Heading west on Mentor Avenue and when making a right turn unto Route 306, the green arrow is confusing, because you can make a turn on the arrow and still have to dodge traffic that is making a left turn from Mentor Avenue (heading east) at the same▶Archived
According to state law the vehicle making the turn onto 306 has the right of way....but with the 2 lanes on 306, and a double arrow light, that means you have to yield to other traffic as well. Stay in the right lane then merge into the left lane once you are on 306. It really isn't that hard to comprehend. You might be one of those people the dart directly into your lane of choice acting like you own the entire road. People like you cause accidents every day. Common sense is worth more than anything these days.
I believe the original comment has the operation of this signal wrong. When the Mentor Avenue westbound right turn arrrow is green, the SR 306 southbound left turn arrows are green. What the original poster may have experienced is a vehicle traveling eastbound on Mentor Avenue making a left turn on a yellow or even red signal.
Both Smart Driver and Traffic Engineer are at least partially correct in their analysis. The timing of the traffic signal for the westbound to northbound right turn arrow does not place any traffic in conflict with the arrow. When the green is displayed for all eastbound and westbound traffic, eastbound to northbound left turning vehicles are required to yeild to oncoming traffic and enter the closes available lane for their turn (center lane). Right turning vehicles (westbound to northbound) are required to stay in the curb lane. If a collision occurs it is the result of someone making an improper turn. The violating party should be cited for causing the accident. The intersection as it is layed out meets engineering design standards and does not require changes.
If it causes this much confusion when people have time to think about it on this blog. FIX IT.... People constantly turn left from east bound route 20 and don't realize they need to yield. Once I have made my turn I would think I am on the roadway and incoming traffic should yield. When I am turning right I yield for the safety of my family, but I have lived in Mentor my whole life. How many shoppers coming from the mall don't know this? One bad accident and the real traffic engineer can tell the family who should have yielded. Really smart but no common sense..
However you want to word it is fine, my point, it is an accident waiting to happen. There have been numerous rear-end collisions at the right turn, and many other drivers heading south on 306 who think they have the right of way and flip you off. Please address, you can tell by # of concerns here it is a problem.
It's not me I'm worried about all-perfect driver you, it's the guy behind me when I'm amking the right turn that is close to rear-ending me. So, please do not make accusations, such as you did, about me darting out, excuse me.
Perhaps a painted dotted line for the left turn traffic would help them stay in the proper lane. Or a sign reminding the left turn traffic to stay in the left lane when they turn. The roads at this intersection are not perpendicular. I think this contributes to the left turn traffic turning wide.
To many eastbound Rt 20 vehicles turning left onto northbound Rt 306 are going through yellow or red and disrupting the traffic flow of the green right turn arrow for those of us that are westbound Rt 20 turning right onto northbound Rt 306. One of the lights needs to be adjusted by about 3 - 5 seconds to allow traffic enough time to either clear the area or enter the area. It's not rocket science, it's not difficult to fix. I am also in favor of the painted lines like they have at Rt 615 and Rt 20 to keep drivers in the proper lane when turning. In the mean time I will sit at the green light a second longer to avoid someone hitting my car.
I really don't understand why people are having a hard time with this intersection, unless of course when you turn you do not keep with the proper lane you are supposed to turn into. The people turning left onto 306 from mentor ave are supposed to turn into the left-northbound lane, while the people turning right onto 306 from mentor ave are supposed to turn into the right-northbound lane. If the people need to get into a different lane past the intersection they slow down, put their turn signal on, and yield to all other traffic as the law states. Dotted lines would help but I really dont see it being necessary. The only real problem I see is over zealous drivers turning right onto northbound 306 thinking they have more of a rightaway then all of the other cars because of how the lane curves.
Great comment.People have forgotten how to drive, the rules of the road and how to be courtious. They own the road and will continue to tell you so unless steps are taken to guide them. So let's ask for dotted lines and foe the signal to be adjusted. Police intervention would hurt either in a few cases, like no left turn into Points East during certain hours.
