A look at Fairbanks’ most dangerous intersections
Published Tuesday, December 2, 2008
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FAIRBANKS — Denise Akert sat in the back seat of a GMC Envoy on a sunny day about six months ago, about to turn left from Geist Road onto University Avenue.
Akert’s infant grandson was in his car seat beside her. Akert’s daughter was at the wheel. The family was taking a trip to the flower shop.
“We were in the middle of the intersection when this other person from the Johansen Expressway just came flying through the intersection and just T-boned us right through the middle,” Akert said.
Akert, a nurse, had removed her seat belt to take off a jacket and forgot to buckle back up. All 125 pounds of her flew into the back of the SUV and slammed against the back door.
Akert was lucky — she suffered only painful bruising. Her grandson endured a skull fracture and had to be airlifted to an Anchorage hospital. Her daughter was OK.
Akert and her relatives are some of the latest victims of the most crash-prone intersection in Fairbanks.
The intersection of University Avenue and Geist Road tops the Alaska Department of Transportation’s list of crash-prone intersections in Fairbanks.
And vehicle crashes at four intersections along Airport Way has made the artery one of Fairbanks’ most accident-prone roads, according to a DOT study of collisions at intersections from 2002 through 2006.
On average, Airport Way sees at least two crashes per week. Four of its intersections hold the No. 2 through No. 5 spots on the DOT’s list of hazardous intersections. They are, in descending order, where Airport Way crosses University Avenue, Peger Road, Cushman Street and Cowles Street.
Most of the crashes are not like Akert’s. The statistics show that the great majority of accidents involve only vehicle damage or minor injuries. Fewer than 3 percent of the crashes studied involved major injuries. None were fatal.
It’s not completely clear why these intersections have the most collisions, but three of them fall on two lists: the area’s most crash-prone and the area’s busiest.
Geist and University is the second-busiest intersection in Fairbanks, behind only Airport Way at the Steese Expressway, according to the DOT.
In 2006, almost 20,000 vehicles per day crossed through Geist and University.
Airport Way and Peger Road is the third-busiest intersection in Fairbanks, and Airport Way and University Avenue is No. 5, according to the DOT. The fourth-busiest is the Steese Expressway at Third Street.
Lt. Ron Wall of the Alaska State Troopers said, in general, more crashes happen at intersections where drivers must make the decision to yield to other drivers.
“Any time you have circumstances where somebody has to yield to somebody else, it’s going to result in a higher rate of crashes,” he said.
He said speed is the reason why University Avenue at Geist Road is prone to smashups. The intersection is an exit from the Johansen Expressway, where the speed limit is 55 mph.
Akert said the driver who hit the Envoy she occupied was rushing back to the office after a lunch break. He was crossing from the Johansen Expressway to Geist Road at a speed estimated at 70 mph, she said.
“He was trying to beat the light, and so he just pressed on the gas, trying to floor it through the intersection. I guess we were in his way,” Akert said.
Colleen Ackiss, DOT traffic and safety chief, said yellow lights are a problem.
“When a light turns yellow,” she said, “some drivers speed up — others stop.”
According to Alaska law, cars that enter an intersection on a yellow light may proceed. Drivers approaching the intersection are expected to stop.
Other problems come from drivers who misjudge oncoming traffic and make a left turn in front of another vehicle.
“They look for a gap to turn left, and they just misjudge it,” Ackiss said.
The DOT has made some improvements on Airport Way with a hope to bring down the number of crashes.
In 2006, the agency changed the timing of stoplights along Airport Way, coordinating them so more drivers hit all green lights. It’s similar to the coordination of stop lights along Cushman Street going north from Airport Way.
“Some people will tell you they never get a green light,” Ackiss said. “Either they enter the system at a wrong time or they’re not driving at 45 mph.”
Lawsuits as a result of traffic accidents make up about 85 percent of attorney Ward Merdes’ business, according to his wife and office manager, Lori Merdes.
The lawyer compared notes with some colleagues and drew up his own list of Fairbanks’ most dangerous intersections. The list is on the Web site www.slowdownalaska.org along with driving tips and explanations of traffic laws.
In terms of the lawsuits that Merdes deals with, excessive speed is a major factor, Lori Merdes said.
“Typically, what we see is that people tend to slide or overshoot a stoplight,” she said. “They just don’t slow down at intersections.”
