Helpful Tips

A little local knowledge always comes in handy and may make your visit to Clinton more enjoyable.

Traffic Lights - Because Clinton is a transportation "hub" with a large volume of traffic traveling through it, timing is EVERYTHING at our intersections. There are only so many seconds in each phase of a green light for you and other vehicles cued at it to make it through each cycle, so PLEASE pay attention when you are sitting at a red light and be ready to proceed immediately on the green light or arrow. Every large gap that is allowed to develop during a green light is one less vehicle which will make it through that cycle.

Guaranteed Traffic Congestion - Leigh Street during the school year between 8am and 8:30am and again in the afternoon from 2:50pm and 3:30pm. Bus traffic, drop off's and pick-ups at the Public School are at their height during these times and almost guaranteed to slow your passage on this street.

"Short Cuts" to Avoid - (1) Rupells Road: We take the safety of other motorists and our residents very seriously. If you are a heavy truck or a tractor trailer using Rupells Road to avoid congestion on Interstate 78 you will receive a summons for being overweight. If you are a commuter in a hurry to get to work and exceeding the speed limit, you will most likely get a ticket also. This street was designed and constructed for local traffic only, not as an alternative to Interstate 78. This street bottlenecks into a "no outlet" residential neighborhood and finally at Route 173. In all cases interstate traffic clears while motorists utilizing this "short cut" are still sitting in gridlock. (2) Center Street: This residential street may appear to be a nice alternative to Route 173/Old Highway 22, but it bottle necks at Leigh Street and has a STRICTLY enforced 25mph Speed Limit. If you are in a hurry this is not a short cut for you.  

Tips for pedestrians

Be as visible as possible

  • One of the most frequent causes of pedestrian crashes is a lack of visibility, especially at dusk or dawn.
  • People can use flashlights on their phones and wear bright colors or athletic clothing that has reflective material on it.

Always use crosswalks when available

  • If the crosswalk has a walk signal, make sure to use that button to stop traffic. The same is true for the flashing crosswalks.
  • When there is not a crosswalk available, find a well-lit area and wait for a gap in traffic that gives you enough time to cross safely. Continue to watch traffic as you cross.

Make eye contact with drivers

  • Pedestrians should not assume that a driver can see them, even if the flashing lights are activated. Making eye contact with the driver helps ensure that they have seen you walking.
  • Make sure that both lanes of traffic have stopped.

Tips for drivers

You must stop at crosswalks when a pedestrian is crossing.

  • Wait until the pedestrian has completely crossed the street before proceeding.
  • Stay alert and drive slowly; especially in areas with heavy foot traffic like downtown.

Do not pass a car in the crosswalk

  • If a car is stopped, do not immediately pass. It may be stopped at a crosswalk, waiting for people to go across the street.
  • Be on the lookout for pedestrians
  • Even when not at crosswalks, be aware that people may be walking in low-lit areas. Drivers should be extra cautious when visibility is lower at dusk and dawn.