Q. Marian asks: Once the Dempsey Mayo roundabout is put in how do students walking/biking from the Welaunee subdivision to WT Moore (Elementary School) safely cross, and how do people walking or riding bikes from Dempsey Mayo to the Greenway maneuver it? And once Dempsey Mayo is extended, how do people using the Greenway cross the road being put in?
A. Blueprint? Leon County? City? Anyone?
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Left turns and faded markings
Q. Ann believes there is a new club in Tallahassee who’s members get to turn left even if the light turns yellow or red. Ann would also like clarification; when pavement markings are so faded, as the left turn markings on Trojan Trail at Conner Boulevard, do I ignore the markings and run over them or stay in the lane to go straight, then get into the lane to turn left? Also, faded painted lines along Tom Brown and Conner Boulevard, Suter Road and Pickett Court need repainting.
A. 1) Completing a turn against a yellow/red indication: in the abstract, Florida Statute 316.2061 reads – no driver shall enter an intersection or a marked crosswalk unless there is sufficient space on the other side of the intersection or crosswalk to accommodate the vehicle the driver is operating without obstructing other vehicles or pedestrians…
This law spells out we cannot obstruct other vehicles or pedestrians entering the intersection, so if you find yourself in the middle of an intersection (which you shouldn’t) as your light goes from green to yellow to red you are permitted, if the way is clear, to back up. If you cannot back up then complete the turn in order to clear the intersection.
But only after confirmation all oncoming traffic is stopped. The caveat here is most (90+%) of all traffic signals are computer controlled with some programmed to answer vehicle directional demand. So, as your left turn signal (and maybe the green through signals) cycle to red doesn’t necessarily mean the opposing through traffic will stop.
A good Tallahassee example of this is afternoon eastbound traffic on Tennessee Street approaching North Monroe Street. The east to north left turn signals will transition from green to red at the same time the eastbound through signals go from green to red. But what’s happening on the other side of the intersection is the west to south left turn arrow goes from red to green in unison with the westbound through traffic continuing with a green light.
Many right angle near head-on crashes are the result of drivers thinking westbound traffic is getting a red light so, to clear the intersection, they continue turning left against a yellow or red indication into the path of a vehicle at full speed.
2) Driving over painted lane lines; it is permissible to drive over painted traffic islands which are in place to channel vehicles into lanes for specific directions of travel. In so doing, we must not encroach upon any other traffic lane. If we are to be restricted when entering a particular lane of traffic a physical barrier is constructed.
We ask our Tallahassee street painting team to respond to Ann’s request for restoration of faded pavement markings as described herein. Thanks.
Stay in your lane?
Q. Mickey has seen westbound drivers on Seventh Avenue who do not fully understand which lane to occupy as they approach the Gadsden Street/Thomasville Road intersection making lane changes at the last second causing others to initiate unsafe avoidance maneuvers.
Some are caught in an unwanted lane and end up in a direction they didn’t want. Mickey asks directional signing be placed sufficiently in advance of the intersection to clarify lane choice before arriving at the intersection.
A. I believe what many of us are witnessing is a significant number of new arrivals getting lost in the shuffle we take for granted as we go about our multiple local trips each week. This is what we all experience when driving through unfamiliar cities especially during nighttime. Which is why I advocate for advance overhead lane designation signs similar to those over Gadsden Street south of Sixth Avenue.
All road signs and no work?
Q. Jim is amazed at the number of men at work-flagmen ahead and road-work ahead signs left in place when there is no active construction underway. Sometimes in place for weeks after work is complete.
A. This sloppy practice only serves to reduce the believability of all traffic control messages, especially at construction sites where speeding fines are doubled. I suggest we comply with all traffic signs and signals even when we think we ‘know’ the crews have moved off the job site. The possibility of a tidying-up crew over the next hill or around the bend is real and the penalty may be driving into a work crew.
We ask all supervisors of construction crews — roadwork, electric, cable, telephone aboveground or underground, please remove all manner of warning signs each time you move off the job except for short-time lunch or weather breaks. Let us always have reason to believe in, and adhere to, the warnings you post.
Eroding shoulders on Centerville
Q. Mary reports dangerous erosion of Centerville Road shoulders from east of Shamrock Street South to Pimlico Drive.
A. I’m out there somewhat frequently and see patchwork in progress from time to time, however, to do any good asphalt hot-patch should be rolled-in not just tamped down.
Astute citizens writing to Street Scene provide a tremendous service to all government maintenance operations when bringing attention to areas in need of repair. Thank you Mary, and a big thank you to everyone for keeping our roads, sidewalks, streets and highways safe and passable.
Philip Stuart is a retired Florida State Trooper, Traffic Operations Projects Engineer and Forensics Expert Witness. Write to crashsites@embarqmail.com.
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