Contact staff writer Amanda Bohman at 459-7544.
Community Discussion
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During the winter, it's rather simple...slow down. When the light changes, count to three THEN slowly go. This let's the idiots slide thru the intersection because they were still trying to drive at summer speeds or where depending on those studded tires to bring them to a pinpoint stop. Yeah, I've augured into the berm a few times from stupidity, but only once from an accident, thank God. In my years there (18), those are the two things that have saved me a few times; slowing down and counting to three...there's always a cheechako going to think he or she can drive like NASCAR. Even on ice. Now that's a thought, new touring show...NASCAR on ice. Not to make fun of it, I've been there looking at med techs looking at me. But it's the simple, common sense things that help us. We just have to listen to them.
I once watched someone lock up on the Johansen and slide into University, where he T-boned a State Trooper proceeding with traffic through that intersection.
Whenever I think I'm having a bad day, I try to stop and remember that poor guy.
The westbound Johansen at University could probably use one of those 'prepare to stop' signs. Put it just east of the slough where the road drops back down to 2 lanes.
BTW, I'd like to thank DOT for putting more of those signs out on the Mitchell Expy; it seems to have made a difference in the accidents and near-misses so far this winter. I sure appreciate them!
A big pet peeve are drivers that drive in the left lane and ignore Alaska law that designates the left lane as a passing lane. (Hang up and drive).
Somewhere on my top ten list of traffic pet peeves are drivers like the one above that want to sit at a green light and do a counting game before proceeding. If you are so afraid that someone might run a red light why don't you stop for green lights too, just to be sure? The most effective strategy is to be looking to the left and right before you proceed into an intersection.
But the biggest pet peeve? You Fing morons who yap and text on your cell phones in your narcissistic disregard for everyone else.
Hang up and drive. Our roads are icy, and it is dark. Most of you morons are poor drivers anyway, and the last thing your itty- bitty brains can handle is your cell phone conversation AND driving safely at the same time.
Driving while yapping is as dangerous as driving drunk.
This intersection needs designated right turn lanes on to Geist from University and from University to Johannson. I know that requires land from Hutch and Wolf Run, but at least it would help some of the congestion. (Know it doesn't solve the T-Bone issue.)
I wonder what research DOT has done that considers prohibiting a yield on green in high speed intersections and cycling the lights differently at high traffic times so those high traffic turn lanes can really move?
I was in an accident years ago and was rightly cited for failure to yield at one of these high speed, high danger intersections because I didn't see an oncoming car obscured by cars in the oncoming turn lane and didn't accurately assess the speed of that cross street.
My son was rear-ended at another intersection mentioned in the article. Low level "bump." The very nice, upfront, adequately insured man said, "I thought he was going to choose to turn and go in front of traffic." Reasonable guy.
By the way: To those of you behind me in any left turn lane trying to shove me into traffic... gesture all you want, honk all you want. I know my car doesn't get the best of traction on the winter roads and I'm not "yielding" on green unless I'm 100% certain I'm clear. To risk giving an anthropomorphic quality to the intersection: Fool me once, shame on you. Fool me twice ...
Over the last year I've had to drive Airport Way a lot, unfortunately, for work. It's easily my least favorite street in town. I've wanted to talk to the borough or state about coordinating the lights on Airport. My experience is contrary to what this story reports--that the lights are terribly uncoordinated.
Lights not coordinated contributes to 3 problems. First, it makes most or all drivers take longer to get where they're going. Second, air pollution--if drivers are accelerating from a stop and idling at a red light more often, it wastes fuel and adds up to a lot more pollution. And we know we have a problem with that already. Third, it contributes to more accidents--far more expensive in injuries, repairs and insurance premiums than the other problems.
I know from experience that side street stop lights turn according to when a driver pulls up to a stop waiting to enter Airport Way. How can this be "coordinated"? Also from experience, I know that I've hit 3 or more red/yellow lights in a row on Airport and I was driving 45 mph. They tend to turn yellow as I approach them, indicating that, if there is a coordination, I'm certainly not driving too fast for their cycle.
"This intersection needs designated right turn lanes on to Geist from University and from University to Johannson. I know that requires land from Hutch and Wolf Run, but at least it would help some of the congestion"
+100
that would very much help with traffic flow, its nice when a few curtious people move up a little to let people through but it cant always be done
there are some other roads that need dedicated right turn lanes as well , this town is really bad about the lack of right turn lanes
Oh I dunno- that right turn lane on U. and College northbound is where I tend to see people not pay attention to the light for that lane, and come close to a t-bone as I'm crossing from Alumni to College eastbound. Goes back to people thinking they're privileged to do the 'hurry-up' in spite of correctly moving traffic.
