May 17th Chaser Accident near Lubbock

[Brett Roberts]

Thanks for sharing, Ben. This is a great teaching moment and reminder for virtually all of us. I just wanted to add that I feel bad for the chasers involved, and am not tempted to pass harsh judgment. Some of the dialog above I feel illustrates a divide in urban-vs.-rural upbringings, more than anything. Those of us who rarely drove in very remote areas before we started chasing are simply conditioned instinctively to handle these situations in the wrong way. After tens or hundreds of thousands of miles in urban/suburban environments (or even rural ones outside the Plains and Midwest, where vast, desolate grids aren't a thing), it becomes second nature to stop or slow only for specific signage. We all need to override our conditioning if we want to take back roads in areas like W TX, no doubt. But, goodness; it sure would be nice if they could just put up some damn signage, especially at the minority of intersections like this one with poor visibility.

 

[Jesse Risley]

I believe there have been other accidents, perhaps lesser known, involving chasers at similar uncontrolled intersections in N TX.

 

[Warren Faidley]

We stop at all intersections where potential cross traffic visibility is blocked. I'm not just worried about distracted chasers; anyone can blow a stop sign. About 15 years ago, I stopped and a cattle truck blew right through the stop sign in front of us.

 

[B. Dean Berry]

I get that TX has a lot of land mass, and a lot of rural roads, but no joke, I've been driving in extremely rural areas of PA, OH, MD, VA, NC for many many years now, and have never seen this practice of uncontrolled intersections, ever. Every little dirt or gravel farm road has a stop sign at intersections. All of them. It just seems like an excuse not to spend any money. I guess they just expect motorists to pull themselves up by their bootstraps? If someone wants a stop sign there hard enough, they'll do it themselves? The free market prevails? I don't know.

Just doesn't seem like it'd be too tall an order. That road really did seem invisible until you're inside the intersection.

 

[Matt Zumbrunn]

I get that TX has a lot of land mass, and a lot of rural roads, but no joke, I've been driving in extremely rural areas of PA, OH, MD, VA, NC for many many years now, and have never seen this practice of uncontrolled intersections, ever. Every little dirt or gravel farm road has a stop sign at intersections. All of them. It just seems like an excuse not to spend any money. I guess they just expect motorists to pull themselves up by their bootstraps? If someone wants a stop sign there hard enough, they'll do it themselves? The free market prevails? I don't know.

Just doesn't seem like it'd be too tall an order. That road really did seem invisible until you're inside the intersection.

Alot of those roads may not see two vehicles a day 99% of the days. Tons of intersections like that here in KS as well.

 

[James K]

That's a pretty scary vid to watch.

I've seen unsigned intersections on dirt roads in the mountains of CO.
Putting stop signs on every little intersection would be very costly, I'm sure that's a big part of the reason it hasn't been done.

 

[Ben Holcomb]

For the record, I don't think or expect the taxpayers to pay for stop signs out in the middle of nowhere. The local residents are well aware of the implications and proceed safely more or less year round. I imagine there are days those roads see no cars travel across them. The only sure way to be safe is to practice checking corners and slowing down. I know the past year has told us all otherwise, but we are still responsible for our own safety. Nobody else is out there helping you out and looking out for your safety quite like you are.

 

[James Wilson]

Thanks for sharing Ben as this is a good teaching video for all that chase. I stop at all intersections that are like this where your view is blocked or someone is coming. With that said I also continue driving but slow down if I can see for miles that it is clear. Thanks again for sharing

 

[Mark Egan]

There are way too many intersections like this to put up stop (or warning) signs at all of them. (especially considering the limited traffic) But since this one had the special case of low visibility because of the row of trees, I wonder if this particular intersection should have had some sort of sign. Has anyone suggested this to the proper authorities?

The other factor here is that if you slow down as you approach an intersection the driver behind you may not be expecting that, so watch that rearview mirror.

 

[JamesCaruso]

Alot of those roads may not see two vehicles a day 99% of the days. Tons of intersections like that here in KS as well.

Probably true but still not a reason not to put up signage - I agree with @B. Dean Berry in that regard. If the argument for not putting up signage is that “those roads may not see two vehicles a day 99% of the days,” then how is that different from saying a driver might as well blow through the intersection because they have a 99% chance of getting through unscathed??

If money was spent to build the road, why not include some signage with it???

 

[Jeff House]

Kansas law is to treat unmarked intersections as a four way stop, iirc.

 

[Matt Zumbrunn]

Probably true but still not a reason not to put up signage - I agree with @B. Dean Berry in that regard. If the argument for not putting up signage is that “those roads may not see two vehicles a day 99% of the days,” then how is that different from saying a driver might as well blow through the intersection because they have a 99% chance of getting through unscathed??

If money was spent to build the road, why not include some signage with it???

Or folks could learn the rules of the road and drive catiously in unfamiliar areas. Unless it is a problem intersection with a history of accidents there is zero chance signs will go up. They will chalk it up to inattentive driving and move on.

 

[Matt Hunt]

Wow, that's definitely an eye opener. I really try to avoid dirt roads, because I can't drive very fast on them, and I'm afraid of getting stuck. But I honestly never even thought about the fact the intersections on dirt roads have no signs. Good reminder, should I decide to venture down a dirt road (like I actually did once today).

 

[Gary Latimer]

Excellent video! This is the rule I use 100% of the time and it never fails:

I ASSUME I NEVER have the right of way. If I do, it gets sorted out quickly and I go. By assuming that everyone else but myself has the ROW, it avoids me having to deal with those pesky door frame impalements and glass shards in my eyeballs from receiving a full speed side impact.

This particular situation was made much more difficult due to low contrast lighting and a road that wasn’t really visible... so yes, having the co-pilot spot for roads would be the ideal scenario, but not fail safe. Signs would likely be impractical as has been mentioned. Just glad no one bought the farm in this one. Thanks again for posting this.