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Tall
Corn
Obstructs Views at Roadway Intersections and Railroad Crossings
Posted 14 July
2010
As Iowa’s corn crop
grows taller, motorists are urged to use extra caution at roadway
intersections and railroad crossings where the driver’s view may be
obstructed.
Iowa Department of Transportation (DOT) statistics show there were 48
total crashes during 2009 at rural intersections due to obstructed
views by trees or crops. These crashes killed four people and caused at
least 49 injuries. Property damage totals from these crashes came to
$440,298.The state normally sees approximately two fatalities each year
due to sight obstructions on rural gravel intersections and driveways.
Most rural intersections are not marked with stop or yield signs;
however, highway-rail grade crossings are marked with a crossbuck that
serves as a yield sign. "These intersections should always be
approached with caution," said Troy Jerman with the Iowa DOT’s Office
of Traffic and Safety, "especially when the view is obstructed by crops
or trees.”
Jerman said motorists should treat these intersections as if they had
stop or yield signs posted, and not enter the intersection or cross the
railroad tracks until they are absolutely certain no vehicles are
coming from the side roads or trains are present, and then proceed with
caution.
The appearance of dust from an approaching vehicle on a gravel roadway
is often used by motorists as a signal to slow down at a rural
intersection. Wet weather and special roadway treatments can hold down
the dust and make it more difficult to tell if a motor vehicle is
approaching on a side road. Loose gravel can also make controlling a
vehicle very difficult when making any sudden stop. "The simple rules
of keeping your speed down and exercising additional caution in areas
of limited visibility are critical to safe driving in rural areas,"
added Jerman.
Trains can be very difficult to spot when tall corn limits the view at
a rural crossing. Tammy Nicholson, director of the Iowa DOT’s Office of
Rail Transportation says, “Although trains are considerably taller than
most crops, it still becomes difficult to see them approaching at an
uncontrolled intersection where the view is obstructed by vegetation or
other visibility hazards.” Nicholson reminds motorists to “Stop, Look,
Listen, and Live” when crossing railroad tracks.
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