I also agree on folks who try to pressure you thru the turns. What they're forgetting is that YOU are the one who's ultimately responsible for yielding as the situation demands. Several years ago, someone try to be nice and wave my Mom thru a turn, and she got t-boned for her trouble, AND she was the one at fault for failure to yield. Sucked. I had bought that car for her only a few months beforehand.
That old Mitchell and Geist intersection was so crazy.When i drove cab years ago i had a guy who worked for some road company tell me that the city has two choices on how to build the intersection and that they usually pick the cheaper way and that after a certain amount of people die there they have to do it the more expensive way anyway i dont know if its true though.
I agree with Skippy about the right turn lane, and especially agree with Yota about the prepare to stop signs. It seems weird to not have one there, considering there are a few others on the Jo.
People can wait at the light as long as they want, if their safety is concerned. A few extra seconds I have to spend waiting is not going to hurt.
I think the Prepare to Stop indicators that show the traffic light is about to cycle to red is very helpful. Sometimes coming towards an intersection with a yellow light that has just appeared you may have too much momentum to try and stop especially in the winter. After all, you can't tell when the green is about to go yellow. But those light indicators light you know time is up and don't even think about trying to make it through the yellow.
Now, if only there was some way to tell when the green is about to go yellow...
"Akert’s infant grandson was in his car seat beside her. Akert’s daughter was at the wheel. The family was taking a trip to the flower shop."
The Envoy is an SUV and it is illegal to have children that young in the front seat unless there is no back seat.
Maybe you guys should have found a better story about that intersection.
Besides they fixed the worst intersection a few years back, you know the one by A.I.H. and Sears.... When they ran that other street through by where KFC A/W is. (I will readily admit street names aren't my strongest memory item)
You cannot do too much about that intersection at Giest and University. An Overpass would be wholly inappropriate there, as close as it is to Hutch and West Valley High.
If you are going somewhat under the posted speed limit, and pass under the 'prepare to stop' sign as it starts to flash, that's your green-to-yellow indication, LOL!
They don't seem to work quite as well here, but in Spokane where my Dad lives, the 'do not walk' signs gave you a clue as to the light change. Flashes 7 times. I've watched them up here, not as consistent.
Many times you need to sit and wait on people on bicycles or walking to go in front of you (against the light or "hand") before you are able to move. Especially in our dark winters, it is not easy to see these people. Being aware of schools and slowing down or being more cautious around them helps ... especially when high schools are starting or getting out. Just because the speed limit is a certain speed does not mean that all weather conditions are suitable for that speed!!! We all know teenagers are invincible in their own minds. Tonto12 just might fit into that category. Waiting 3 seconds for that car or person on a bike to clear an intersection can and does save many lives ... perhaps even yours one day. Make sure that other car is able to stop BEFORE you hit the accelerator, waste gas, spin tires, and make a fool of yourself. You never get anywhere more than a few seconds faster than the person who drives with safety in mind.
Ignore my above comment. I suggested its removal myself cause it's 3 am and I'm kinda blaery eyed.....
I'll repost the actual valid part of my statement
Besides they fixed the worst intersection a few years back, you know the one by A.I.H. and Sears.... When they ran that other street through by where KFC A/W is. (I will readily admit street names aren't my strongest memory item) I saw a TON of accidents there.
You cannot do too much about that intersection at Giest and University. An Overpass would be wholly inappropriate there, as close as it is to Hutch and West Valley High. I think right turn lanes would be grand on University, Seeing how they are already there on the Giest and the Johannsen, it just makes sence.
I'm surprised the article didn't mention anything about the Fairbanks pasttime of running red lights. Everyday I am amazed at how many A hole Fairbanks drivers are in so much of a hurry that they have to run red lights. And I am not talking about the type of light running that has the thought process, "if I try to stop for the yellow I'll skid out." It's the kind "look the light turned red I'll gun it through anyway!"
Licenses should be suspended for one of these horrible driving habits before they kill someone.
Next time you hear me blare my horn at you for running a red light I hope you hang your head in shame and maybe think the next time you get into a vehicle...but I know that is wishful thinking in this town.
