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Accident at Leigh and 33rd

17 comments

Anonymous 06/14/2016 at 10:48 AM

Did not see the accident heard the impact and saw the immediate aftermath. One or both of the drivers were going too fast. But the cause likely was one driver never stopped for the stop sign on 33rd.

That stop sign is obscured by tree branches. And this is the second recent auto accident at this intersection. What is the best way to get the city to trim back the tree to make the stop sign more visible? I’m hoping for action that has a much faster turnaround than the months bulk trash pickup seems to take because this is a major safety issue.

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Amie 06/14/2016 at 12:05 PM

Oh wow, praying for everyone involved. I was almost hit the other day at that intersection as well. Something definitely needs to be done about the stop sign!

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Neighbor 06/14/2016 at 2:51 PM

People routinely run stop signs and speed all through Church Hill. In case some don’t remember, the speed in a residential area is 25 MPH. No way that this car would have flipped with an impact at 25 MPH even if the someone ran the stop sign.

I get the dirtiest looks from people behind me because I drive the speed limit (sometimes they actually pass me) and when I heaven-for-bid actually make a complete stop at a stop sign. What I see most people do is slow do and look real quick and quick going; their car never actually stops moving forward.

Unfortunately, I don’t know of any way to get people to follow the law. There are not enough police to monitor every intersection and the community will never accept CC TV or red light cameras. So, what we are left with in general traffic anarchy.

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Trish Bernal 06/14/2016 at 10:30 PM

I’m a Richmond Tree Steward and I will swing by there after work tomorrow and see if I can trim the tree back. If it is beyond my capabilities, I will contact the City Arborist to have it taken care of soon.

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Eric S. Huffstutler 06/15/2016 at 3:03 AM

@6 Neighbor… I am with you. I also do the speed limit and follow the rules of the road. Many people speed down Marshall. There is a fairly deep dip at the corner of N 27th and Clay and I hear people all the time speed through the intersection without stopping and bottom out on the road going too fast.

The “slow down and look” rather than stopping is called a “rolling stop” and is illegal. The rear of your vehicle is supposed to bounce when you come to a complete stop at a stop sign. What irks me is when people piggyback a car that stopped in front of them. And when I start pulling out for my turn through a 4-way to barely miss being hit because they don’t stop… and then give you a nasty look like you are in the wrong.

In case anyone wants to bone up on your driving skills and know the rules, here is the list of Virginia Traffic Regulations per Virginia State Code:

https://vacode.org/46.2/8/

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Neighbor 06/21/2016 at 10:30 AM

And we thought Church Hill had it bad!

100 Jersey City Drivers Blow Through Stop Sign in 90 Minutes
http://www.nbcnewyork.com/local/Jersey-City-Drivers-Ignore-Stop-Sign-Video-Posted-Online-383690301.html

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tiny 06/21/2016 at 1:05 PM

This may have well been speed related, and I am sure the obsured traffic sign contributed as well. But is anyone else besides me irratated at the self righteous “I always obey the law and no one else does” comments? Come on.

BTW – yeilding to pedestrians means when pedestrians are in the roadway, the motorist must yield. It does not mean coming to a halt, regardless of how many cars are behind you, whenever you see a pedestrian on the sidewalk. You think you are being “nice”, but likely the pedestrian was waiting for you to go past them. And frankly, you are being dick to all the cars behind you. Traffic piles up past the McDonald’s on Broad thanks to all the people stopping suddenly for pedestrians walking to MCV. They will have time to cross when the light at the bottom of the hill turns red. The way it works now, with only some people obeying right of way rules, it is total chaos and I see “almost” accidents every morning.

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Just saying 06/21/2016 at 2:26 PM

Tiny, might want to check your Virginia Code before you rant. Note the leading statement and Part A1 (AT…), also the final statement.

§ 46.2-924
Drivers to stop for pedestrians; installation of certain signs; penalty.
A. The driver of any vehicle on a highway shall yield the right-of-way to any pedestrian crossing such highway:
1. At any clearly marked crosswalk, whether at mid-block or at the end of any block;
2. At any regular pedestrian crossing included in the prolongation of the lateral boundary lines of the adjacent sidewalk at the end of a block;
3. At any intersection when the driver is approaching on a highway or street where the legal maximum speed does not exceed 35 miles per hour.
B. Notwithstanding the provisions of subsection A, at intersections or crosswalks where the movement of traffic is being regulated by law-enforcement officers or traffic control devices, the driver shall yield according to the direction of the law-enforcement officer or device.
No pedestrian shall enter or cross an intersection in disregard of approaching traffic.
The drivers of vehicles entering, crossing, or turning at intersections shall change their course, slow down, or stop if necessary to permit pedestrians to cross such intersections safely and expeditiously

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Frogger 06/21/2016 at 2:55 PM

@10–Not sure I totally agree with your interpretation of the law and the pedestrians heading to MCV.
http://law.lis.virginia.gov/vacode/title46.2/chapter8/section46.2-924/
When there’s not much traffic, it’s no big deal to wait for cars to pass by (especially at the on/off ramps for 95) before using the crosswalk. After all, “No pedestrian shall enter or cross an intersection in disregard of approaching traffic.” However, during peak times, regardless of the traffic light down the hill (since if it’s red for westbound drivers on Broad, there are likely still plenty of cars turning onto Broad from 17th/Oliver Hill), there might not be any real openings in traffic during which to cross. In that case, I have to either hope someone feels “nice” or realizes that they legally have to “change their course, slow down, or stop if necessary to permit pedestrians to cross such intersections safely and expeditiously.”

“Pedestrians crossing highways at intersections shall at all times have the right-of-way over vehicles making turns into the highways being crossed by the pedestrians.”

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Frogger 06/21/2016 at 3:02 PM

@10–looks like someone else beat me to it. I bet there’s something we both could shake our fists at together–the constant stream of dangerous, illegal left turns into and out of McDonald’s on Broad. (Not to mention folks making lefts on Jefferson from Marshall coming up the hill against through traffic like they have a left turn signal).

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tiny 06/21/2016 at 3:21 PM

None of that changes what I’ve said. Drivers yeild to pedestrians when they are crossing the street Not when the pedestrian is simply waiting for traffic to pass.

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frank pichel 06/21/2016 at 6:08 PM

Tiny, would you like to go for a walk with me around the neighbor?

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Andrew 06/21/2016 at 10:20 PM

I think Tiny is right. Read the first sentence “A”..A. The driver of any vehicle on a highway shall yield the right-of-way to any pedestrian crossing such highway: Key word is crossing. As in the “act of crossing”.Read the same sentence and include #1 …At any clearly marked crosswalk. The Crosswalk markings are on the street, not sidewalk.

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