Traffic Patrol Officers Comment Request

[oldogy]

My property is along a one lane tar and gravel (T&G) county numbered, named and maintained secondary road This T&G road intersects with a primary two lane blacktop paved county numbered road that runs north and south. The intersection requires that a driver make a right turn of about 120 degrees to enter onto this primary paved road if going north. The problem is that in making this right turn it is necessary to get into the far lane, the southbound lane prior to returning to the northbound lane.

The southbound lane is clearly marked with an intersecting road sign where southbound traffic is warned of the intersection. A vehicle coming off the T&G road is visible to a southbound driver only after the southbound driver has crested a hill. If southbound traffic is traveling at the posted speed limit of 45 MPH they have an adequate time to slow down so as to avoid a collision. I have approached the intersection southbound at the speed limit and above and find this to be fact.

The problem is that some drivers pay no attention to the posted speed limit. Only law enforcement is the sheriff and since there is not much crime out this way we don't see them often. Last year there was a serious accident about ¼ mile from this intersection where the speed of the vehicle involved was estimated to be 80 MPH, the driver clearly not having the vehicle under control, too fast for conditions.

So my concerns: My family and guest safety, safety of the folks living in the other four houses on the T&G road, and the public safety. I know the intersection is a poor design. I do not see the county doing anything to improve it. This is sparsely populated farm country with many more cows than people. There are loaded stock trailers using this intersection and they will be across the line for much longer than a single vehicle. The locals drive commensurate with conditions. So how would this sort out if I were actually across the line into the southbound lane and were hit by a southbound vehicle? I, across the line, would be in the wrong yet if the southbound driver were within ten MPH over the speed limit he should have no problem avoiding an accident.

Traffic experts comments welcome. How would you sort this out?

Many thanks,

oldogy

[DaveTN]

My property is along a one lane tar and gravel (T&G) county numbered, named and maintained secondary road This T&G road intersects with a primary two lane blacktop paved county numbered road that runs north and south. The intersection requires that a driver make a right turn of about 120 degrees to enter onto this primary paved road if going north. The problem is that in making this right turn it is necessary to get into the far lane, the southbound lane prior to returning to the northbound lane.

The southbound lane is clearly marked with an intersecting road sign where southbound traffic is warned of the intersection. A vehicle coming off the T&G road is visible to a southbound driver only after the southbound driver has crested a hill. If southbound traffic is traveling at the posted speed limit of 45 MPH they have an adequate time to slow down so as to avoid a collision. I have approached the intersection southbound at the speed limit and above and find this to be fact.

The problem is that some drivers pay no attention to the posted speed limit. Only law enforcement is the sheriff and since there is not much crime out this way we don't see them often. Last year there was a serious accident about ¼ mile from this intersection where the speed of the vehicle involved was estimated to be 80 MPH, the driver clearly not having the vehicle under control, too fast for conditions.

So my concerns: My family and guest safety, safety of the folks living in the other four houses on the T&G road, and the public safety. I know the intersection is a poor design. I do not see the county doing anything to improve it. This is sparsely populated farm country with many more cows than people. There are loaded stock trailers using this intersection and they will be across the line for much longer than a single vehicle. The locals drive commensurate with conditions. So how would this sort out if I were actually across the line into the southbound lane and were hit by a southbound vehicle? I, across the line, would be in the wrong yet if the southbound driver were within ten MPH over the speed limit he should have no problem avoiding an accident.

Traffic experts comments welcome. How would you sort this out?

Many thanks,

oldogy

We did not determine fault in an accident; we just issued citations for violations of the Illinois vehicle code. I would ticket you for improper lane usage for being in the other driver’s lane. It is possible that the other driver could be cited if there was obvious evidence that they were speeding; but it is unlikely.

The answer here is to get the problem fixed before that happens.

I don’t care how sparsely populated the county is; if the area is a hazard by design it needs to be fixed. Contact one of the traffic investigators for the Sheriff’s Office. Usually a report from them will get it fixed. If they don’t do anything contact the state.

[mcurrier]

I would request of the city planning dept. to post speed reduction signs there (both ways - minus 10mph reduction) and a flashing yellow light at the cross-section.

I've seen other bad intersections that I've warned the city about before and they ignored it.