Where College crosses the Steese is another doozy. Been t-boned there myself by a red light runner (the sun was in her eyes and she couldn't see the color of the light, so she wrongly guessed "green").
ffw---
See it several times every day. Couldn't agree more with you.
How about making the left turns permissive on a green arrow only (no optional yield) and following a red signal for oncoming traffic. Might take some redesign, might cost some money, might save some lives.
There should be a robo-cop thinggy like at the airports, and position them at a pre-determined distance before Geist rd. arnt most accidents happening from vehicals heading north??? Robo cop would get a pic of their plate if they are speeding. I'm sure that would lighten things up, something to ponder =)
I realize the article is about intersections, but I gotta ask, are turn signals optional in Fairbanks? It sure seems that way sometimes.
The last thing we need are photo radars. I believe that they are banned from use in Alaska or at least in some cities. If you want photo radar like you had back home then leave back to where you came from. It's not happening up here!
I agree with the need for the right hand turn lanes at the intersection of geist and johansen, constructive suggestion.
I bartended for years and had a guy who worked as an engineer for someone who helped build the overpass for the parks at airport way (I remember riding my bike from the University out to my parents house and hitting the stop sign at the end of the highway with an arrow pointing to Fairbanks and one to the Airport, the overpass was sitting unfinished about 1500 ft south in the middle of the woods)
This guy told me that his job was to find the short cut that would cut costs and help guarantee future federal funding for the road system. Funding from the feds comes for new construction and maintenance fell under state costs; when someone dies there is justification for 'new construction', what ever that is from a new light to guard rail to modifying the angle of an off ramp to accomodate for local weather. That guy told me it was his job to figure out what that was for each site that was built. I dont know how true it is, but that is what he told me one night after a couple.
I guess they need one of those prepare to stop signs coming from the Johanson where it crosses University. Maybe lower the speed? It's not like it really is that long of a stretch to be considered "highway" is it?
Turn on the cameras on the top of the overhangs and start mailing out the traffic fines. Once people start paying a price for breaking the traffic laws, maybe they will think twice before jumping lights or speeding. Fairbanksgas, you are always demanding that the price of gas comes down, maybe if people stopped driving so fast they would save some. If you don't break the law, you do not get a traffic fine. Three times, I have been rear ended when stopped at a red light because someone was driving to fast on ice. The last time the guy actually said he thought I would jump the red light since everyone does it.
Roundabouts,Baby,Roundabouts!
Jonpauls, I like your idea. Possibly the only people who piss me off more than the ones who don't use their turn signals are the ones who sit in the middle of an intersection waiting to turn.
Coupled with people's habits of running the yellow light on a regular basis means these squatters often end up completing their turn when the light is red, impeding traffic moving the other direction.
Changing all the lights to green arrow turn only would halt this idiotic, unsafe practice in it's tracks.
The intersection at Lathrop and Mitchell is another bad light that left hand turn only stays green 3 seconds.
Tonto12, the left lane is not just for passing in Alaska. It is only illegal to be in the left lane if you are traveling under the speed limit.
tatoohombre-you make a good point. Also, are half of Fairbanks headlights burnt out? I turn mine on every time I get into the car over the winter. Between the fog created by exhaust, fresh snow fog, and at times ice fog, not to mention the vast amount of time that we have up here that is "dusk" in the winter, it is just plain STUPID to not turn your lights on. Sure...they won't help *you see* in those situations, but they will help *others see* you!
I can remember one time very distinctly where another driver having their lights on would have been very helpfull. Fog had desended onto Airport way and other parts of town (I was on Airport heading west) and there was fresh snow and of course the ever-present exhaust. I was all set to make a left-turn toward the hospital, but I thought for a second I saw probably 20 feet from the intersection in the oncoming traffic lanes a little blur in the "peasoup". I waited a couple of seconds more...and sure enough a little car came wizzing through the intersection. If I had not been the careful driver I was that day, there would have been another T-bone wreck. If that person would have had their lights on, any moron would have been able to see them.
Even when conditions are not as bad as I described above, it is to your advantage to have you lights on during the winter up here. I don't understand why more people don't do it.
