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The drivers involved in those accidents are unaware that it is going to drop them off at a red light. They presume the speed warning is because of how sharp the

The drivers involved in those accidents are unaware that it is going to drop them off at a red light. They presume the speed warning is because of how sharp the curve is and accelerate out of the curve before realizing that they need to come to a complete stop immediately. Perhaps a warning about the intersection and traffic light would be more valuable to drivers who are navigating out of the ramp to fast.

filoleg 4y ago
I think you are right, but the highway exit itself is very narrow and is just difficult to drive through at high speed in the first place, which definitely pressures the drivers to slow down. So I have zero idea why this keeps happening. I take that specific exit quite often, and I've never seen people speeding through it (despite seeing it plenty on other hwy ramps and doing so myself quite often at other highway ramps). I agree with you overall though, it is definitely a very abrupt traffic light/intersection that you get to pretty much instantly as soon as you take the turn through the exit. And you have no way of seeing that traffic light/intersection ahead of time, because it only becomes visible after you take that turn. For those trying to visualize this, here is the GMaps streetview of that exact location[0]. Turn around in the opposite direction to see the actual hwy exit tunnel from where the cars are coming from. EDIT: watching the youtube video in the article, it seems like the red car was already scraping the sidewalk and the wall as it was getting out of the tunnel, far before even reaching the intersection. Not saying this about other incidents in the video, but this specific one imo had nothing to do with the intersection/exit tunnel design. 0. https://goo.gl/maps/rZwyu2x76q9EAnnV7 https://goo.gl/maps/rZwyu2x76q9EAnnV7
neuralRiot 4y ago
> The drivers involved in those accidents are unaware that it is going to drop them off at a red light. Probably the “traffic light ahead”, the multiple “sharp turn” and 25mph signs probably should give them a clue.
- zardo 4y ago
  For these drivers, I think it's a clue they're about to hit a fun corner to drive at 50mph.
  - etempleton 4y ago
    Agreed. Not saying the drivers are not at fault. They are just seeing the corner as a fun spot to play Ridge Racer not realizing they are going to have to immediately brake after the corner.
- carlmr 4y ago
  Don't know the area, but the problem usually is that you see a lot of similar signs in places where it's not needed. So the warning is not very salient. You have to design with human psychology in mind. And the boy that cried wolf is a parable that also holds for traffic signs.

filoleg 4y ago

I think you are right, but the highway exit itself is very narrow and is just difficult to drive through at high speed in the first place, which definitely pressures the drivers to slow down. So I have zero idea why this keeps happening. I take that specific exit quite often, and I've never seen people speeding through it (despite seeing it plenty on other hwy ramps and doing so myself quite often at other highway ramps). I agree with you overall though, it is definitely a very abrupt traffic light/intersection that you get to pretty much instantly as soon as you take the turn through the exit. And you have no way of seeing that traffic light/intersection ahead of time, because it only becomes visible after you take that turn. For those trying to visualize this, here is the GMaps streetview of that exact location[0]. Turn around in the opposite direction to see the actual hwy exit tunnel from where the cars are coming from. EDIT: watching the youtube video in the article, it seems like the red car was already scraping the sidewalk and the wall as it was getting out of the tunnel, far before even reaching the intersection. Not saying this about other incidents in the video, but this specific one imo had nothing to do with the intersection/exit tunnel design. 0. https://goo.gl/maps/rZwyu2x76q9EAnnV7 https://goo.gl/maps/rZwyu2x76q9EAnnV7

neuralRiot 4y ago

> The drivers involved in those accidents are unaware that it is going to drop them off at a red light. Probably the “traffic light ahead”, the multiple “sharp turn” and 25mph signs probably should give them a clue.

zardo 4y ago
For these drivers, I think it's a clue they're about to hit a fun corner to drive at 50mph.
- etempleton 4y ago
  Agreed. Not saying the drivers are not at fault. They are just seeing the corner as a fun spot to play Ridge Racer not realizing they are going to have to immediately brake after the corner.
carlmr 4y ago
Don't know the area, but the problem usually is that you see a lot of similar signs in places where it's not needed. So the warning is not very salient. You have to design with human psychology in mind. And the boy that cried wolf is a parable that also holds for traffic signs.