Every driver has experienced a confusing or dangerous intersection — lanes that don’t line up, signals that don’t make sense, or blind corners that force risky decisions. But beyond frustration, these poorly designed intersections can have deadly consequences. According to the Federal Highway Administration (FHWA), more than 25% of all traffic fatalities in the United States occur at or near intersections. The design of these intersections often plays a larger role in crashes than driver error alone.
Showing posts with label Blind Intersection. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Blind Intersection. Show all posts
How to Anticipate a Dangerous Intersection and What to Do
Intersections are where most serious traffic conflicts happen. According to the Federal Highway Administration, over 50% of injury crashes and roughly 25% of all traffic fatalities occur at intersections. While many are routine, others are deceptively dangerous — especially if you're unfamiliar with the area.
Why Uncontrolled Crossings Are Among the Deadliest Types of Intersections
Uncontrolled crossings, where no traffic signals, stop signs, or yield signs regulate movement, pose a significant risk to pedestrians, cyclists, and motorists. Unlike controlled intersections, which have designated rules to manage traffic flow, these crossings rely entirely on driver awareness and courtesy. Unfortunately, this lack of regulation makes uncontrolled crossings one of the deadliest types of intersections.
Where Are the Most Uncontrolled Crossings?
Enhancing Intersection Visibility Safety: Blind Spots & Pedestrian Participation
Intersection visibility safety is paramount in traffic management, ensuring the safety of drivers, pedestrians, and cyclists alike. However, the presence of buildings, bushes, and other obstructive elements can pose significant challenges to visibility, increasing the risk of accidents. In this article, we delve into the importance of intersection visibility, the obstacles presented by obstructive elements, and strategies to mitigate risks effectively. Additionally, we explore how pedestrian participation, particularly through the use of reflective clothing at night and avoiding headphone use, can contribute to enhanced safety.
Understanding Intersections: What Constitutes an Intersection
Intersections are the backbone of our road networks, facilitating the smooth flow of traffic and ensuring that pedestrians can safely cross from one side to the other. Whether you're an experienced driver or a pedestrian navigating city streets, it's crucial to understand what constitutes an intersection and how these junctions operate. In this article, we'll explore the concept of intersections, their types, and their significance in transportation.
What Is Considered an Intersection?
How To Drive Through A Blind Intersections & Speed Limits
Determining speed limits at blind intersections involves a combination of factors and considerations. While specific methodologies can vary between jurisdictions, here are some general factors that may influence the determination of speed limits at blind intersections:
How Blind Walkers Are Getting Safer Roads & Sidewalks
Improving road safety for blind walkers can be achieved through a combination of infrastructure improvements, education, and technology.
What Makes an Interesection Dangerous for Pedestrians & Cyclists
There are several factors that can make an intersection dangerous for pedestrians:
Blind Intersection Drivers Test
When you approach a blind intersection, it means you can't see any traffic.
A blind intersection is where you approach a corner and cannot see if there is any traffic coming from the left or right.
When driving at night, approaching a blind intersection can be more difficult, as headlights from other vehicles may be shining directly in your eyes. But you still must follow the same rules as you would during the day.
As you begin to slow down before reaching a blind intersection, make sure that no one else is trying to enter it from either side. If it is safe for you to turn right or go straight ahead, do so carefully and watch out for any pedestrians that might be crossing the road.
Make sure there is no traffic.
Check for oncoming traffic and make sure there is no one coming through the intersection from the left. The last thing you want is to have a vehicle come zooming past you in the middle of your turn.
Check for pedestrians. This includes people walking, running, or skating across the street to your right or left. They might not stop if they see you perform a U-turn and could potentially get hit by your car.
Check for bicycles. Bicycles are another difficult-to-spot threat at intersections, especially if they are riding fast and/or weaving in between cars on the road. Make sure that you look out for anyone biking either across or down the street as well before making your turn.
Check for vehicles turning into the intersection from any direction (including behind you). You don't want these cars to end up blocking your path during their turns when you're trying to drive off after completing yours; it's never fun when two cars collide while trying to perform turns at an intersection!
Always slow down and be prepared to stop
If you’re driving in a state or province with a blind intersection, you should always be prepared to stop. If you do not have to stop at a blind intersection, it is recommended that you still slow down significantly, as the most common reason for failure at a blind intersection is not stopping when necessary.
Stop completely at the stop sign.
When you see a stop sign, make sure you come to a complete stop before the stop line. If there is no stop line, stop before the crosswalk or intersection.
While stopped, you must yield the right of way to anyone else in the intersection or who is within 30 meters (100 feet) of the intersection and is approaching it. Make sure you can clearly see in both directions before proceeding through the intersection.
If there is no traffic, proceed through the intersection.