And college road has become a freeway. Does everyone realize that the top speed limit is 40MPH? And BTW the sidewalks are wider than the road. I don't know if a middle turn lane would help, but something needs to happen. Fairbanks traffic has outgrown the roads we all drive on. I beleive they will be changing the intersection at Margaret and College...hopefully it works. as many of the comments above state...SLOW DOWN...Have a great day Fairbanks!!
In the past 2 years or so I know there's been some bad accidents at the Old Steese and College Road also. Speed was a factor in both of those too.
guess they forgot about Peger and Van Horn. a three way stop and some days no one stops.
We don't need to change the roads, just the number of idiots driving on them.
A *Green Arrow* for turning left onto the Parks from Geist at the Justa-Corner, please! I've seen a lot of accidents there and am regularly stuck for several changes of the light cycle.
Excessive posted speed limits are the main reason. I believe they're 5 to 10+ over. And, people assume they can do an additional 5 to 10+ more. Most states already provide for the margin of error by posting speed limits 5 mph less then the safe driving speed.
Also, drivers trying to drive at the posted speed limit while the roads are ice is another problem.
Also, the timing of the yellow light to a "safe driving speed" is off, creating confusion when a safe driver approaches a stale green light. It's even more troublesome when the intersections are iced over.
Also, the AK DOT does not put gravel done during the first to second week of a the first freeze of the season. (Nor do they plow the streets during the first snow.)
Also, if there were a presence of two Fairbanks police car units constantly patrolling the streets.. not necessarily yanking everybody they see committing a minor infraction, it would heavily deter the number of kiddies driving unsafe!! :-)
Fix all these problems, and you'll have safe roads.
Driving is a privlidge not a right. Your vehicle is a tool not a tank. I think the Troopers should re-test every single driver that is up for a renewal. The laws have changed significantly from when I took my first test until now when my children are taking their tests. I have learned a great deal in the past 2 years. Items of significant impact. Things I have been doing wrong and did not know. Ignorance is no excuse. It is a choice to be courteous. Just as being selfish is a choice.
There's no money to be made off of speed enforcment - only the big ticket DUIs get any attention around here.
This morning I followed a Trooper in, he was running his radar the whole time (illegal), and passed no less than 4 vehicles with basic lighting deficiencies (illegal HID retrofits, burnt out bulbs, blue LEDs, 6 driving lights). All of these defects are crash contributors, but he felt the need to let it slide so he could hurry up and get off shift.
He would've caught a fair number of speeders too, had he decided to pull off the Johannsen and actually use his radar for its intended purpose. The vicinity of Aurora Dr. would've been a good place to patrol, but who really wants to get out of their car at -25?
So, Trooper Steese/Johannsen/Peger at 0745, shame on you - you're part of the problem!
How about roundabouts with overpasses??? Have we spent any money on a feasibility study yet?
Echoing about the blatant red light runners. I can't believe how often this happens. And like someone already mentioned, it's not just the people who are afraid of skidding out, or people who just barely make it through. It's people who are plowing through the intersection while the light has been red for a full second or two. Which may not seem like a lot but can very easily mean the difference between life and death.
Like I said in another article I almost saw someone get killed for this exact reason.
"In the past 2 years or so I know there's been some bad accidents at the Old Steese and College Road also. Speed was a factor in both of those too."
^ Yep, that's exactly where it was.
I don't have any hard evidence but I get the feeling that for such a small town there is a dispropotionatley high number of (fatal) accidents here than in smiliar towns elsewhere in the country.
ROUNDABOUT would fix the whole mess.
Slactivist, several things. First, there is nothing illegal about leaving the radar on all the time. Second, there is nothing illegal about HID headlights, so the trooper had no reason to stop them. Third, almost the entire stretch of the Johansen you described has concrete jersey barriers between the lanes, making it physically impossible to turn around on any violations the trooper saw going the other direction. Don't know who the trooper was, so I'm not specifically trying to defend them, just trying to point out that your expectations sound pretty unreasonable.
But most importantly, I want to counter this myth that the departments some how benefit financially from DUI enforcement, which is not true! All money from state traffic tickets and fines from state criminal charges goes directly to the general fund, NOT to DPS. The only possible financial benefit we see from more DUI enforcement is having to utilize less man hours investigating serious and fatal car crashes that result from DUIs. We don't emphasize DUI enforcement for the financial gain, we do it because it's the right thing to do.
