Michelle in MO Posted July 31, 2008 Share Posted July 31, 2008 This morning there was a terrible accident in our town. I haven't read the full details yet, but a local community transport bus (about half the size of a school bus) ran completely over the front end of the car of a lady/girl (not sure of details) coming out of a subdivision. She was catapulted into the back seat. Terrible. I'm not sure if she survived. There are numerous spots in our town that are accidents waiting to happen---places where there need to be additional stopsigns or stoplights, bridges over the freeway that need major repairs and also stoplights, and numerous other hazardous spots. Our major thoroughfare is going to be studied first before additional turn lanes and stoplights. I feel like our local city council does little besides concern itself with minor zoning problems. I'm going to write them a letter to address this topic; perhaps also the Missouri Department of Transportation. I don't know where to go beyond that. But---I'm frustrated. This is one major reason why we pay taxes. I wonder what it will take for some of our city fathers to wake up and get moving on road safety improvements. My oldest read recently that Missouri is 6th in the country for traffic-related deaths! Does anybody else have a similar concern for their community?? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Brindee Posted July 31, 2008 Share Posted July 31, 2008 I did. But in the last 3 years they've addressed and fixed many of the trouble spots, PTL! It's not nearly as bad around here and it used to be! Our little town does have traffic problems though. They didn't think ahead when starting the town, and it has expanded tremendously in the past few years! They done what they can, but there's one main entrance into town that is aa two lane road (on lane each way) that gets backed up every day starting around 3! But I am digressing... I hope you can make a difference somehow! It's important that they address these concerns! If any of the positions are voted in positions, they might be more likely to address your concerns with election time coming up! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
elegantlion Posted July 31, 2008 Share Posted July 31, 2008 This morning there was a terrible accident in our town. I haven't read the full details yet, but a local community transport bus (about half the size of a school bus) ran completely over the front end of the car of a lady/girl (not sure of details) coming out of a subdivision. She was catapulted into the back seat. Terrible. I'm not sure if she survived. There are numerous spots in our town that are accidents waiting to happen---places where there need to be additional stopsigns or stoplights, bridges over the freeway that need major repairs and also stoplights, and numerous other hazardous spots. Our major thoroughfare is going to be studied first before additional turn lanes and stoplights. I feel like our local city council does little besides concern itself with minor zoning problems. I'm going to write them a letter to address this topic; perhaps also the Missouri Department of Transportation. I don't know where to go beyond that. But---I'm frustrated. This is one major reason why we pay taxes. I wonder what it will take for some of our city fathers to wake up and get moving on road safety improvements. My oldest read recently that Missouri is 6th in the country for traffic-related deaths! Does anybody else have a similar concern for their community?? I have a friend who works for MODot, not in your region though. He is also frustrated by a lot of time and effort it takes, not to mention money, to make road improvements. When we lived in MO we finally quit driving across the state on I-70, too many accidents. What gets me is people not obeying the road signs, following too closely, not using turn signals, and being overall distracted while driving. That doesn't even cover adjusting your driving for weather conditions. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Jen500 Posted July 31, 2008 Share Posted July 31, 2008 I'm always very alert to other vehicles when driving. I always remember my driver's ed teacher repeatedly talking about defensive driving-you just never know what other drivers are going to do. Our newspaper publishes the worst intersections in our city. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Only me Posted July 31, 2008 Share Posted July 31, 2008 That is what terrifies me about the thought of my 16 year old dd driving. At least she won't be able to get her license until spring. We live in a subdivision. To get out of the subdivision you have to go on a very busy road. It is only a two lane highway but should be four. It's very difficult to see when you are trying to turn right and traffic goes by very fast. Most times I am unable to turn left and have to make a right turn and then turn around. The word is that they won't put a stoplight in until there are fatalities at that intersection. That is so sad. We live in a small suburb of Chicago but all around here there is a ton of traffic and it seems like no matter where I go I see at accident every couple of weeks. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
LizzyBee Posted July 31, 2008 Share Posted July 31, 2008 It seems like the rule of thumb nearly every place I've lived is that a traffic problem area will be addressed after 3 fatalities. :glare: Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Michelle in MO Posted July 31, 2008 Author Share Posted July 31, 2008 I did. But in the last 3 years they've addressed and fixed many of the trouble spots, PTL! It's not nearly as bad around here and it used to be! Our little town does have traffic problems though. They didn't think ahead when starting the town, and it has expanded tremendously in the past few years! They done what they can, but there's one main entrance into town that is aa two lane road (on lane each way) that gets backed up every day starting around 3! But I am digressing... I hope you can make a difference somehow! It's important that they address these concerns! If any of the positions are voted in positions, they might be more likely to address your concerns with election time coming up! and I'm sure there are other concerned citizens around here. I'm going to write and, if necessary, go to a city council meeting to address some of these issues. There are a few council members who have addressed some weightier issues, IMO, but I haven't read anything in our local paper about serious efforts being made to correct these road/traffic problems! Honestly, do we really need professional studies to be done? I suppose you do, to justify the expenditure of state funds. I feel like I can study these things easily myself by just watching the traffic: "Yup, we need a stoplight here," or "Isn't it about time this bridge gets fixed?" I hope it doesn't take a huge traffic accident with multiple deaths to wake people up! :banghead: Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Michelle in MO Posted July 31, 2008 Author Share Posted July 31, 2008 That is what terrifies me about the thought of my 16 year old dd driving. At least she won't be able to get her license until spring. We live in a subdivision. To get out of the subdivision you have to go on a very busy road. It is only a two lane highway but should be four. It's very difficult to see when you are trying to turn right and traffic goes by very fast. Most times I am unable to turn left and have to make a right turn and then turn around. The word is that they won't put a stoplight in until there are fatalities at that intersection. That is so sad. We live in a small suburb of Chicago but all around here there is a ton of traffic and it seems like no matter where I go I see at accident every couple of weeks. My 16-year-old is just learning how to drive. When you come out of our street, you enter right into a highway where people drive 55-60 mph. The grass along that road rarely gets mowed, so it's very difficult to see, especially off to the left. I'm really trying to work with dd to stop completely, look very carefully left and right several times, and then proceed. Yikes! I've got two more girls who will be driving in a few years! I'm always very alert to other vehicles when driving. I always remember my driver's ed teacher repeatedly talking about defensive driving-you just never know what other drivers are going to do. Our newspaper publishes the worst intersections in our city. I wish our city did this. You are a wise driver; defensive driving will save your life! It seems like the rule of thumb nearly every place I've lived is that a traffic problem area will be addressed after 3 fatalities. :glare: Sad, but true, isn't it??? :glare: Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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