Stop signs are being installed at about 1,000 railroad crossings throughout Ohio that don't have gates or flashing lights in an effort to boost safety and avoid confusion.
State officials say the stop signs will replace yield signs at those locations because of a change in state law intended to cut down on accidents.
The Department of Transportation and the Ohio Rail Development Commission say local railroad crews already swapped signs in some places, and more will be changed over the next few months. Drivers who don't pause for the new signs could be cited for traffic violations.
The department says the change for certain types of crossings was required two years ago in a state budget provision. Officials reviewed nearly 2,000 crossings and concluded about half of them needed stop signs, while others were exempt.