As evidence that we are not out to gain financial benefit from citations and arrests, let me offer this. Alaska has a statute (involving a fine) that says that all lights must be in proper working order. We also have other, correctable, statutes that cover head lights, brake lights, tail lights, etc. In almost every case, if a trooper writes a person for having a light out, they get issued the correctable citation. If we were in it for the money, why would we not write the citation that involved a fine?
synchronize the lights on airport to go with the 45 mph speed limit.
if not passing, stay in the right lane, this allows better flow.
counting to three at an intersection sounds more like a compulsive disorder. simply take a quick glance bothe ways before proceeding through the intersection.
Cars don't kill/hurt people, they are the instrument. Intersections are not dangerous, the people driving cars through them are. Fix every road in the world and there will still be crashes. How can we FIX the people?
oh WAHHH lets all cry and complain about how bad of a driver everyone else but ourselves are! Listen, I drive in the left lane, and I go over the speed limit down college, I talk on my cell, and I listen to my radio loud. I have never been in an accident, I learned to keep an eye on everyone else, and I drive defensively. It's really simple people if your scared either stay off the roads or get a volvo and play bumper cars with the rest of us.
"Akert’s infant grandson was in his car seat beside her. Akert’s daughter was at the wheel. The family was taking a trip to the flower shop."
"The Envoy is an SUV and it is illegal to have children that young in the front seat unless there is no back seat."
That means Akert was in the second row of seats, not the front seats. As was her grandson.
I didn't read all the comments so forgive me if I am restating. I would like to point out TURN LANES. Yes, they put those there for a reason-- to TURN. The turn lane down Geist is not there for pulling out and driving down until you can get into a lane. Also the people that pull out and stop in the turn lane trying to cross the road--NO, NO, NO! You need to go back and read the driving manual again--that is not the purpose of the turn lane.
All I know is if I had a missle launcher (attached to my car) for the idiot drivers in this town--there would be a lot less than 20,000 people coming thru the intersection of Geist and University.
My biggest pet peeve? Sheep Creek Road. They put an acceleration lane in for those people, but it tends to be more of a passing lane for those of us on the Parks who have been cut-off by a Subaru driver who apparently can't find the gas pedal. (It's the long, skinny one on the right.)
I don't condone barreling down the Parks at 80, but as someone who obeys the speed limits, I am sick and tired of being cut off by the folks coming off of Sheep Creek. If I can see you, I know damned well you can see me.
Hey Jadis, not all subaru drivers are turtles around here, I for one have a subaru and I push the long skinny pedal very hard! Now the people who get me are the old people with the giant 6 door extended bed ford F-850s that go slow and cant turn or park with out taking up all 4 lanes!
The best way to reduce the amount of accidents plain and simple is for people to slow the hell down get off the damn phone and pay attention to your driving that is why you are in your car to drive somewhere not to talk on your phone and try to imitate your favorite nascar driver. Just slow down and pay attention to the road and ohter people and the lights. I think they should get rid of those yield on green at intersections make them wait for a green arrow like the old days. I thought i was the only one who wished i could blow the stupid drives off the road lagirl. I am not the best driver in the world i speed alot but that is mostly on the rich but i have never hit anyone or ran anyone in a ditch in twenty years of driving. Slow down and pay attention
Make the intersections like a motocross track. Those who dare may cross. Oh wait... that's what we have.
Slacktivist,
If you were on the way home from work and a coworker called you and said you left those files on the desk that your were working on....assuming they were unimportant.....would you turn around and go all the way back and put them away? Or just put them away tomorrow? If a Trooper is off the clock and driving home does that obligate him to pull over every single violation he sees? As a police officer I can guarantee you that there is SOMETHING wrong with about 95% of cars out there that warrant legal grounds to pull someone over. Now if he sees a DUI or reckless driving etc. that's different. But a headlight out? Blue LED's? If they are decorative then yeah he's wrong. Volunteer firefighters are allowed to have blue lights in emergencies. Who knows if he was transporting a prisoner, or en route to another call? Should he stop and deal with that if he has a prisoner in the back? How do you know he was running radar? Were you that close that you could see it, or do you have a radar detector? If so why, since you think headlights out are a bigger deal than speeding? I personally know that our troopers are understaffed and really do live call to call. They are alot busier than I am. Their "patrol" time really isn't.
Geist is a scarry road by itself expecially with the early morning people who choose to walk across this road not at the intersection and will little reflective wear!
