CANDLER – Drivers near a school in western Buncombe County will soon benefit from the creation of an all-way stop at an intersection with an elevated crash rate.
N.C. Department of Transportation crews installed traditional red stop signs at the intersection of Old U.S. 19/23 and Candler School Road/Fairmont Road on Thursday, just before school resumes on Aug. 28.
Traffic heading in any direction at this intersection must now make a complete stop. Prior to this project, through traffic on Old U.S. 19/23 did not stop. This change will improve safety and reduce crashes at this intersection, which is less than one-half mile from Candler Elementary School.
Advance warning signs stating “Stop Ahead” and “New Traffic Pattern” were installed as part of this project, which is part of the Highway Safety Improvement program. The goal of the program is to reduce the number of crashes, injuries and fatalities by reducing the potential for crashes and the severity of crashes on public roads.
All-way stops have proven to be effective statewide. Recently, NCDOT completed a study of more than 50 intersections from a cross section of both urban and rural intersections in North Carolina that were converted from a two-way stop to an all-way stop. The overall results has shown a 68% reduction in total crashes, a 77% reduction in fatal and injury crashes, and a 75% reduction in frontal impact crashes.
Drivers should remember the following information for all-way stops:
• The first vehicle at the intersection has the right of way;
• When two or more vehicles reach an intersection at the same time, the vehicle to the right has the right of way and may go straight or, if legal and after signaling, turn left or right;
• When two facing vehicles approach an intersection simultaneously, 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; and
• Even with the right of way, drivers should remember to use appropriate turn signals and watch for pedestrians and other vehicles.