Traffic accidents at Powell Rd and Rt. 44
 

There was an article,this morning, in The Villages newspaper, The Daily Sun, about all the vehicle crashes at the intersection of Powell Road and Route 44 in the last two years, with 3 fatalities. Looking at the diagram that was shown in the paper, at least 15 of the 20 crashes could have been prevented with a relatively inexpensive, simple fix.

Left turn arrows, but RED left turn arrows when there is oncoming traffic. Also, "NO RIGHT TURN ON RED" signs on Powell Rd and Signature Dr.

Any other suggestions that might keep these accidents to a minimum?

After seeing what the county/state? did with hwy 301 and cr 472 intersection, I can only imagine what will happen with powell and 44.

Park a cop car there with a dummy in it. I mean a manikin.

I have always said, all the turning lanes which have green arrows should turn to a red arrow when the oncoming traffic have the green light. Look at all these intersections with constant crashes ... Powell and 44, Buena Vista and 466A, Morse and 466A. I just don't get why this has not been done.

You can't fix inattention with signs or lights...period. Inattention happens when someone is either preoccupied with other things in life except driving, or has gotten old to the point of being unable to focus their attention 100 percent on the task at hand.

Signs/cop car/whatever will not fix this and never will. Perhaps autonomous cars might, but until then it is a fact of life...and death.

I suspect the partial solution to this problem will be a lowering of the speed limit from 55 to 45, in that area.

That area, in general, has seen an increase in development within the last 2 years that has increased/changed the traffic patterns in that area.

Lowering the speed limit will not necessarily lessen the number of accidents, but rather the severity.

I think what they did was a big improvement over the way it was. Their conclusion was to put in a roundabout in the future. Now that would be crazy................

We have a unique situation here, the elderly in many stages, the golf carts and the sometimes wild maneuvers of contractors and visitors. Let's not forget every single day people are here trying to find their way through the maze of roads and roundabouts for the first time too. Whatever extra help to make things as clear as possible gets my vote.

This intersection has an additional 'feature', it has a significant hump, not sure if this has contributed to any of the accidents, as you may need to slow down going through it. I did see a very close call at this intersection, when apparently I was taking too long to make a SAFE left turn on to Powell. The car behind me came thru with me and the on coming (East bound) vehicle had to hit their brakes hard to avoid hitting the car behind me.

With a left on arrow only
 

you can prevent failure to yield accidents. The same holds true on Rt 466A at Buena Vista and Morse. Ive seen some really close calls, especially since its extremely difficult to see on coming traffic on 466A, when there are cars in the turn lanes. No doubt there will be a major (fatal) accident at these intersections, if there has no already been one.

I believe red left turning lights will grab people's attention. Most people obey red lights; they wouldn't be out there in the middle of a busy intersection.

I agree. It is insane that at these major intersections cars able to turn against traffic.People are in so much of a hurry that they don't care about safety. People pulling into these intersections make them even more dangerous. A red and green turn arrow would fix this problem and possible save lives.

Might help, but overall I disagree with this philosophy. You just end up sitting there waiting for an entire cycle of the lights while there may be no one coming in the opposite direction. There are plenty of turns off 44 where there is no light at all, should we put a traffic light with red arrows at every one of them? The problem is that you're trying to fix stupid, and that doesn't work. If you are too blind, or too inattentive to know when you can make a left off a high speed highway, perhaps you should stay off that road.

Again it might, but many people who might be just sitting there for no reason while there is a green light for traffic going straight, say they are the only car on the road at midnight, will probably just turn through it anyway

I disagree with your disagreement! At the intersections of 466A & Morse & BV & 466A, it is very difficult to see around the car(s) in the left hand turn lane opposite yours. People pull out anyway, and surprise, surprise, there's a car or two barreling toward you while you're in the middle of the intersection.

Pretty impossible to live down this way and stay off of 466A. Besides, the people you would tell that to obviously wouldn't take heed. I'll bet you one of Bare's lobsters on it.:MOJE_whot:

Tracfic accidents at Powell Rd and Rt. 44
 

I'm with GE. (Will miracles never cease?) Red arrows are not the automatic solution to every intersection where some individuals make bad choices.

You significantly reduce intersection capacity and often make left turners wait unreasonable amounts of time when there is no oncoming traffic.

There are other, better ways to deal with the situation. But make no mistake...none of them are perfect. They all depend upon good, attentive driving.

Tracfic accidents at Powell Rd and Rt. 44
 

I must agree with you, despite the fact that GE and PB are often correct. Both BV and Morse require red arrows after green arrows on 466A, and other locations. (And I'll buy my own lobster thanks). The vast majority of people will stop on a red arrow. If they work in Las Vegas they will work anywhere. (LV has a much higher proportion of impaired drivers than TV.)

I'll see you a lobster and raise you one crab, DB!

Done deal!

yes it is hard to detect oncoming traffic when waiting to turn left when there is a line of cars in the left turn lane facing you. it would seem that the signal with the green arrow should also turn red to add safety to this situation. cours no one will be happy bout that

well said

You're right, Cathy
 

Heaven forbid someone is late for a tee time while waiting all that time for a green turn arrow.

An average of less than one accident a month. Is this really the most pressing traffic problem in this area?

Given the severity of the accidents, I would have to rate it highly. Certainly higher than the DOT need for another rotary.

I live less than a mile from BV and 466A, make those left turns at least 10x/week. I have no problem whatsoever--it's just a matter of looking carefully, and not entering the intersection if in doubt--you can always turn as the light is changing and oncoming traffic is slowing

I had suggested before that the LEFT turn lanes for 466 and 466a be moved to the LEFT, take out some or all of the flowers, and put the left turn lane where it should be. Take a look at he NEW left turn lane on 441 to 466a, it is a full lane width to the left, there is a cross hatched lane to the right. Great visibility.

