While I was waiting for the bus after work yesterday, at the corner of Bell Road and Parkside Road, I was wondering about the changes of rules that are applied to the intersection. Within a span of 2 or 3 minutes, I witnessed three near misses. Without rapid breaking, all three of them would have been 2-car collisions.
Why would there be so many in such a short time? It’s probably because people are unable to react properly to the rule changes applied to this specific intersection. To the best of my knowledge, this is the situation:
- Traffic from Parkside Road turning onto Bell Road South has right of way, regardless of who else is waiting. Right hand rule does not apply.
- Traffic from Bell Road South turning west onto Parkside Road has no give way sign and may proceed over traffic from Bell Road, which does have a give way sign. This is against the normal use of the right hand rule.
- Traffic from Bell Road South going straight does have a give way sign and may proceed after traffic from Parkside Road has cleared.
- Traffic from the private drive, which is opposite to Parkside Road has a stop sign and goes last.
The problems seem to stem from traffic coming from Bell Road, wanting to turn right, ignoring the priority that is laid out by the signs and roadmarkings listed above. I can’t say if it happens out of ignorance or of frustration. The distinction is irrelevant, however, because the action is dangerous.
Is the flow of traffic that has right of way important enough to justify the consequences? Maybe, but if it is, there might be a safer alternative to manage flow.
