Keeping safety in sight

City aims to increase visibility at intersections after near-misses

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BROOKINGS – A number of local drivers have reported coming very close to running over kids because their view was blocked at intersections, and they wanted the city to do something about it, said Mike Struck, community development director. 

That’s why the Brookings City Council passed an ordinance earlier this month to extend the sight triangles and reduce obstructions like too-high hedges, fences and walls and too-low signs at intersections.

Too many close calls

“There were no collisions,” Struck said. “Kids on bikes were lockin’ ‘em up or swerving at the last minute, as well as vehicles just hitting the brakes really hard. 

“Some of them were self-reported by the drivers. They had calmed down by that point but they were almost in a state of shock. Just said, ‘We need to do something about these (intersections). I couldn’t see, my visibility was obstructed.’ 

“It was more they were just scared and brought it to our attention and said we need to do something so that we don’t have a serious injury,” Struck explained.

The previous city ordinance only went 55 feet back from where the center lines of the street crossed at an intersection; this brought the sight triangle to where the sidewalks met the curb. The city also controls the boulevard, which adds some territory up to where the sidewalks cross each other. The extended triangle gives the drivers an unobstructed view for only a couple car lengths before the crosswalk, not allowing a driver much time to brake if someone steps or rides into their path.

“The common theme that kept coming up is obstructions. Most notably, it was the hedges,” Struck said, adding any object, such as fences, walls and signs, that obstructs visibility is included in the ordinance. 

Some hedges came right up to where the sidewalks met at the corners and “really becomes a solid object,” he added.

“Let’s just say there’s a 6-foot hedge along the sidewalk and as a car is coming … you’re not able to see if there’s anything coming down the sidewalk or the street, so it got to be a concern. I’m 6-1 and I can’t see over the hedges, so you can imagine if you’re trying to back a car or coming down the street and you can’t see anything below the top of my head coming down the other street or sidewalk,” Struck said.

Finding a solution

The Brookings City Council’s answer was to pass an ordinance to strengthen Intersection Safety Zones by expanding sight triangles so drivers can see if anything is coming their way.

“We wanted to simplify it,” and the council approved a triangle that goes 25 feet in each direction from the corner of the property line, inside where the sidewalks intersect, Struck said.

“You basically connect those two points diagonally and that’s the area in this white and black (border in the illustration); that’s our sight triangle where we don’t want any obstructions,” Struck said.

Driveways and alleyways got the same treatment, with 10-foot triangles on each side of the access to a street or alleyway so drivers could see whatever is coming.

All objects in those triangles have to be less than 30 inches tall (such as hedges, walls and fences) – about the height of the average tabletop – or higher than 10 feet (signs) so drivers will be able to see someone walking or riding down the street. Sign posts or trees are allowed since they are not big enough to keep a driver from seeing a person walking or biking.

“The 30 inches still may not be enough,” Struck said, adding small children riding a tricycle or Big Wheel might not be visible above that height.

The rule applies to any intersection in town that may have an obstruction, whether it’s a controlled intersection or not, Struck said.

“The focus is really to work on safety zones around the intersections and driveways and alleyways where you have intersected streets and sidewalks to try to create a safe environment,” he said.

Making it work

The city notified property owners, sending out 150-200 letters in the first few weeks, Struck said. It’s gotten different reactions.

“Some of them (said), ‘I never really liked that hedge, but now you’ve given me a reason to tear it out,’” Struck said.

“Some have complied, some have not complied; some have fought the battle,” he said. 

“I don’t think there’s any ill-intent by any property owner. Most of them were just not aware. And for the most part, they have agreed with us and they see our viewpoint,” he said. “When you talk to those property owners, (they say), ‘I would feel awful if something happened and my hedge was taller or I had something that was blocking visibility.”

It takes everyone working together, including city workers trimming trees in the boulevard, and property owners doing their part.

“The ordinance will take effect in early November. We would really like to see property owners that have these obstructions in these sight triangles to start trimming their bushes and hedges and just do more timely maintenance,” Struck said.

“We want them at 30 inches and for people to maintain them at 30 inches, so if that means they have to go out once a month and trim their hedges down … that ideally would be great,” he said.

There may be a side benefit to residents.

“I think if you trim them down and maintain them, it really adds value to your property (and) people will say these people care about their property, they take care of their property,” Struck said.

The bottom line is preventing people being injured.

“It’s all about safety,” Struck stressed.  

“It’s a balancing act, because we do want people to be able to enjoy their property, but at the same time, we want to make sure it doesn’t create a safety issue for others that are utilizing the public right of way,” he said.

Contact Jodelle Greiner at jgreiner@brookingsregister.com.