I like Gallagher's solution:
We all ride around with a child's rubber dart gun. See someone doing something stupid, shoot 'em with a dart. When a cop sees three darts on a car he pulls them over and gives them a ticket for being an idiot.
Seen everything mentioned here, and then some including the fools who try to beat the train barriers.
MrsS
Justatrooper and N2AK,
Thanks for your responses. I didn't mean to disrespect your positions or your department. I should point out that in Joe Civilian's mind, perception is reality, and I perceived your Trooper to be ignoring basic law for convenience' sake.
I should address your responses in turn. First, I will correct myself re: the moving radar (in the dark, on a crowded roadway,) was pointless though not illegal. However, no ticket issued under such circumstances would stick in court. If you want to sit in front of your 35GHz tumor-gun, fine with me.
For the lights, HID retrofits (added, non-OEM equipment) are in clear violation of FMVSS 108 (wanna guess how I know that one?). There were two Silverados sitting at the coffee stand on Peger with the $130 Craigslist Special headlights - glaring into the eyes of southbound traffic. HIDs are great, I have them on one of my cars, but to put HID bulbs into reflectors/housings designed for incandescent bulbs is both illegal and dangerous.
This was a rare problem a few years ago, but as the price of HID retrofit kits/ballasts/bulbs have come down, any yahoo can stick them into his POS and blind us all. It's your job to correct it, it's my job to complain.
According to the FMVSS, LED windshield washer sprayers are illegal, as are most "Altezza" style tailights, and multiple driving lights. These are less a nuisance as they are an affront to good taste. Illegal nonetheless.
A public servant, in uniform, driving a state-owned vehicle, burning state gas, is ALWAYS on duty. If there's no flashing lights or surly drunk in the back, we assume him (or her) to be available to enforce our laws. If obvious violations are overlooked in our presence, we have the right to ask why.
I understand how easy it is to exhaust yourself chasing every little violator. I've been there, and I won't go back. But you have to consider how many dangerous criminals have been caught by something as minor as a busted tail light or expired registration. You could be a hero! Or you could just teach someone a lesson. Either way's o.k. by me, as long as I see you out there with your lights on, I feel better.
Too much of Fairbanks' law enforcement appears reactive in nature. There's not nearly enough deterrent to crime, and the perception is, that with our thinly stretched officers, you're quite likely to get away with whatever you're doing.
I'd like to reinforce my praise for the job that you all DO do.
And don't mind me, I'm just a grouchy Ex- who's really only here to stir the pot.
To justatrooper and N2AK i thought it was illegal to install red or blue lights of any kind on the front of non emergency vehicles? If so why do i see so many people with blue turn signals and not the blueish lights i mean real blue bulbs and blue driving lights and green turn signals. Another note just give the morons with the super brite lites tickets anyways those piss me off and those blueish one just look dumb too
Tonto -
You said: "A big pet peeve are drivers that drive in the left lane and ignore Alaska law that designates the left lane as a passing lane." I just searched through the DMV's "Driver's Manual", and couldn't find a law so stating. While it certainly makes sense to use the left lane as a passing lane only on more congested roads in larger cities and states, I'm not sure that it's a law that we do so here in Alaska. Please correct me if I'm wrong, because I frequently take that left lane from Geist all the way down the Jo to my College Road exit.
All the blame for this problem lays with the incompetence of the Fairbanks police and the Alaska state troopers. Instead of doing their job and patrolling these dangerous areas all day long, not just when the bars are going to close. Everyone knows that the cops don't get grants for traffic stops. That is why they only concentrate on DUI's that generate revenue for the cops. Look in the past 18 months, how many times has the bank and video store on Geist road gotten robbed in the middle of the day, no cops around because not that many people in the bars that time of the day. How many people have been murdered in Fairbanks, and how many arrest, of course there is no grants for that type of police work. The modern cop has become a taxing authority, they only do police work that generates revenue either directly or indirectly through state and federal grants.
The cops when they do pull someone over there is two or three cops at one pull over, what a waste of manpower. Of course their answer will be that is for officers safety. In the old days when police were here to serve and protect the community, cops generally did not have to be afraid of the community.
