In other news, if you’ve heard all you want to hear today about our independence, how about this: Some stop signs virtually invite drivers to run them because the signs are invisible from a distance.
If you want an example, take the intersection of Calapooia Street and 12th Avenue in Albany, pictured here. Going south on Calapooia the other day, I recently ran that sign. When I eventually did see it and slammed on the brakes, I ended up in the middle of the intersection. Luckily, it’s a four-way stop and, in any case, nobody else was around.
Albany is a Tree City USA and justifiably proud of it. But maybe we could take a look at trees that have gotten a little too exuberant in the growth department.
Trees are not the only items that block drivers’ sight lines at city intersections, especially if you’re driving a little car and sit close to the ground. Landscaping in the parking strips and cars parked close to the corner often require drivers to nose way past the painted line even at stop signs they have seen and observed.
Drivers sitting high up in a big pickup may be able to see above all those obstructions. But from such an elevated perch, they’d never see a stop sign through the low branches of a tree. (hh)
My experience….. many years ago while on patrol I noted a few stop signs obscured by limbs. So I went home, got my own shears, came back to one location & cut an offending limb. I should have chopped the damn tree down for all the hulabaloo! Pappy (Lt) Kachel called me in & chewed me out as the home owner complained a cop had ruined her tree. JE
Great story!