One local Warner Robins man has raised concern for traffic flow at the intersection of Watson and Tom Chapman Boulevard.
Johnny Ryals lives on Chapman Boulevard in Warner Robins. In order to go into town, he must make a left turn at the Watson and Chapman intersection. But according to Ryals, “The way people have to go through the intersection, it’s dangerous sometimes.”
“[The police] could probably tell you some of the stupid things also that people do to get through there. I’ve seen like four cars piled up in the middle of that median sometimes,”
The Georgia Department of Transportation is responsible for maintaining public roads in Warner Robins and across the state, including Watson Boulevard, and they’ve responded to Ryals’ worries by conducting a survey of the traffic volume, number of accidents, and speeds at which drivers pass through.
Once the study is complete, GDOT will share their findings with the city in order to develop the best solution to the traffic problem. One suggestion for a light at the intersection has already been made, but according to Warner Robins Police Chief John Wagner, the GDOT will ultimately decide if a light is necessary because it’s a state road.
Traffic at all intersections is hazardous
The Federal Highway Administration reported over 50 percent of fatal and non-fatal accidents occur at or near an intersection.
There is a lot happening simultaneously at intersections, including cars passing straight through, making left or right turns onto different roads, stopping at traffic signals, merging into other lanes, pedestrians crossing in crosswalks, and more.
Because of the frenzy of activity that’s common at many intersections, it’s not surprising that they’re hot spots for collisions.
Common types of accidents at intersections
- T-bone. When driver A is traveling through an intersection and hits driver B going a perpendicular direction at high speed, this can cause severe damage to both vehicles and injuries to one or both drivers.
- Sideswipe collision. When 2 vehicles are traveling in opposite directions and hit each other while passing through an intersection, that is called a side-impact or “sideswipe” There are often long scratches on the side of the vehicles when this happens.
- Tailgating. When any driver is following too closely behind the vehicle in front of them, they’re more likely to hit the rear bumper of that vehicle if they come to a sudden stop at an intersection. The driver may simply fail to pay attention to their surroundings and not realize the car in front of them is simply slowing down when the light turns yellow.
Who’s liable for an accident at an intersection?
Common causes
- Distracted driving (texting and driving)
- Driving under the influence of alcohol or drugs
- Reckless driving (tailgating)
- Speeding
- Failing to yield at a red light or stop sign
All of these causes have 1 common denominator: negligence. All drivers are legally responsible to operate their vehicles in a safe way, which includes being aware of their surroundings and driving accordingly.
If a driver fails to yield or claims to have not seen the vehicle they hit, it’s more likely they were distracted and not paying attention to the road in front of them.
Poor maintenance
Potholes, loose gravel, worn road markings, and the lack of signs or lights can all contribute to a car accident, which means the party responsible for taking care of the intersection could be held liable.
