At a press conference held in Malta on Wednesday, NYSDOT Regional
Public Information Officer Peter Van Keuren, Malta Town Supervisor Paul
Sausville and Captain John McCarthy of the New York State Police
announced that changes have been made to one of five roundabouts at the
intersection of State Routes 9 and 67 in the Town of Malta, Saratoga
County.
Since it was opened in September 2006, there have been 118 accidents, the majority of which have been low-speed, sideswipe accidents. Installed four years ago as part of a bridge replacement project at Exit 12 of Interstate 87, the motor vehicle accidents have been much less severe at the roundabout when compared to the former signalized intersection. NYSDOT has determined operations at the remaining four roundabouts do not warrant any changes.
Van Keuren said, "Since the project was completed, we've monitored things and made some minor modifications. There have been more injuries than we want to see. We've decided that a combination of further educating the public and serious cracking down of aggressive driving is called for." He added that NYSDOT has evaluated the pattern and frequency of accidents experienced at all five roundabouts and determined that improvements to signage and pavement markings should be made at the State Route 9 and 67 roundabout to increase clarity and make it easier for motorists to use.
Specifically, the eastbound and westbound exits from the State Route 9/67 roundabout have been reduced from two to one lane, while the rest of the roundabouts' exits maintain two lanes. Eastbound and westbound motorists heading straight through the intersection and motorists turning right are now be required to use the right lane. This should provide a significant reduction of accidents. The right lane is now an "exit-only" lane.
The left lanes on the eastbound and westbound roundabout entrances on Route 67 are now dedicated left-turn lanes. The associated pavement markings and signs have been modified to reflect these changes. The 30-mile-per-hour speed limit on Route 9 south of the roundabout is extended farther south in order to ensure motorists enter the roundabout at slower speeds.
In addition, the location of many of the signs on each approach to the roundabout have been moved farther from the intersection in order to improve motorists' advance notice of the appropriate lane to use. These sign changes were developed in consultation with the State Police to improve signage clarity.
"I like to call the roundabouts 'civility circles.' I recommend that drivers take a deep breath, not be so aggressive, enjoy passing by the beautiful greens and landscaping we have here in Malta, and enjoy the ambiance," Malta Town Supervisor Paul Sausville said.
Capt. John McCarthy of the New York State Police (Troop G, Zone 2) said that addressing the issue of aggressive driving was an important part of the attempt to reduce accidents along high accident traffic corridor. Saying that public education coupled with physical enforcement will be the key, he added that the NYS Police and Saratoga County Sherriff's Department will have a zero tolerance policy for aggressive behaviors exhibited by drivers such as tailgating, failure to yield the right of way, making frequent lane changes, running red lights and excessive speed. The speed limit on Routes 9 and 67 approaching the roundabout there is 30 miles per hour and less as a driver navigates in either direction, whether toward Dunning Street or Route 67.
He said it is critical that motorists understand proper yielding, lane usage and speed procedures when using a roundabout and stressed the importance for motorists to reduce their speed as they approach a roundabout, yield to all lanes of traffic already within the roundabout.
"My advice is slow down, be respectful. It has been proven that most accidents are preventable," Another trooper said.
The modifications are in conjunction with a traffic safety effort within the State Route 9 corridor that began on Wednesday, June 17. The New York State Police and the Saratoga County Sheriff's Office will be reinforcing proper roundabout driving techniques, particularly with respect to motorists traveling through the State Route 9/67 intersection. Law enforcement will target aggressive drivers as a major factor in the many crashes at this location. McCarthy said to stay clear of aggressive drivers whose behavior could escalate into
road rage.
Aggressive drivers often commit multiple violations, including exceeding the posted speed limit, following vehicles too closely, changing lanes erratically or unsafely, failing to yield right-of-way and ignoring traffic control devices. These driving behaviors cause hundreds of deaths and thousands of injuries each year; they contribute to the growing problems of hazardous traffic conditions. The National Highway Safety Administration estimates that one-third of all reported accidents and two-thirds of traffic related fatalities occur due to aggressive driving.
For futher information on driving through roundabouts, the NYSDOT has a wealth of material available at their website: www.nysdot.gov/
main/roundabouts.
Van Keuren said, "Since the project was completed, we've monitored things and made some minor modifications. There have been more injuries than we want to see. We've decided that a combination of further educating the public and serious cracking down of aggressive driving is called for." He added that NYSDOT has evaluated the pattern and frequency of accidents experienced at all five roundabouts and determined that improvements to signage and pavement markings should be made at the State Route 9 and 67 roundabout to increase clarity and make it easier for motorists to use.
Specifically, the eastbound and westbound exits from the State Route 9/67 roundabout have been reduced from two to one lane, while the rest of the roundabouts' exits maintain two lanes. Eastbound and westbound motorists heading straight through the intersection and motorists turning right are now be required to use the right lane. This should provide a significant reduction of accidents. The right lane is now an "exit-only" lane.
The left lanes on the eastbound and westbound roundabout entrances on Route 67 are now dedicated left-turn lanes. The associated pavement markings and signs have been modified to reflect these changes. The 30-mile-per-hour speed limit on Route 9 south of the roundabout is extended farther south in order to ensure motorists enter the roundabout at slower speeds.
In addition, the location of many of the signs on each approach to the roundabout have been moved farther from the intersection in order to improve motorists' advance notice of the appropriate lane to use. These sign changes were developed in consultation with the State Police to improve signage clarity.
"I like to call the roundabouts 'civility circles.' I recommend that drivers take a deep breath, not be so aggressive, enjoy passing by the beautiful greens and landscaping we have here in Malta, and enjoy the ambiance," Malta Town Supervisor Paul Sausville said.
Capt. John McCarthy of the New York State Police (Troop G, Zone 2) said that addressing the issue of aggressive driving was an important part of the attempt to reduce accidents along high accident traffic corridor. Saying that public education coupled with physical enforcement will be the key, he added that the NYS Police and Saratoga County Sherriff's Department will have a zero tolerance policy for aggressive behaviors exhibited by drivers such as tailgating, failure to yield the right of way, making frequent lane changes, running red lights and excessive speed. The speed limit on Routes 9 and 67 approaching the roundabout there is 30 miles per hour and less as a driver navigates in either direction, whether toward Dunning Street or Route 67.
He said it is critical that motorists understand proper yielding, lane usage and speed procedures when using a roundabout and stressed the importance for motorists to reduce their speed as they approach a roundabout, yield to all lanes of traffic already within the roundabout.
"My advice is slow down, be respectful. It has been proven that most accidents are preventable," Another trooper said.
The modifications are in conjunction with a traffic safety effort within the State Route 9 corridor that began on Wednesday, June 17. The New York State Police and the Saratoga County Sheriff's Office will be reinforcing proper roundabout driving techniques, particularly with respect to motorists traveling through the State Route 9/67 intersection. Law enforcement will target aggressive drivers as a major factor in the many crashes at this location. McCarthy said to stay clear of aggressive drivers whose behavior could escalate into
road rage.
Aggressive drivers often commit multiple violations, including exceeding the posted speed limit, following vehicles too closely, changing lanes erratically or unsafely, failing to yield right-of-way and ignoring traffic control devices. These driving behaviors cause hundreds of deaths and thousands of injuries each year; they contribute to the growing problems of hazardous traffic conditions. The National Highway Safety Administration estimates that one-third of all reported accidents and two-thirds of traffic related fatalities occur due to aggressive driving.
For futher information on driving through roundabouts, the NYSDOT has a wealth of material available at their website: www.nysdot.gov/
main/roundabouts.
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