your favorite death trap intersection

Stogies

Stogies

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  1. Right turn onto Brier Creek Parkway from Globe: Because the intersection is very wide people start looking left to check for incoming cars before the car in front of them has moved out, if the car hasn’t moved when they expect it to they rear end it. I have been rear ended there and I rear ended somebody there (much to my dismay as I had sworn myself I would not succumb to this).
  2. Left turn onto Globe from Brier Creek Parkway: There are 2 issues with this, many people wait for cars making a right turn onto Globe to finish their turn. Those cars have a yield sign, you are wasting your time. The second problem is that said cars making the turn are supposed to arrive in the right of 2 lines and then merge left. Many people plow immediately into the left lane.
  3. Right turn onto Globe from Globe Road: The area where you make the actual turn is very tight and the turn sharp so you have to drastically reduce speed.
  4. Add to the above the fact that the water run off in this intersection is abysmal, whenever there has been snow there are several ice patches around this intersection in the mornings turning this already problematic spot into an absolute mess. Flaming disaster.
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There are so many poorly designed intersections, with terrible signage if you don’t already know what lane to be in. I can appreciate that it’s challenging to design these things, but it seems like the designers never actually drove a car.
 
Seems like there's a definite lack of signage around Charlotte. Lots of places that lanes become right or left turn only with no warning. My first year here had me in the wrong lane frequently as I like to get to the right so faster drivers can get on with their day. Charlotte forces you to drive in the left lane as spots with right lanes rarely persist for long.
 
Not an intersection per se’, but the spot in Raleigh, where US1 south and 401 south come together. I call it “The Death Funnel”
 
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the 3 roundabouts in a row on glensford in fayetteville are about as interesting as i drive these days.
though cedar creek road has a lot of drunk/high idiots just stop in the middle of the road. gotta slam and swerve for those.
 
In rocky mount by 95, they replaced the asphalt on 64. Well, in a rain at night the lane paint disappear. DoT doesn't think reflectors are a good idea to tell people if they are even in their lane.

And to add to the thread, headlights are getting ridiculously bright to the point it looks like all cars have their high beams on.
 
yes...i have experienced some after-market headlights on Low Beams
that appear to be on Turbo or Extra-High. i avoid driving after dark
if it is my decision "should i stay or should i go?"
 
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Meh…I’ve been doing I85 in SC between Gaffney and Spartanburg once to twice a week for the last couple years, while it’s been under construction. “Chutes”, lane changes, barrier walls, idiots from Atlanta that think they’re driving on the moon. It’s like playing Russian Roulette with only one empty hole.
 
When I was a kid, afore I-40 was built in NC, back when highway 54 was one of two ways you could go east past Durham on the way to Raleigh, I heard a story about Lowes Grove, NC.

Lowes Grove was not always part of Durham, as it is now. It used to be a town all by itself. The center of Lowes Grove was the intersection of Highways 55 & 54. Everyone from Winston-Salem, Greensboro, Burlington and Chapel Hill, going to the Morehead City area for the weekend, either took Highway 70 north of Durham, or Highway 54 south of Durham, on their way to Raleigh and points east. There were no bypasses and no east bound interstate. You had to go right through downtown Raleigh and out South Saunders Street to go east.

The little town of Lowes Grove saw a ton of traffic going through it's intersection at Highways 55 and 54. When there was an accident at that intersection, traffic backed up for a mile or more. When there was a fatal accident, the Highway Patrol used a stencil to paint a skull and cross bones on the road. There were quite a few fatal accidents at the Lowes Grove intersection of highways 55 & 54, so there were quite a few skull & cross bones.

When they all started to blend together, making the intersection looked like it had been painted white, they decided to stop doing that. After I heard this story, as a kid in the back seat of the station wagon, I got a wee bit antsy when we approached Lowes Grove. Travelling on two lane Highway 54 was dangerous back then, and the intersection of Highways 55 & 54 was a death trap!
 
My second favoirte is the on ramp East Club Blvd onto I-85. The ramp is too short I don't hold it against people that come down it the first time getting surprised but locals should know better. If you don't step on the gas and get going there is no way you can safely merge. I have to hit the brakes every morning.

Sometimes people panic and stop altogether and get rear ended, I have seen it a few times now.
 
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Stogies said:
My second favoirte is the on ramp East Club Blvd onto I-85. The ramp is too short I don't hold it against people that come down it the first time getting surprised but locals should know better. If you don't step on the gas and get going there is no way you can safely merge. I have to hit the brakes every morning.
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Yes, that ramp is awful.

RE: Briar Creek, there is not a single 'good' intersection, and the way that have traffic flowing is horrendous. It's like they designed the whole area for 500,000 people, but the roads for 500.
 
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Stogies said:
My second favoirte is the on ramp East Club Blvd onto I-85. The ramp is too short I don't hold it against people that come down it the first time getting surprised but locals should know better. If you don't step on the gas and get going there is no way you can safely merge. I have to hit the brakes every morning.
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The Gregson ramp is bad too.
 
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Once you have traffic from both the Bulls and the DPAC during baseball season, that merge at Roxboro St. and Morehead Ave to get on the Durham Freeway becomes a death funnel.
 