If you are sure there is no traffic coming, you can proceed through the intersection. If you are not sure, do not proceed until it is clear. If there is traffic coming, you must wait. If there is a stop sign or stop line at your intersection and you have to wait for other traffic to clear before proceeding, come to a complete stop.
Do not attempt to turn into a blind intersection if there is any chance of other vehicles being present.
Before you enter the intersection, stop at the stop sign. Be sure that you cannot see any approaching traffic from either direction. In this situation, you should wait for all oncoming traffic to clear. Do not proceed until there is no more traffic coming from the right or left. Remember: a blind intersection is one where oncoming vehicles are not visible to each other until they enter the intersection.
Badintersections.com has a database of dangerous blind intersections. Please add new blind intersections to our map.
What Is A Blind Intersection?
Here is an example of a blind intersection
The hill is blocking a view of oncoming traffic
According to the DMV’s Driver Handbook, “an intersection is considered “blind” if there are no stop signs at any corner and you cannot see for 100 feet in either direction during the last 100 feet before crossing. If your view is blocked, move slowly forward until you can see.”It also applies to where you can't see where traffic is coming from because obstacles like trees, buildings, cars could be blocking your view. Stop signs or other traffic signals are usually absent in such scenarios.
Traffic accidents are a serious public safety problem everywhere, but statistics show that more accidents occur on certain roads and at certain intersections. A frequently cited statistic is that 80% of all collisions involving injured or dead people in cities occur at signal-controlled, light-controlled intersections, according to the US Department of Transportation. The average speed at intersections in the city is often over 35 mph.
Badintersections.com has a database of dangerous blind intersections. Please add new blind intersections to our map here.
In most cities, there are many dangerous intersections with dangerous blind intersections. Poorly designed intersections can have blind spots that block the driver's field of vision and make it difficult to see oncoming cars. In some cases, motorists do not comply with the applicable laws and regulations on stopping at stop signs, even if they have stopped at a stop sign. A poorly designed intersection could have a blind spot that impedes a driver's field of vision and makes it harder for him to see oncoming vehicles, cyclists, and pedestrians.
The majority of collisions at stop-light controlled intersections happen within 4 seconds of a light change. You don't want to be in the intersection during that 4 seconds. However, if you don't immediately go when the light turns green, people behind you get irritable, yes? Try this defensive driving tip.
The first thing is to make sure you stopped in the right spot. Stop far enough behind the stop line that you can see it on the pavement in front of your car - this normally gives you 10-15 feet of space. When the light turns green, take your foot off the brake and let your vehicle start to creep toward the crosswalk.
Common sense tells you that crossing a controlled intersection with a traffic light is much safer,. However, be careful turning right on red-light and give pedestrians sufficient time to make calculated decisions about the safety of turning right and to ensure that pedestrians do not cross the road and oncoming traffic does not enter the dangerous junction. Look out for cyclists and pedestrians crossing the intersection in both directions while driving. They are legally allowed to enter the middle of the intersections and wait for cars to pass before passing them.
Note that some states, such as Arizona, require that unregulated intersections be treated as four-way stops and that you come to a complete halt before driving through. When you arrive at a junction where you want to turn right - to the left - and there is no other traffic in sight, do not follow the correct lane as you approach the junction.
In most cities, there are many dangerous intersections with dangerous blind intersections. Poorly designed intersections can have blind spots that block the driver's field of vision and make it difficult to see oncoming cars. In some cases, motorists do not comply with the applicable laws and regulations on stopping at stop signs, even if they have stopped at a stop sign. A poorly designed intersection could have a blind spot that impedes a driver's field of vision and makes it harder for him to see oncoming vehicles, cyclists, and pedestrians.
The majority of collisions at stop-light controlled intersections happen within 4 seconds of a light change. You don't want to be in the intersection during that 4 seconds. However, if you don't immediately go when the light turns green, people behind you get irritable, yes? Try this defensive driving tip.
The first thing is to make sure you stopped in the right spot. Stop far enough behind the stop line that you can see it on the pavement in front of your car - this normally gives you 10-15 feet of space. When the light turns green, take your foot off the brake and let your vehicle start to creep toward the crosswalk.
Common sense tells you that crossing a controlled intersection with a traffic light is much safer,. However, be careful turning right on red-light and give pedestrians sufficient time to make calculated decisions about the safety of turning right and to ensure that pedestrians do not cross the road and oncoming traffic does not enter the dangerous junction. Look out for cyclists and pedestrians crossing the intersection in both directions while driving. They are legally allowed to enter the middle of the intersections and wait for cars to pass before passing them.
Note that some states, such as Arizona, require that unregulated intersections be treated as four-way stops and that you come to a complete halt before driving through. When you arrive at a junction where you want to turn right - to the left - and there is no other traffic in sight, do not follow the correct lane as you approach the junction.