OUR VIEW: We all have to live together, so drive safe

It’s an all too familiar situation: you come to a halt at a four-way stop at the same time as three other cars.

Two are turning and two are going straight, including you. If you average in the starting velocity of all the cars involved with two of the cars heading to Cleveland, what time does train A reach Boston?

Okay, so four-way stops aren’t always that complicated, but sometimes traffic can be confusing. Much of this frustration comes from heavy traffic or slow drivers but sometimes the traffic headaches are caused by a bigger problem: poor roadway design.

While Logan isn’t the congested nightmare of Southern California, it still has its fair share of problematic roads.

Closest to home is the roadblock at 700 East, the road at the bottom of Old Main Hill, and 400 North. Currently 700 East is blocked off from 400 North, complicating a potentially easy access to campus from the southeast. Opening 700 East to 400 North would make a convenient turnoff from the busy 400 North onto campus.

Currently drivers are forced to turn onto 600 East and then weave through a maze of stop signs and crosswalks to get up to campus. This is a needless issue that could be resolved by connecting the roads. Any fear of a dangerous left turn onto 400 North, this could be easily resolved by posting a right turn only sign.

Another confusing roadway is the four-way stop at 1000 North and 600 East – the crooked intersection that breaks the continuity of 600 East. This four-way stop can be difficult to figure out as it is arranged slightly different from other four-way stops. Drivers on 600 East must swerve to the left before continuing straight. However, it too can be easily navigated if drivers on 600 East would stop using their blinker if going straight through.

Even though the road jogs and may seem like a turn in the road, it is really the same road and requires no blinker. Turning the blinker on while going through on 600 East only causes confusion and a potential accident. The left turn signal should only be used on 600 East if you want to turn onto 1000 North, otherwise stop and then go right on through.

A final problematic traffic area is the downhill slope of 600 East when it comes to an intersection at Canyon Boulevard, which is located on the north side of the Island. Going down 600 East can be dangerous at any time of year as it is a steep slope and there is a stop sign at the bottom. In the winter, with icy road conditions, it can be especially hazardous to try to stop at the bottom of the hill. To avoid this, the four-way stop at the bottom of the hill should be changed to a two-way and drivers on 600 East should have the right-of-way. This would permit drivers to make a smooth descent and continue on without creating a danger to themselves and motorists on Canyon Boulevard.

As students we can’t change much, but we can change our own driving habits by being more conscientious. We can also urge the city planners to consider these changes for the safety and convenience of the students and the community. City planners, please take our suggestions seriously and make these simple changes.