I think moving the left turn lanes is the ultimate and correct solution. While I agree that RED arrows will help, they will not help the person that entered the intersection, before these changed to red.

I am not sure if this solution can be applied at the intersections on 44.

Since these are COUNTY roads (maybe state??), I am guessing that FDOT will need to get involved, but if enough people complain, maybe something will be done.

Please do not shoot the messenger, this is just MHO.

And for the coup de gras---you wait for 3, 3 1/2 min for a green arrow and then some nimrod runs the red light and T-bones you.

Congratulations
 

Hopefully no one coming the other way shoots through the yellow, or red light, as you're crossing over as the light changes. Again, your tee time will wait.

I'll see exactly what they are doing long before that happens. Besides, my Chrysler 200 convertible has 292 HP---I can be across the road before he even sees me

Yikes
 

flaunting the hp of your car to get you out of trouble. Very mature.

No, using the HP of the vehicle to avoid an accident, when appropriate. You assume too much

Pot
 

Meet kettle. We will agree to disagree.

No disagreement at all. Everyone should drive safe and be completely aware of their surroundings at all times. If you do this, making a left turn across 44 or 466A is NOT a problem. We don't need more red arrows and traffic lights to foul up traffic any further. Again, consider the turn if there was no light there, like many on 44 and 301. You wait for a safe opening, and then make your turn. Driving 101. The red arrow is just on a timer--it cannot evaluate if traffic is there or not, and cannot exercise judgment

:agree:

Apples and oranges
 

Not all intersections are the same. When vehicles are in the turn lanes of 466A, you cannot adequately see traffic coming straight through. Certainly not enough to risk saving you apparently precious minutes in your commute by making the left turn. Entering the intersection just to wait for the light to change so you can make the turn is absurd. But I'm not going to change your mind, so there's no use discussing it. Turn arrows won't foul up traffic to the point of congestion. It's a preposterous statement in this area. My opinion is that in certain intersections, turn arrows need to be implemented.

OK, let's dance.
"Not all intersections are the same"---quite obvious. When an intersection is busy enough it earns a traffic light. Some earn turn arrows.

"When vehicles are in the turn lanes of 466A, you cannot adequately see traffic coming straight through."---Disagree, and I drive it frequently--do you? But I agree with Village Thinker, moving the left turn lane over would improve visibility for everyone, since some people seem to have a problem with it.

"Entering the intersection just to wait for the light to change so you can make the turn is absurd."----Don't remember saying THAT. But if I am the first car in line to make a left, I will pull up to the center line of the cross road, since I will turn on yellow if needed. Do you stay back at the end of the turn lane? If so, and since you state you cannot see what is coming, you then sit there as the light turns red? That is essentially a self imposed red turn arrow, except that you are imposing it on everyone behind you as well.

"But I'm not going to change your mind, so there's no use discussing it."--actually, if you make a logical argument, you might. So far, it's an epic fail.

"Turn arrows won't foul up traffic to the point of congestion. It's a preposterous statement in this area."---Really? People constantly are complaining about traffic, especially this time of year. So you think making a line of cars stop and wait 3 minutes when they might very well have been on their way does not add to congestion? Please rethink that one.

"My opinion is that in certain intersections, turn arrows need to be implemented"---best statement in your post, since you are entitled to your opinion. But overall, I'll give you a 3 on a scale of 10. Maybe we should waltz instead of tango:1rotfl::1rotfl::1rotfl:

Wow is all I can say.
 

You've got some serious issues. But hey, do what you need to do to save that extra 3 minutes of your time.

I have serious issues??? Now that's funny:1rotfl::1rotfl::1rotfl: I made a cogent argument, refuting your post point by point, and THAT'S your response??? It is reminiscent of those that lose a political argument, then just like the first graders that they are, call the winner names.

Back on topic, again, you posted
"Turn arrows won't foul up traffic to the point of congestion. It's a preposterous statement in this area."---Do you live in a vacuum??? It should be 100% obvious that whenever you plant vehicles on a road that are doing nothing, it increases congestion. What do you think is happening in the turn lane behind you as you sit at a red arrow? Easy answer---it backs up further and further until the last cars have their rear ends hanging out stopped in the left lane of the highway. How safe do you thin THAT is? You must have implicit trust that the cars approaching at 45+ mph are paying attention! And don't tell me it doesn't happen, because it just happened to me last week on 466 waiting to turn south on Morse. Even with my flashers on, I had a reasonable degree of concern that some bozo would be texting or daydreaming and run right into me. There is no red arrow at that intersection, and yet there were about 25 cars overflowing the left turn lane. Add a red arrow and now you have how many???? And how many more intersections will now experience this problem? Or do you still think that contention is "preposterous"??? How would you deal with the new widespread turn lane back ups---increase the green arrow time? That of course just backs up the traffic going straight even further. You see, cause and effect is a relatively simple principle. And don't tell me this paragraph is just "my opinion", because it is EXACTLY what would happen, it is inevitable just on the logistics alone.
So if the mature, logical, coherent presentation above doesn't at least make you reconsider, at least do me 2 favors.
1) refrain from calling other posters names when you lose an argument
2) Please do not get ahead of me in a left hand turn lane:1rotfl::1rotfl:

Looks like I just
 

:BigApplause:Proved my point. Case closed. Have a great day!

Actually, you just proved my point. If you are able to make a logical counterargument, I'm all ears. Otherwise, just concede graciously and have a great day as well.