BLACK MOUNTAIN, N.C. (828newsNOW) — The North Carolina Department of Transportation has turned a Black Mountain intersection into an all-way stop in an effort to reduce crashes at the site.
The new signage was installed last week at the intersection of Old U.S. 70 East and Padgettown Road, located just a half-mile from an I-40 on-ramp to the east and downtown Black Mountain to the west.
Why does Old U.S. 70 East and Padgettown Road need an all-way stop?
According to the NCDOT, “the conversion is intended to improve safety and mobility while reducing dangerous crash patterns including angle crashes at this off-set intersection.”
An NCDOT study revealed that 14 crashes had occurred in a five-year span at the intersection and that an all-way stop would have prevented or mitigated 12 of them.
Crash data from the organization demonstrates that all-way stops reduce total crashes by 55%, fatal and serious injury crashes by 92% and front-impact crashes resulting in minor injuries by 72%.
The new pattern features stop signs, new pavement markings and “Stop Ahead” and “New Traffic Pattern” placards.
How to navigate an all-way stop
The NCDOT provided the following rules for drivers navigating an all-way stop:
- The first vehicle to the intersection has the right of way ahead of any vehicle that has not yet arrived.
- When two or more vehicles reach an intersection at the same time, the vehicle to the right has the right of way.
- The vehicle with the right of way may move straight ahead or, if legal and after signaling, turn left or right.
- When two facing vehicles approach an intersection at the same time, both drivers can move straight ahead and turn right. If one driver is going straight while the other wants to turn left, the driver who wants to turn left must yield. The driver who is traveling straight ahead has the right of way.
- Even with the right of way, remember to use the appropriate turn signals and be careful to avoid hitting other vehicles and/or pedestrians.
For more driving safety tips and information about other NCDOT initiatives, visit www.ncdot.gov.
