I am amazed that this issue has not been taken care of before this. Lets take action now to keep our kids safe!

I pass through this intersection everyday around 7:20-7:30. I experience first hand the dangerousness of this intersection, and I am an adult with 27 years driving experience. I get nervous everyday when it's time to make the left turn. I can only imagine the anxiety that a new, inexperienced driver must feel. This is definitely an issue that needs to be addressed before a tragedy occurs.
Thank you.

This is a very dangerous intersection during school hours and athletic events. Please help out all drivers and make the Clarkston Road and Flemings Lake Road intersection safe.
Betty Reilly

I totally agree!

Keep Clarkston drivers of all ages safe and sound at this intersection.

I think RCOC does an excellent job maintaining its roads. This intersection needs a left turn arrow. and Sashabaw and Oakhill road should be straigtened out too

Why would our state not want to help keep drivers of all ages safe, especially new drivers??? Please address this issue before someone is killed. Thank You!

Dangerous intersection needs attention ASAP!!

I agree that a left turn signal is needed at that intersection.

Please - we need a left turn signal!!

South/West bound Clarkston Road traffic needs the left turn signal to ensure a safe and expeditious turn into west bound Flemings Lake Rd. - otherwise you have people trying to beet the "yellow light" and inevitably there is contention at the change of the light.

In addition to that being fixed, the student drivers need to drive more safely as well.
I cannot tell you how many times I have been dropping off my student and I was nearly crashed into in the parking lot or on the roads leading into the parking lot by students.

Considering the intersection's proximity to a high school and the traffic that produces at particular times of the day...a left turn signal is a must.

Would like to have this addressed before anyone gets seriously hurt. It is sometimes hard to judge the speeds of oncoming traffic in the curve of Clarkston Road.

Let's make the road safer for the parents and students!

Thanks.

A left turn signal is definitely needed here!

Please review this intersection!

We need a left turn arrow for this intersection.

A left turn signal will aid in keeping our students and other drivers on Sashabaw/Flemings Lake Road safe. Please consider intalling one at this intersection. Thank you.

I've worried about my kids turning left when leaving school for a few years now. Yes, I believe that a left turn signal would be beneficial.

An unwritten rule amongst the student drivers adds to this chaos in the morning. Drivers making a right turn on to Flemings are "EXPECTED" to let a car turning left to go ahead of them, thus having an "every other car right turn-left turn" sharing of the road. The danger exists in through traffic on Clarkston Road traveling Eastbound. They are not aware of this "RULE" that the student drivers expect, thus creating some very hazardous situations. As a parent driver this year that makes the right turn, I have witnessed several potential accidents. A left turn signal may be the answer, though the backup of traffic on Flemings Road itself may supercede the ability of drivers to turn left despite what the light may be instructing. It's just a bad scene, especially because so many of the drivers are students/teenagers with limited road experience.

Agree a left turn signal should be added! Future parent of CHS students and aunt of 2 current students! Please keep our students safe!

This backup in the morning creates a serious safety hazard. With the volume of traffic at this intersection and many of the vehicles being driven by inexperienced teen drivers, this makes perfect safety sense to add a left turn signal.

Please keep our kids safe!!

The practice of taking turns when turning onto Flemings Lake Road, though practical, is illegal. We are teaching people to disobey the law. It is very dangerous when people who are unaware ot the practice enter the intersection. A left turn signal on Clarkston Road would put an end to people turning left in front of oncoming traffic.

This is a huge problem. My son has had several close calls this year because people have pulled out in front of him. Please add the left turn signal!

It is a very dangerous spot...definitely needs to be a top priority to get a signal there.

I have to agree this is a very dangerous intersection. I have been almost broadsided twice this year alone with people going through red lights to make a left turn. I fear for these young drivers all the time!!

I have said for some time there needs to be a green turn arrow at the intersection of Clarkston Road and Flemings Lake Road. Last fall, I witnessed an accident when a teen made a left turn in front of a car heading through the intersection. It is just too tempting to try to jump in when the wait is so long. A green arrow would also allow more time for the occasional pedestrian who is trying to cross Clarkston Road to get to the high school.

unresolved

Yes, it is a big problem and needs to be remedied with a left turn arrow...immediately!
The safety of our students is the most important issue here.