Most people don't know, but when you make a turn like that they are suppose to stay in the left lane after making the turn. Most people I see turn there don't do that. Even if everyone was to do that, it is still confusing as you are not sure if the car is going to stay in their lane.
Last week I almost got hit.
I had the arrow to turn right & head north on 306 & if I hadn't stopped a person turning left onto 306 north would have hit me.
A sign on the light tells the left turners to YIELD TO THE RIGHT TURN. That means don't turn left if a car is turning right OR approaching and close to turning right. Forget which lane everyone should be in or stay in.
In your scenario, both drivers think they are in the right to do what they did. Obviously, one is wrong. Who would be cited in this case? Besides the chance of causing a serious accident, I have seen rroad rage under those exact same circumstances, becasue both thought they had the ROW. Get the wrong mix of people and trouble is sure to follow. Now that this intersection--based on the number of comments and problems/issues discussed--has been brought to the attention of city hall, a civil suit is in order for anyone involved at that area--past or present. The city and the city engineer are opening themselves up for a major law suit, and here it is in B&W gentlemen. The ball is in your court. Many thanks to The News-Herald and other readers who are being citizen journalists and holding the city responsible for dangerous intersections. Next on the list, you name it. This will chase the loafers out of council, because people are not going to take it anymore, especially paying the taxes we pay. Do your job already.
Lisa you are 100% correct. What more do you people want, there is already a sign that says left turning people must yield. It is only carelessness that is causing other people's frustrations. Simply put; if you are turning left and cross lanes you are at fault! If you are turning right and cross lanes you are at fault! This concept seems to be missing from some people, which I blame on the state for letting them obtain a drivers license before they learn the rules. From a lot of these comments it really sounds that people are mad because they want to cross lanes but there is another car in their way blocking them (i.e. almost causing an accident) from doing so. Any accidents would not be the city's fault because they are aware that their drivers don't follow the laws.
I think the greatest danger at this intersection are the drivers behind those turning right onto 306. While your dodging those left turners not understanding that they are supposed to yield, the drivers behind you are aggressively pushing forward, putting you at risk of getting hit from behind.
If people are jumping to the lane that they want instead of the lane that they should be in, how about a sign for the eastbound 20 who want to head north: "Maintain Left Lane for 100 ft". And a sign for the west bound 20 who want to head north: "Maintain Right Lane for 100 feet". This will move the accidents 100 feet to the north and keep the east and westbound traffic on 20 running smoothly!
No really, isn't there a state law about maintaining a lane for a specified distance before changing lanes? And after that distance you are to use a directional signal and clearence in the traffic to safely allow a lane change?
It appears that the light has been adjusted and the stop lines on southbound turning east onto Rt 20 have been moved back about a car length. This is a good sign that someone is listening. Now if we can just get drivers in the correct lane before the plaza driveway or Tyler Blvd on busy days.
23 Comments
Smart Driver (Guest)
Traffic Engineer (Guest)
A real traffic engineer (Guest)
Common sense (Guest)
lala (Guest)
Jeff (Guest)
Jeff (Guest)
Κλειστό traffic engineer (Guest)
Reopened Common sense (Guest)
un-real traffic eng (Guest)
Vic (Guest)
Pretty much common sense (Guest)
vic (Guest)
Anonymous (Guest)
Mike (Guest)
I had the arrow to turn right & head north on 306 & if I hadn't stopped a person turning left onto 306 north would have hit me.
Anonymous (Guest)
Lisa (Guest)
Anonymous (Guest)
Come on people (Guest)
Forest (Guest)
Brent (Guest)
No really, isn't there a state law about maintaining a lane for a specified distance before changing lanes? And after that distance you are to use a directional signal and clearence in the traffic to safely allow a lane change?
vic (Guest)
Κλειστό Northbound (Guest)