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West Village residents say the stop sign at the intersection of Horatio and West 4th Streets is one that few drivers seem to obey.

"I'd say like 85 percent of the cars that go through the intersection just don't stop," says resident Eric Weingartner.

"It's just completely dangerous to cross the street. You can't trust that people are really going to stop at the stop sign," says resident Kimberly Markin.

About 100 feet from the sign is a traffic light at Eighth Avenue, which residents say distracts drivers from noticing the stop sign.

"The problem is, the cars are looking at the traffic light at Eighth Avenue and as they come to West 4th and Horatio, they're looking at the light and running the stop sign," says Weingartner. "And it's a nightmare for pedestrians to try to cross."

"If the traffic light is green, they are going and not even yielding to the stop sign at all," says Markin, who has lived on Horatio Street for eight years and as a mother of two.

She also says she fears for the safety of her boys every time she crosses at the stop sign.

"I'll sometimes try to make eye contact with the driver first to make sure that they see us and that they really will stop for us," says Markin.

As a 20-year resident of this neighborhood, Weingartner says the intersection has always presented a problem for pedestrians.

Back in 2007, Weingartner asked the local Community Board 2 to try to resolve the problem by requesting that the Department of Transportation install louvers to the traffic lights at Eighth Avenue.

Weingartner hopes the louvers, which are filters that affix to and obscure the state of traffic lights until a driver is right before them, will keep drivers from being distracted by the green lights at Eighth Avenue.

"The community board accepted that and approved it and sent it on to DOT, somehow it fell through the cracks at DOT," says Weingartner.

NY1 called DOT and the agency finally contacted Weingartner, telling him they would install the louvers immediately.

"They said that on Saturday they're going to put in the louvers as well as move the planter that's at the corner that's obscuring the stop sign, and hopefully put in pedestrian crossing signs on the stop signs at the crosswalks," says Weingartner.

DOT officials said in a statement to NY1, "DOT refurbished pavement markings at this location last year after receiving a community request. Louvers will be installed on the traffic signal at Eighth Avenue by early next week following a delay as a new contract has come into effect. We are always looking for ways to enhance safety and will evaluate the need for improved signs and increased visibility."

Locals hope the long awaited action will make for a safer crossing. NY1 will follow this story.

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