YES..... there needs to be a left turn arrow to help give more time from the line backing up!

They also need to consider one at M15 and Hubbard for Independence Ele. the buses line up blocks long to turn into the school there and can only turn as light turns on yellow....which allows 1 bus at a time to go.....which backs the line up for blocks long waiting to turn?? It should have been done when school was open there? They should also consider turning M15 into a flashing light after schools hours so they can keep M15 running more smoothly during evening rush hour!

Wendy

Please consider installing a left hand turn light! It is very dangerous for all drivers, especially our young high school drivers!

I totally agree that this intersection is unsafe due to the lack of a left turn arrow and the amount of traffic that tries to turn or go through this intersection during school days/hours. Even after school it is busy enough to warrant a left turn arrow with all the after school activities and sporting events that take place there in the evenings.

I would strongly agree that a left turn signal is needed.

Anything that makes school areas safer for children should be done. The addition of a left turn arrow at the light would make the area more secure. I'm all for it.

Sue T.

With our children involved and being young drivers, we need to do our part to keep them safe. This turn signal is necessary in order to provide this safety.

Absolutely needed....It shouldn't be an issue when it comes to the safety of our teenage drivers.

I have witnessed eastbound drivers (probably students) 'taking turns' turning right with westbound left-turn driver's turning left, but this is a very dangerous practice...especially with inexperienced drivers.

Yes is much needed, I've seen teen drivers take too many chances so they won't be late!

I have almost been hit by students trying to turn left. It is absolutely necessary!!!

Concerned Parent

There should also be a sign coming out of the parking lot by the football field onto flemings rd, that you are not allowed to take a left hand turn pulling out of the parking lot. My student go into trouble for turning left, when there was no sign.

This is a very dangerous area and heavily congested. A left hand turn signal is needed before an accident occurs Ans someone gets hurt.

This is a very dangerous area and heavily congested. A left hand turn signal is needed before an accident occurs Ans someone gets hurt.

There needs to be a left hand turn signal before someone is seriously hurt attempting to make a turn while traffic is coming or after the light has changed.

Please help keep our young drivers safe by installing a left turn signal.

This has been needed for many years. I have seen many drivers make risky and illegal left turns, as well as drivers who are turning right on to Flemings Lake Rd stop on a green signal to let someone turn left and almost get rear ended by the car behind them who weren't anticipating having to stop on a green light. Seems like a green arrow would be a small thing with a huge payoff!

we certainly support this needed change

There needs to be a left turn light.

Many of the drivers attempting to negotiate this area during high traffice times are high school students. Their lack of experience could cause traffice back-ups and/or serious traffic accidents. A left-turn arrow would help alleviate the congestion and danger.

This needs to be addressed

The lack of a left turn arrow poses an unnecessary and dangerous risk to students and travelers to Clarkston High School. I support the effort pushing for the addition of a left turn arrow at this intersection.

As a parent who has been driving to the high school in the morning with 2 students, I have witnessed several near miss accidents at this intersection. Many young drivers cut in front of people turning right (or think cars should alternate) driving onto Flemings due to the wait time of turning left for them. I do not understand why there is not a left turn light for travelers coming from the northeast. I am sure this has been a problem for years. It is also a major problem at the entrance to the student parking lot from Flemings road. Drivers are stuck waiting to turn left into the student lot and there needs to be a light that works before school and after school there. I dread having my son start driving to school next year because of the poor design of these intersections and parking lot entrances. The school has way too many students for this design.

Thanks to everyone who commented on this. We understand the concern and we are investigating the situation. We will respond with further informtation as soon as possible.

Road Commission for Oakland County

As a parent of two clarkston high school boys, we have witness this problem many, many times in the am. Kids are running late and when it is dark in the am, they are taking way to many changes that the other drivers can read their young minds. Not worth it. Do the light!

This intersection has posed a hazard for both pedestrians and vehicles. The community has worked together courtesy and in good faith to prevent accidents. Our youngest drivers deserve the safest traffic conditions for their new driving skills. A signal for both right and left turns is needed and long overdue.

What about the intersection at Dixie Hwy and Big Lake Rd??? Why hasn't a left turn light been put in there? Wasn't there students killed at that intersection?

Soooo dangerous!

I believe that this is a dangerous turn as well. I drive my son to school every morning and have chosen to avoid driving into the school at that intersection due to the problems turning left.

