What Makes an Interesection Dangerous for Pedestrians & Cyclists

dangerous intersection bike accident

There are several factors that can make an intersection dangerous for pedestrians:

  1. High traffic volume: Intersections with a lot of vehicle traffic can be dangerous for pedestrians because there is a higher likelihood of collisions with cars.
  2. Poor visibility: Intersections with poor lighting or obstructed views can make it difficult for pedestrians to see approaching vehicles and for drivers to see pedestrians crossing the street.
  3. Lack of pedestrian infrastructure: Intersections that do not have adequate sidewalks, crosswalks, or pedestrian signals can make it dangerous for pedestrians to cross the street.
  4. High speeds: Intersections where vehicles travel at high speeds can be especially dangerous for pedestrians because drivers may have less time to react to pedestrians crossing the street.
  5. Driver behavior: Intersections where drivers frequently engage in dangerous behaviors such as running red lights, making illegal turns, or distracted driving can put pedestrians at risk.

Overall, intersections can be dangerous for pedestrians when there is a lack of pedestrian infrastructure, poor visibility, high traffic volume or speed, and dangerous driver behavior.

There are several factors that can make an intersection dangerous for cyclists:

  1. Lack of dedicated cycling infrastructure: Intersections without dedicated cycling lanes or other cycling infrastructure can force cyclists to share the road with cars and other vehicles, which can increase the risk of collisions.
  2. Poor visibility: Intersections with poor lighting or obstructed views can make it difficult for cyclists to see approaching vehicles and for drivers to see cyclists on the road.  These are also known as blind intersections
  3. High speeds: Intersections where vehicles travel at high speeds can be especially dangerous for cyclists because drivers may have less time to react to a cyclist in their path.
  4. Turning vehicles: Intersections where vehicles frequently make turns, such as left turns or U-turns, can be particularly hazardous for cyclists because drivers may not see them or may misjudge their speed.
  5. Driver behavior: Intersections where drivers frequently engage in dangerous behaviors such as running red lights, making illegal turns, or distracted driving can put cyclists at risk.

Overall, intersections can be dangerous for cyclists when there is a lack of dedicated cycling infrastructure, poor visibility, high traffic volume or speed, turning vehicles, and dangerous driver behavior.