Description

There was yet another accident at this intersection this morning around 8:45 AM, Saturday April 27th. It’s only a matter of time before there is a fatal T-bone accident due to the county refusing to act on the repeated requests to improve this intersection.

A study of traffic volume cannot adequately assess the danger of this intersection. The crosstraffic is often speeding at 50+ MPH in this 40 MPH zone, and there is very limited visibility due to road curvature. Combined with confusing right of way rules, this intersection is a disaster waiting to happen.

Despite the results of the previous volume study, the Manual of Uniform Traffic Control Devices specifically allows other considerations when determining whether to install a stop sign, and there is no reason for the county to ignore these concerns when they have many options at their disposal to improve this intersection. The options from the manual that allow the county to consider traffic slowing at this intersection are as follows:

Per the Manual of Uniform Traffic Control Devices (MUTCD):

Section 2B.07 Multi-Way Stop Applications:

Option:
05
Other criteria that may be considered in an engineering study include:
A. The need to control left-turn conflicts;
B. The need to control vehicle/pedestrian conflicts near locations that generate high pedestrian volumes;
C. Locations where a road user, after stopping, cannot see conflicting traffic and is not able to negotiate the intersection unless conflicting cross traffic is also required to stop; and
D. An intersection of two residential neighborhood collector
(through) streets of similar design and operating characteristics where multi-way stop control would improve traffic operational characteristics of the intersection.

Items A and C (and arguably D) are particularly relevant to this intersection.
Item A: When cars are stopped on both sides of the intersection, each trying to make a left turn or cross the road, the turns are treacherous and require the two drivers to make eye contact and communicate from across the road to avoid an accident due to confusion over the right of way.
Item C: This is the most compelling reason of all. This is a high speed intersection with a posted speed limit of 40MPH (and most vehicles traveling faster than that). Due to road curvature visibility is very limited making entering this intersection very dangerous. The MUTCD explicitly allows 4 way stop signs to be installed for this reason.

This is a high speed busy intersection near neighborhoods with many children and young drivers, and is nearby a school where several schoolbuses pass. The county has the opportunity to save lives with the simple installation of stop signs or a traffic circle, and the MUTCD allows it to do so for the reasons above. The residents implore you to help. Thank you.