Some additional information: During the am it is also dangerous traveling eastbound on Clarkston and making a right turn onto Fleming Lake Road too. I agree a timed turn arrow is necessary for the westbound left!!! Unfortunately the high school students have developed a very dangerous "understanding" to let 1 or 2 westbound left turners go and then 1 or 2 eastbound right turners go - an alternating type system. Please note that not everyone "follows this system". I was not aware of this "understanding" and as I went to make a right onto Flemings Lake Rd. one AM I almost hit a person making a westbound left. As I stopped very quickly to avoid hitting the left turner I was almost rear ended! I was verbally upset and my CHS student driver in the car said "yeah, the students/drivers let the left turn people go every other car in the morning so those students can get through the light". Although I had the right of way (any driving 101 class would teach or police officer would agree) the unsafe and inconsistent practice of the student drivings in the morning has "serious accident" ready to happening one of these mornings!!! Not to mention, any new driving not knowing this or old/experienced driver does not know of the informal understanding and someone will get hurt! While the students are trying to "solve the problem" I don't think the dangerousness of this intersection has been reported appropriately! They get a good grade for "creative solutions" but a poor grade for creating an additional hazard at an already busy and dangerous intersection! Please put a timed left arrow for the am hours of the school year - no need for the summer am!!! Thanks for you help!

please fix...my son says that alot of drivers take risky left turns onto flemings lake

I definitely support this issue and completely agree with all comments regarding both left and right arrows to make turns here safer. In general, it surprises me that the road commission doesn't pay closer attention to high school traffic issues. Specifically, in the last two years I have seen many near accidents in the winter due to icy conditions on Flemings Lake Road when as soon as you turn onto Clarkston Road, the road surface is CLEAR and even dry!!! I understand that RCOC must clear and salt main roads first, but why not divert trucks to work on the immediate areas around ALL high schools so that they are cleaned up before 2:00 pm. Ours certainly isn't the only school with short bursts of heavy traffic in the afternoon! Please address these spots with high concentrations of young drivers, addressing all safety concerns that are easy to fix!

Anonymous:

Just a few points of clarification:

We track the top 50 intersections and road segments in the county each year in terms of traffic crashes (as documented by police reports). There is no way to track "near" accidents. Since there have been relatively few actual accidents at this intersection, it would not appear in our ranking.

While schools and school bus routes ARE a high priority for the Road Commission during winter maintenance operations, please understand that there re 28 school districts in the county, each with numerous schools, as well as many private/parochial schools. Additionally, safety dictates that we must prioritize our efforts on the roads that carry the most traffic at the highest speeds. We have several of the busiest freeways in the state here in Oakland County, and those lengthy, multi-lane roads typically take many hours to clear and salt.

At most, we can have 106 salt trucks on the road at any given time. This is not enough to cover all the freeways in the county AND all the high schools in the county at the same time, let alone all the other major, multi-lane, high-volume roads. We take the safety of all motorists very seriously and provide the highest level of service we can with the resources available. However, we simply cannot be in all places at once.

Road Commission for Oakland County

Hi everyone,

My name is Emma, I am one of the Community Managers here at SeeClickFix. I've been following this issue for a while now and would love to feature it on our blog. It'd be great to talk with any parents, students, school officials, etc who have commented about this issue. If you'd be interested, please email me at emma @ seeclickfix . com

Thank you all so much for using SeeClickFix to voice your concerns!

Keep SeeClickFixin'!

Emma

The PTSA has been in touch with the RCOC on this issue...thank you, Clarkston community, for your support!
We will keep this issue status "open" for additional comments and votes as we work to resolve it and will report on progress at PTSA meetings.

Definitely would like to see any improvement that makes it safer for our drivers especially the high school drivers. Please consider a left turn light.
Thank you

An even more dangerous problem exits. Students stop on green and let students go through the light when their light is red. People unaware of this behavior may end up rear ending someone when their light is green and the person in front of them stops. The students have developed another habit entering the high school parking lot at the first entrance. Traffic rules are not being observed. The principal of the high school needs to do a presentation to the students explaining correct behaviour. In addition, a partnership needs to be developed with the police so that they will enfore good practices.

It seems with all the excessive lights placed around the county at normal intersections, this one would at least warrant a left turn signal.