Ferrisfan said:
Once you have traffic from both the Bulls and the DPAC during baseball season, that merge at Roxboro St. and Morehead Ave to get on the Durham Freeway becomes a death funnel.
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We take Willard to Jackson to Duke and go north on Duke to Main. After a game and/or DPAC event, there is no 'easy' way but for us this has been the best option. I hate the freeway in general. We have to drive our daughter to Durham Tech 2-3 times a week and I hate it.
 
I77, Exit 30 (north or south). Real short merge lanes. That's a place where you DO NOT want to conserve gas.
 
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keepcalmandcarryon said:
Boston MA
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I'm currently at Logan Airport in Boston and agree 100% with this even though I grew up
40 miles south of the city, lived 30 years about 50 miles north, and drove a taxi in Boston while in College. It is a freaking disaster. Death is lurking everywhere .. It took me 35 minutes to get out of the airport with a rental car a few days ago and I know most of the roads.
 
Stogies said:
  1. Right turn onto Brier Creek Parkway from Globe: Because the intersection is very wide people start looking left to check for incoming cars before the car in front of them has moved out, if the car hasn’t moved when they expect it to they rear end it. I have been rear ended there and I rear ended somebody there (much to my dismay as I had sworn myself I would not succumb to this).
  2. Left turn onto Globe from Brier Creek Parkway: There are 2 issues with this, many people wait for cars making a right turn onto Globe to finish their turn. Those cars have a yield sign, you are wasting your time. The second problem is that said cars making the turn are supposed to arrive in the right of 2 lines and then merge left. Many people plow immediately into the left lane.
  3. Right turn onto Globe from Globe Road: The area where you make the actual turn is very tight and the turn sharp so you have to drastically reduce speed.
  4. Add to the above the fact that the water run off in this intersection is abysmal, whenever there has been snow there are several ice patches around this intersection in the mornings turning this already problematic spot into an absolute mess. Flaming disaster.
View attachment 737416
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There's lots of Indians moving into that area now, so it should become much safer place to drive.


Lol.
 
rdinatal said:
You made it, must be an expert.
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sounds like i'd enjoy a good vacation drive.
Most of the time my wife's anxieties prevent her from allowing me to drive. When things get really bad, she pulls over, wakes me up, and turns over the car to me because I fit right in like it's my natural habitat. Then she jams her phone in her face so she can't see what i'm weaving through.
"these people are all insane and they're going to kill somebody - you drive"
"there's no way i can get out of this parking spot without hitting something - you do it... but I'm going to drive right after because you've been drinking"
"it's dark and there are no lights and i can't see anything and i'm afraid we'll crash"
"WHY ARE YOU DRIVING LIKE THIS? I GAVE YOU THE CAR BECAUSE I DIDN'T WANT US TO GO OFF A CLIFF!!" / "then don't rent us a car with a shifter picture that specifically shows a car on a mountain next time"
 
Sleipnir said:
Everyday four-way stop intersection in NC. You never know what people will do.
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There's one right before i get to my house and it's the scariest part of my drive. Add in that one of the directions can't see left or right unless they roll into the intersection. I've lived at my house going on 6 years and can't tell you how many times there has been an accident there.
 
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The circle k gas station at the intersection of business 70 and raynor rd in Garner is awful. People won’t go to the entrance on 70 and back up traffic on raynor. Also people blindly pulling out has caused many accidents there since the store was rebuilt.
 
Sleipnir said:
Every four-way stop intersection in NC. You never know what people will do.
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the one by my house is fine. everybody pulls up and waits for other people to go. I never have to wait because i'm from up north and as soon as somebody waves me through, i hit the gas. I might give them a "thanks" wave as i cruise on by.
 
dman24 said:
The circle k gas station at the intersection of business 70 and raynor rd in Garner is awful. People won’t go to the entrance on 70 and back up traffic on raynor. Also people blindly pulling out has caused many accidents there since the store was rebuilt.
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That's down the road from me, I've seen what you mentioned before. But I've also seen people fly down the far right lane at 70mph to pass cars and almost wreck from people pulling out. That stretch from the 40 off ramp onto 70E is common for people doing 65+mph.
 
I tried to make a left turn out of my neighborhood at noon the other day.

I had to wait for like 6 cars. I don't know where all these people are going at lunchtime. It was very stressful
 
Page Road and TW Alexander: There used to be 2 lanes towards Brier Creek, one a turning lane for turning right only. Frequently some jackass would sit in that lane and stomp the gas trying to cut into the lane going across TW Alexander. Got so bad they installed a barrier!
 
Supermatch said:
Merritt Parkway in CT. Holdover from the horse and buggy era. 2 lanes, everyone doing 60-70mph, no merge lanes. All the on ramps have stop signs. Every merge is a drag race for your life.
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And I get annoyed the on/off ramps aren’t banked so one can maintain speed.
I despise driving around charlotte.
 
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Sleipnir said:
The concept of right-of-way seems very fluid everywhere I drive lately.
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In Philadelphia I learned the Rule of Momentum. He who has the fastest and heaviest vehicle has the right of way.
 
nhusa said:
I'm currently at Logan Airport in Boston and agree 100% with this even though I grew up
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I had to travel there quite often when I worked for Digital. Getting out of Logan and out of the Big Dig without ending up in New Hampshire was always an accomplishment. The rudest drivers in the planet inhabit Boston.
 
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