A three-car accident, unknown injuries, is reported at Ledge Road and Route 77, Alabama.
The accident is blocking.
Alabama fire and Mercy EMS dispatched.
UPDATE 12:41 p.m.: One person reports minor neck pain.
Copyright © 2008-2022 The Batavian. All Rights Reserved. Privacy Policy | Terms of Service
A real bad intersection that
A real bad intersection that has to be fixed. The first step is for motorists to know that and pay attention, and put down the cell phones.(I am not saying that had anything to do with this particular incident). But you have to drive defensively when approaching this intersection. You can not be distracted. It can be a matter of life or death. Even when everyone is doing everything right, the distance from the northbound curve to the intersection is very small. If you are not paying attention you are on any crossing vehicles before you know it. Even if the crossing vehicle did stop and not see you. I know the traffic circle is controversial. So maybe a 4 way stop. With warnings of course. But try something before there are more accidents.
A four-way stop has less
A four-way stop has less visual impact, less of a command on your attention to slow down, than a traffic circle. Ditto flashing lights. Ditto stop lights. Ditto speed bumps. Ditto more signage.
The data and empirical evidence is incontrovertible: Nothing is more effective at hazardous intersections at reducing accidents, especially serious and deadly accidents, than roundabouts/traffic circles. This shouldn't be controversial.
A 4 way flashing yellow with
A 4 way flashing yellow with rumble strips that would alert drivers of the impending dangerous intersect would be more appropriate than sticking a traffic circle on a state highway in the middle of nowhere.
The data doesn't support that
The data doesn't support that suggestion.
https://www.wsdot.wa.gov/Safety/roundabouts/benefits.htm
https://nextstl.com/2013/10/mythbusters-tackles-four-way-stop-v-roundab…
https://www.autoblog.com/2011/02/23/roundabouts-reduce-accidents/
https://safety.fhwa.dot.gov/intersection/innovative/roundabouts/
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=G1SWOvnxDbg
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LnT1HXo7p_4
Opposing roundabouts is standing against all facts, reason, and logic.
But Howard... roundabouts
But Howard... roundabouts are new and scary... they're DIFFERENT, and I don't know how to use them! And I've seen Chevy Chase get caught in one in European Vacation!
OK - all silliness aside... Roundabouts are new to many people, and getting used to navigating them can be a little hairy. They rebuilt a pretty busy city street here in Raleigh right next to NC State (35,000 students), and it created quite a stir until people got some experience. The street is as heavily traveled as ever, but traffic flows better and there are fewer accidents.
I can understand the apprehension when putting something new like that in a highway environment. However, facts are facts - roundabouts, as Howard has shown repeatedly, are safer, and unfortunately the only way to get used to them is to install them where appropriate.
I don't get how this
I don't get how this intersection generates so many accidents. I have approached it from all directions and the visibility is good, the road is mostly straight, there is a stop sign at Ledge Rd. If it's human error, a roundabout will turn fatalities into fender benders. So when you're driving on the new roundabout just remember this, look at what we made them do.