White County has reduced major motor vehicle accidents following the installation of a four-way stop at the intersection of Highway 70 and Old Kentucky Road.
White County Emergency Management Director Matt McBride said the transition to a four-way stop followed a collaborative effort between the White County Executive’s office, the White County Sheriff’s Office and T-DOT.
“I would be safe to say that the major incidents or serious MVAs or motor vehicle accidents have probably decreased by at least half, if not more, and if they are impacts there, they seem to be of a slower speed also, for a low impact, what we would call a low impact MVA,” McBride said.
McBride said officials reviewed crash data from the previous three years to determine the frequency and severity of wrecks at the intersection. McBride said the location previously saw as many as three accidents in a single week before the traffic pattern was altered.
“I think the vast majority of it came through the sheriff’s department, the county mayor’s office and then people with complaints, concerns, you know,” McBride said. “I think the public had a large input on it also.”
McBride said the intersection was previously a two-way stop where North-South traffic had to stop while East-West traffic on Highway 70 flowed freely. McBride said the high rate of speed for vehicles traveling between Sparta and Smithville contributed to the danger of the crossing.
“After clearing the first look, maybe not doing the third look, if that makes sense, meaning look left, then right, and then not looking left back,” McBride said.
McBride said vehicle blind spots on the A-posts near windshields and B-posts behind doors also played a role in the frequency of accidents. McBride said the state installed rumble strips and warning signs well ahead of the intersection to alert drivers to the new stop.
“I think it’s a good thing,” McBride said. “Once everybody got used to it, especially, I think that it has drastically improved the safety of the road. I mean we’re noticing it, I notice it on the radio and stuff as far as call outs to that intersection. So overall, the general safety of the public and the citizens here in the county, I think it’s been a good thing for this county.”
McBride said the previous traffic configuration had been in place since at least 1996. McBride said that while some residents questioned the change initially, most have been accepting of the safety improvement after hearing the explanation for the four-way stop.
“I just want to commend the public about being, you know, open-minded enough to try and accept a new change here in this county, like I said, as long as I can remember, you know, I’ve had a driver’s license since 1996 and as long as I can remember, it’s been that way,” McBride said.
