway Administration, implementing multi-way stop signs can reduce total vehicle crashes by up to 37%, and pedestrian incidents are minimized through heightened driver awareness and lower speeds.

Currently, our intersection is nothing more than a painted promise of safety that remains unfulfilled. By signing this petition, you are urging Davenport city officials to take immediate action in safeguarding our streets and protecting pedestrians from reckless traffic. For the sake of Thomas Smith, his family, and every resident of our neighborhood, we must demand a solution.

Let us not wait for an irreversible tragedy to prompt us to establish the safety that should already be provided. Sign this petition today to install an all-way stop at the intersection of Sturdevant and W 42nd St., ensuring that our streets are safe for everyone.

avatar of the starter
Taylor SmithPetition Starter
Media inquiries

271

Recent signers:
LO OBrien and 19 others have signed recently.

The Issue

On October 9, 2025, Thomas Smith experienced a terrifying incident many parents dread - a speeding vehicle almost struck him and his companions on their morning walk to school. Thomas, accompanied by his mom, sisters, and neighbors, was traversing their intersection of N Sturdevant St. and W 42nd St. in Davenport, Iowa, when a car barreled through the painted crosswalk, missing him by mere inches.

This incident was not an isolated one. Reports from the community highlight how the intersection has become an accident waiting to happen. Children and adults of our neighborhood have repeatedly faced similar threats, as cars ignore the law assuming right of way at the intersection’s crosswalk. The Iowa Code clearly mandates that vehicles must yield to pedestrians within crosswalks, yet enforcement and preventative measures are scarce. 


In our ever-busy world, the safety of our children and community members should be our utmost priority. Pedestrians are granted the right of way by state law, but what good is that law if drivers continuously flout it and enforcement is lacking? The installation of an all-way stop at this intersection is not just necessary—it is imperative to prevent future tragedies. In 2024, 7148 pedestrians were struck and killed by vehicles, according to the Governors Highway Safety Association. 

The risks we take every day as we cross this dangerous intersection are wholly unacceptable. Traffic studies have shown that all-way stops significantly reduce accidents by managing the flow of vehicles and ensuring that everyone, both drivers and pedestrians, are acutely aware of their surroundings. According to the Federal Highway Administration, implementing multi-way stop signs can reduce total vehicle crashes by up to 37%, and pedestrian incidents are minimized through heightened driver awareness and lower speeds.

Currently, our intersection is nothing more than a painted promise of safety that remains unfulfilled. By signing this petition, you are urging Davenport city officials to take immediate action in safeguarding our streets and protecting pedestrians from reckless traffic. For the sake of Thomas Smith, his family, and every resident of our neighborhood, we must demand a solution.

Let us not wait for an irreversible tragedy to prompt us to establish the safety that should already be provided. Sign this petition today to install an all-way stop at the intersection of Sturdevant and W 42nd St., ensuring that our streets are safe for everyone.

avatar of the starter
Taylor SmithPetition Starter
Media inquiries

The Decision Makers

City of Davenport, Department of Engineering and Capital Projects
City of Davenport, Department of Engineering and Capital Projects
Responded
“Thank you for bringing attention to safety concerns at the intersection of Sturdevant and West 42nd Street. I visited the intersection on Friday morning to review the conditions myself and to better understand the traffic flow around the school. The main concern of the petition appears to be northbound traffic, particularly as vehicles leave the school area. About 70% of the total traffic at that location comes from the school (eastbound). However, from my observations, nearly all cars exiting the school make a right turn at that intersection — and that’s where most of the potential conflict lies as I see it. Drivers who turn right at a T-intersection are looking to their left for oncoming traffic and sometimes don’t look for a pedestrian on their right. It’s important to note that this intersection has been incident-free for the past 10 years, other than a minor incident where the back of a turning bus made contact with the back of a turning car, and overall traffic volumes, especially on the north-south legs, remain very low. Based on both local data and the national Manual on Uniform Traffic Control Devices, the location does not currently meet the criteria for installing an all-way stop. One of my concerns is that a stop sign might give pedestrians a false sense of security, leading them to cross without checking for vehicles that might not stop as expected. In fact, studies show that stop signs in low-traffic areas can sometimes increase the risk of certain types of accidents or near misses if drivers become complacent. If a three-way stop were to be considered, it would require a City Council vote, and the Council typically relies on recommendations from the engineering department. We take petitions like this seriously, and I plan to reach out directly to the petition starter to discuss these findings and hear more about the community’s perspective. Thank you again for sharing your concerns. We all want to ensure the safety of students, pedestrians, and drivers, and we’re committed to continuing to review and evaluate this intersection as traffic patterns evolve. Respectfully, Gary Statz Traffic Engineer | Department of Engineering and Capital Projects City of Davenport”
Mike Matson
Mike Matson
Former Davenport City Mayor
Mark Holloway
Mark Holloway
Davenport City Council - Ward 7

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Petition created on October 9, 2025