Suburban Phoenix car accidents blamed on poorly designed intersection

Poor road design is being blamed for the high number of suburban Phoenix car accidents at an intersection in Florence, according to the Coolidge Examiner.

The Arizona Department of Transportation has secured federal funding to improve the intersection of Arizona highways 79 and 79B off East Sunset Road on the southern edge of town. While the improvements are not listed in the state’s five-year construction plan, officials hope to move forward with upgrades once the evaluation is complete.State crash data reveals that vehicles traveling northwest toward the stop signs and flashing lights sometimes fail to stop. Sixteen of 17 accidents at the intersection have been the result of a driver who either failed to yield or ran the stop sign. The state has enlarged the stop signs and added the flashing lights in an effort to improve safety. Officials are now considering either adding a roundabout or creating a T-intersection with a traffic signal. The cost is estimated to be about $2 million.

Phoenix injury lawyers note that according to AZDOT failure to yield was one of the leading causes of Arizona car accidents in 2008. One in 10 accidents were caused by drivers who failed to yield the rights of way — leading to 21,370 accidents that caused 87 deaths and 8,097 injuries. Only speeding was cited as a primary cause of more car accidents.

A total of 4,130 accidents were blamed on disregard for a traffic signal, leading to 19 deaths and 1,985 injuries.

If you have been injured in a car accident, contact the Phoenix injury attorneys at Abels & Annes for a free and confidential appointment to discuss your rights. Call (602) 819-5191 today.