No I am not a drunk and I have never had a DUI. I work till mid-night and when I get off at night I see all the cops running around in their gas guzzling, Crown-Vics, SUV's and soon to be Dodge Chargers/Challengers, wasting my tax dollars. The city and borough can not figure why people are complaining about property tax. Yet you drive around during the day and almost never see a cop on airport way or geist road. The biggest jokes are the Airport Cops and the University Cops, what a total waste of tax payers money. We have these "special" units for defined geographical areas yet they are wandering everywhere except where they were originally designed to patrol.
For the grant the city/borough just got and bought the dodges, they could of bought 3 ford focus or equivalent and had money to pay for gas for three years.
outdoorsman - my apologies, and I agree about the big truck thing!!
Had an assistant a few yrs ago who drove a Subaru. We ran into town one day and when she reached 55, I was beyond impressed - I had no idea they went that fast!
We cannot cite under Federal Motor Vehicle laws Slactivist. The only thing close is citing Commercial vehicles under the authority of Federal law. The state has made offenses for the federal laws and that is what we cite.
A "low beam" headlight must be able to illuminate a person at 150 feet, a "high beam" must illuminate a person at 450 feet. 13 AAC 04.020
IF a light other than headlights is mounted on a vehicle and emits more than 300 candlepower then it is considered a spotlight and may not be illuminated while other traffic is approaching. Also ANY light other than red, white, or yellow in their respective directions may not be emitted at any time on the roadway. 13 AAC 04.145
If a cop were to pull over every offense he sees on the way home, he would never get home. Even if he lived 4 miles away. Nearly every car has SOMETHING wrong with it.
Homer,
The blue lights I refer to are for volunteer firefighter or EMS personnel who abide by 13 AAC 04.100 which is lengthy and explicit. Anyone else is not allowed to equip their vehicle like you said. You thought right.
If you all stop talking on your cell phone, it is a lot easier to control your 4 wheeled ice skate! :))))
hmm... I'll just leave that alone
speedstick that is
speedstick- i have to agree, when i am a DD at 3am, or am riding in a car...guaranteed to to find the officers by the bars, or key roads where the alchohol establishments are located during the day...not there...i personally find it interesting when an officer passes me at a high rate of speed w/no EMS lights on....This fall i was exiting the johanson onto giest-could see 3 police cars w/lights on doing the DUI test in the pizza hut parking lot. Imagine my surprise to see another unmarked "DUI TEAM" car w/his HEAD lights off as he prepared to turn onto left on giest.(he then turned the lights on) He then followed me very closely ( i ride a crotchrocket bike) then decided that i (doing the speed limit of 45) was going to slow. He then decided to pass me...i followed him up to 55 mph....also fun, to get behind an officer on the way to N.P. hell if they can speed, no emergency. I figure i'll follow them. too.
All that being said--be safe, and may our EMS/Law enforcement and others who help people stay safe.
For Airport and Geist: lower the speed limit to 35 mph, make the yellow lights longer, and increase the time from one direction going red and another going green.
Place a warning light on the Johansen approaching University (like they finally did for all the intersection on the Mitchell). Don't allow left turns on to Geist until after the Hutchison parking lot, don't allow left turns on to University for the first 200 ft in either direction.
Allow left turns from the turn lanes only on a green arrow.
And for those talking vehicle safety, they should require a vehicle inspection for road worthiness during the emission inspection required for registration. Not safe, no headlight or taillight, no bumper, no fender, mashed light, then no registration until it is fixed. Works quite well in Japan and has for many, many years. Also, leads to lower insurance rates because safer vehicles are on the road.
Subarus definitely go fast. I had a sporty little WRX scream past my truck (I was 2 under the limit, preparing to approach a light) & three others this morning. As soon as he was past he cut in front of the driver in front of me. For my take on the road conditions he was too fast, it was sparkly & new though. Slowing down could help it stay that way!
Fairbanks drivers suck. They display their sucking suckfullness by driving so suckily.They drive like a black Friday walmart opening. They bully by tailgating, pass on the shoulder kicking up crap , use merges as passing lanes, turn to outside lanes, go 60 in slow lane, trap slow guys in the fast lane, pull out in front of you,pass and turn in front of you and pile up to a light that just changed green so instead of nicely cruising slowly through all the green lights ,you get to wait for the speedsters to start moving.
Yup, we live in Sucksville . Attention all walmart shoppers.
just tell everyone to remember that sometimes there are children in the vehicles. my worst fear is getting hit by somebody while my babies are with me.
i don't care if i made someone late to their job/appointment/whatever because of my driving. they should have left earlier.
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