The Observation Deck

Shortly after 9:30pm to cars collided in the intersection of McKinley, North Marginal, and the on ramp for I-90 Westbound. The accident closed the north bound lanes over the bridge on McKinley for over and hour, and had south bound McKinley down to one lane.


The one driver, nearly went over the bridge and down to I-90 below, on what would have certainly been a wild ride.


Instead he was loaded on to an ambulance and taken to Metro Hospital.


The other driver was heard to mention confusion over the light being out, and traffic patterns.








Resident at the scene had stated this was the 4th accident since the power went out, and while they had theirs back yesterday, the light was never turned back on.





Good work Lakewood Fire and Police Department

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Jim,

Thanks for sharing.

Do the police let you that close because you're media or are they pretty lenient with anyone as long as you're not interfering?

Lori Allen _ wrote:Jim,

Do the police let you that close because you're media or are they pretty lenient with anyone as long as you're not interfering?

Telephoto

I never cross yellow tape or interfere in an active investigation, fire or whatever.

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I went through there maybe a few minutes before this happened. Non-functioning traffic signals are commonplace, but there was something about this one that seemed especially dangerous.

I will say that the power being created hazardous circumstances all over town. At Wager and Madison on Thursday night I witnessed over a hundred vehicles drive right through the intersection without even slowing down. I went as far as to move construction cones to the crosswalk and turning lane to raise attention but that made little difference. Apparently people need loud noise and bright lights to be able to pay attention anymore. Defensive driving has faded away, along with common sense.

Glenn Palmer wrote:I will say that the power being created hazardous circumstances all over town. At Wager and Madison on Thursday night I witnessed over a hundred vehicles drive right through the intersection without even slowing down. I went as far as to move construction cones to the crosswalk and turning lane to raise attention but that made little difference. Apparently people need loud noise and bright lights to be able to pay attention anymore. Defensive driving has faded away, along with common sense.

Glenn

IT's funny for all of the havoc it caused, Detroit always seems to run smoother and faster with the power out. It is almost a pleasure to drive down.

However on Clifton, at higher speed sections of roads it becomes a nightmare.

Years ago I found out, that if you relax, let people into traffic, the day goes better.


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My family went through that intersection on Saturday evening and I was glad that the city had put STOP signs at every corner. I always knew of the 4-way STOP rule when lights are out but wondered if that rule was even taught in Ohio since I've seen so many ignore it here...I can't tell you how many times I've almost been rear-ended by the ignorant ones.

I guess even obvious answers don't work sometimes.

There is a direct correlation between driver's ed no longer being taught in schools to the general ignorance most drivers on the road have today. Most newer drivers have been taught by their parents, most of whom don't even know the laws/rules of the road. 10 years ago, when we were studying to get our motorcycle endorsements, I was shocked at how little I knew about the rules of the road. For example, did you know that if you are on a road that has 2 lanes in each direction and an emergency vehicle is coming from the other direction that you don't need to stop or slow down? That rule only applies to 2 lane roadways, yet I see everyone pull over on Clifton whenever an emergency vehicle approaches. Now, I don't think this is bad, I'd rather err on the side of caution. My point is that very few of us actually know the rules. I became a much better car driver after becoming a motorcycle rider.

Lots of drivers didn't know that when the light is out, it becomes a 4-way stop. At the 4-way stop, one car goes in one direction; then one car from the cross direction; etc.

It's even worse at Hilliard/Riverside where you have 2 lanes in each direction plus turning lanes. Then two cars next to each other get to go, then two from the cross direction, and turners have to fit with the other traffic. There were cars sailing through westbound on Hilliard without even slowing down.

If all the traffic lights on Detroit were out (and they were, at the west end) - then traffic should be going very slow because everybody has to stop at every light, then one car goes one way and one car goes the cross direction. This is very, very slow. If traffic was sailing along on Detroit that was totally illegal.

Going west on Detroit at the west end, all the Detroit lights were out. So everybody had to stop, one went one way, then one went the cross direction, etc. This at West Clifton, then Riverside, then Extension, then Valley, then Wooster. There were 30 cars on the Detroit bridge that couldn't get through Wooster Road light. It took 30 cars, each stopping, and alternating with Wooster cars, same thing.

The Marginals are bad too. You can't see around the concrete barriers. One motorcycle sailed through southbound at Woodward without stopping.