RALEIGH
-The
N.C. Department of Transportation will be modifying the intersection of
Rolesville Road and Mitchell Mill Road in northern Wake County to a four-way stop on Wednesday, weather permitting. Message boards letting motorists
know about the change are already in place, and will remain there for a few
weeks as a reminder.
The
intersection, located between Jonesville/Peebles Road and Fowler Road,
currently requires vehicles on Mitchell Mill Road to stop, while those using
Rolesville Road can travel through without stopping. Mitchell Mill Road comes
into Rolesville Road at an angle from the east and west.
Over
the years, safety improvements at the intersection have included the
installation of additional traffic signs and stop bar lane markings. However,
it has since been determined an additional safety upgrade was needed. At the
time of the investigation the most recent available five-year crash history of
the intersection showed there were 15 reported crashes, with nine of them being
angle-type collisions. Traffic volume at the intersection does not meet minimum
criteria for a traffic signal, so the four-way stop is the most appropriate
means to improve safety at this location.
On
four-way stops, drivers are advised to follow these right-of-way rules:
- The first vehicle to the intersection has the right of
way ahead of any vehicle that has not yet arrived;
- When two or more vehicles reach an intersection at the
same time, the vehicle to the right has the right of way;
- The vehicle with the right of way may move straight
ahead or, if legal and after signaling, turn left or right;
- When two facing vehicles approach an intersection at
the same time, both drivers can move straight ahead or turn right. If one
driver is going straight while the other wants to turn left, the driver
who wants to turn left must yield. The driver who is traveling straight
ahead has the right of way; and
- Even with the right of way, remember to use the
appropriate turn signals and be careful to avoid hitting other vehicles.
For
more information on navigating intersections, consult the North Carolina Driver's
Handbook. To get a copy, call 1-877-368-4968 (DOT-4-YOU) or visit www.ncdot.gov/dmv/driver_services/drivershandbook.