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Highway Hazards: A Curve in Safer Transportation A properly designed and maintained highway environment is a critical element in safe highway travel. For the most part, the American highway system is a tribute to modern engineering. However, improper or confusing designs and signals, roadside hazards and roads built to out-dated standards when vehicles were slower and less numerous all contribute to highway deaths and injuries. Almost every community in America has a "deadman's curve" or an intersection that is notorious for frequent and serious crashes. Safetyforum.com is making this section available to citizens, attorneys, insurers, police, emergency medical personnel and others who want to focus public attention on a serious highway hazard in their community. Use SafetyForum to leverage the power of the Internet to bring about change. Document each hazard with photographs of crashes, data about police and emergency medical responses, testimonials from people who have had crashes or who have lost friends or family members, post copies of letters you've sent to local and state highway officials and elected representatives. Be sure to note their words and deeds. Don't forget to clearly identify the state, county, city, community and, if possible, zip code, in which the hazard is located. Make your voice count for a safer highway environment in your own community. Contact us if we can be of service in any way.
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Colesville Road and Franklin Avenue The Problem A Southbound driver on Colesville Road, traveling downhill is approaching this reverse camber turn just prior to the intersection with Franklin Avenue (crossing in front of you, note green sign). They are driving at too great a speed for conditions and it is raining or the road is slick. Suddenly presented with stopped traffic at the light, the driver panics and jams on the brakes thereby losing control of their vehicle. Guided by inertia alone, tires squealing, they slide across the six-inch tall median into the northbound lanes, often colliding with opposing traffic head-on. Compounding this situation is the fact that this accident happens repeatedly and injuries are common. Three weeks ago the above-described accident happened twice within two hours. This sent five more victims of this intersection’s inadequate design to local hospitals. A week ago it happened yet again. This is the intersection where a Montgomery Blair Sophomore lost his life. There are more than 62 cross-median skid marks at Franklin Avenue and Colesvlle Road. Every one is stark evidence of tragedy, or at best, near tragedy. Check out the cross-median skid marks in this webcam view: http://www.dpwt.com/jpgcap/72.html A Possible Solution There is nothing we can do about the speeding, ignorant, inattentive driver. There is nothing we can do about the ugly geometry of these ill-mated roads. We cannot stop the rain. We unfortunately cannot stop accidents from happening at this intersection. What can we do? We can stop the accidents that happen, from escalating into the far more dangerous head-on variety. The simple installation of one hundred feet of jersey wall, with appropriate crash cushions on each end, in the median of the curve to the north of this intersection, would immediately and inexpensively prevent this head-on accident from ever happening again. This one small safety improvement, when implemented, will undoubtedly save someone’s life. To participate in our efforts, click here. There is no membership fee. Your information will be kept strictly confidential. You only have to provide an accurate e-mail address. We also invite you to particpate in our online message board. This is our forum to post messages and responses as often as we want. Keep it clean. Be aware that children may view this site.
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