My child was in a car accident at this very corner. I agree that it is dangerouse, especially for high school kids in the morning.

This issue is ongoing and we're working to resolved it.
Thank you for taking time to comment and/or vote. Please be careful not to mark the issue

Is it possible to volunteer as a traffic safety person to help the students? I could volunteer at least 1 day a week. What do I need to do to become a traffic safety person and is anyone else interested?

Hello All,

I noticed that this issue has been closed and reopened several times recently, despite the fact that the issue has not been fixed. While it appears as though people are accidentally closing the issue, I just wanted to quickly remind everyone that when you're posting a comment on an issue, please be sure to keep the status of the issue as open in the bottom right corner of the text box. We don't want to create any confusion about the status of this issue, as only problems that are addressed and corrected/fixed can be officially closed.

If anyone has any questions about this, please do not hesitate to contact us at
contact @ seeclickfix. com

Keep SeeClickFixin'!

Emma

Also, this issue is featured on the SeeClickFix blog. You can check it out here: http://bit.ly/fM8DSb

The RCOC has determined that they will not pay the $15,000 needed to put new signals at this intersection. They recommend that drivers continue using the informal "taking turns" method of navigating the intersection.
Mr. Gary Piotrowicz, Director of Traffic Safety, will be at the CHS PTSA meeting on Wednesday, April 20th at 9: 00AM to discuss the RCOC evaluation and decision process. We appreciate his taking time to speak with citizens directly.

 I absolutely agree! I have experienced it myself and know of several accidents. I can't understand why a high school with young inexperienced drivers would have such an arrangement. It needs to be reengineered

Jennifer L. Baenziger
8265 Ranch Estates
Clarkston, MI 48348

Help resolve this with a comment, image or video...

there have been way too many accidents on that corner!!!

I have to go by there every am and if there's an accident it backs up all of clarkston rd back to town.

please see if this can be fixed with a green arrow for left turn to flemings lake rd.

Hello all,

I just wanted to see if there are any updates as to the status of this issue. I saw that PTSA commented that the Director of Traffic Safety was schedule to attend a meeting this past week. Would love to get an update and my fingers are crossed for a fix in the near future!

Keep SeeClickFixin'!

Emma

Hello to everyone still tracking this issue -
We have been working on a solution for the past couple of months and are, hopefully, close to a resolution. With the wonderful assistance of David Lohmeier and the Independence Township Board, along with Dr. Rock and the clarksotn Community Schools, it looks like we will get our left run signal later this fall! We will also have improvements to the intersection at Waldon/Walters Lake. The Twp still has to approve the funding but it looks very good.
Thank you for your support and help in making this happen!
CHS PTSA

Fantastic!!! I just hope it's fixed before school starts.

Hello, everyone!
I'm very happy to report that the Independence Township Board approved the proposal last night and the school district has confirmed their involvement. We will be getting our left turn signal here, and they will also be making improvements at the Waldon/Walters Intersection on the other side of the school as well.
THANK YOU THANK YOU THANK YOU for making this happen through your overwhelming support!
The signals will be in place as soon as possible, but probably not until after school starts. Not perfect, but we will take it!

I have great news: the new traffic signals have both been installed!
The RCOC is working on the timing of the lights, but this should be cleared up soon. I'm so excite dto finally close this issue out as fixed.

THANK YOU AGAIN for your consistent support and interest in resolving this important safety issue. Our kids are safer, and Clarkston is a better place for it.

THANK YOU!

I have great news: the new traffic signals have both been installed!
The RCOC is working on the timing of the lights, but this should be cleared up soon. I'm so excite dto finally close this issue out as fixed.

THANK YOU AGAIN for your consistent support and interest in resolving this important safety issue. Our kids are safer, and Clarkston is a better place for it.

THANK YOU!

CLOSED!

Hello all!

On behalf of all of us here at SeeClickFix, we want to congratulate the Clarkston community on a job well done! Andrea and everyone who has been involved in resolving this issue are amazing examples of the power citizens have when working together to improve their public spaces. Thank you all so much for again reminding us why we love what we do here at SeeClickFix. Keep up the great work and please let us know if we can ever lend a hand in the future!

Emma

P.S. We wrote another blog entry to share this issue with our users. Check it out here: http://bit.ly/IDNcr2