Arizona can be known for its often deserted beauty and hot weather, but there are many dangerous intersections that become a health risks for the everyday driver, pedestrian, and biker. In urban areas like Phoenix, Tucson, and Mesa, intersections make people wary due to high accident rates and frequent traffic stops. To be able to understand the risks and contributing dangerous intersections, we can help to advocate for safety improvements and ensure driver safety.
One of the most infamous intersections in Arizona is 99th Avenue and Lower Buckeye in Phoenix. This intersection has long and hourly traffic daily, and its complex layout often leads to confusion and accidents. Things that contribute to these accidents are high-speed limits, multiple lanes, and heavy pedestrian activity. My Mom once said, “When I was younger, I always avoided that area because of fear.” My Mom can be considered a good driver; she has not gotten into an accident, and if she did, then it wasn’t her fault. My older sister, who is 18, experienced her first time driving in that area and told me how almost 2 cars hit her because they weren’t paying attention to her brake signals. Efforts to improve safety here include better signaling, enhanced lighting, and the installation of red-light cameras.
Another area for improvement is the crossroads of 59th Avenue and Thunderbird Road in Glendale. This area experiences a high chances of accidents, due to drivers ignoring red lights or not yielding at yellow lights. The surrounding areas of stores and schools increases pedestrian traffic, which add to the risk. According to Local authorities in Glendale, “We have been working on increasing police presence and implementing stricter traffic enforcement to mitigate these dangers.” This quote can be considered a good thing because if more cops are around, people will be less likely to fail to yield against yellow/red lights.
In Tucson, the intersection of Valencia Road and Nogales Highway is notorious for its high accident rate. This busy intersection is a major risk for people and traffic, leading to cars getting stuck in the same spot and frequent collisions. The city has initiated several projects to widen the roads and improve traffic flow, but the intersection challenges continue to show. Enhanced traffic signal coordination and public awareness campaigns are part of the efforts to reduce accidents here.
Several factors contribute to the dangers at these intersections. High traffic quantity is commonly, leading to no traffic movement and drivers having less patience. Speeding, distracted driving, and not following the rules of traffic signals. Also, the design and layout of some intersections can be confusing, leading to driver errors. Walking pedestrian traffic, like areas near schools and shopping centers, adds another layer of risk, and improving safety at these intersections involves combinations of engineering, enforcement, and education. Redesigning intersections to improve visibility, adding more visible turn lanes, and improving pedestrian crossings. Law enforcement is mandatory in monitoring traffic violations and making compliance with traffic laws. Education programs aim to raise awareness about safely driving.
