Local law enforcement has been busy this week, giving tickets to people who fail to heed the four-way stop at the intersection of Rice Avenue Extension and Industrial Park Road.

The four-way stop signs have been in effect since Tuesday, 10 days after signs were put up, notifying motorists of the impending change.

Warning signs with red flags sticking out of both sides have been erected on the side of the roads leading to the intersection, so motorists have no excuse for not stopping.

The four-way stop was designated at the intersection by the S.C. Department of Transportation to help control traffic generated by the new Timken Sports Complex, as well as vehicles from nearby industries. Once the complex opens, there will be much more traffic around the intersection, including vehicles entering and leaving the area with children on board.

Also, traffic headed toward town from the Lukesville area had been travelling 55 mph until it reached the intersection. The new stop signs will help prevent accidents caused by speeding drivers.

Some have questioned why SCDOT did not install a traffic signal at the intersection rather than the four-way stop. SCDOT makes its decisions based on extensive traffic studies — in this case, the studies did not indicate the need for a signal.

If motorists obey the signs and follow the rules for a four-way stop — when two vehicles arrive at the intersection at the same time on different streets, the vehicle on the right has the right of way — potential problems can be avoided.

The new stop signs will require some getting used to, but in the long run they will make driving safer.