Attorney Doug Horn will be profiling dangerous intersections in the Kansas City area. As a crash lawyer, Doug Horn has represented many people who have been seriously injured or killed in intersection collisions. While all intersections are potentially dangerous, Horn’s purpose is to influence drivers to adopt the safe driver habits and behaviors that will protect themselves, their passengers, and others on the road.
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40 Hwy & Adams Dairy Parkway
Given this intersection’s size and the volumes of traffic that pass through, I am not surprised that this intersection poses an unusual hazard to unsuspecting motorists. In terms of physical size, this is a sprawling intersection of two heavily traveled roads, with 5 lanes entering from the north on Adams Dairy Parkway and 4 lanes from the south. On 40 Highway, 3 lanes enter the intersection from the west and 4 lanes enter from the east.
The fact that Adams Dairy Parkway has a large median separating the road makes the intersection especially wide. Because of the abnormal width, caution should be exercised by drivers who are attempting a left-hand turn from Adams Dairy Parkway.
In terms of traffic volumes, drivers should keep in mind that the I-70 interchange is just about 3/4 mile to the north and the Blue Springs South High School is just to the south. Traffic volumes spike in the morning and mid-afternoon hours on Adams Dairy Parkway as students and teachers from Blue Springs South make their way to and from the school.
In terms of potential vehicle speeds approaching the intersection, drivers should be aware that there are no controlled intersections nearby. As a result, this circumstance contributes to higher speeds as vehicles approach the intersection.
In terms of potential sight obstructions, there is a steep grassy berm located at the northeast corner of the intersection which could serve to inhibit the view of drivers approaching from the north and the east. Also, at the southeast corner, there is a wooded/overgrown area that similarly could restrict the view for drivers approaching from the west and from the south.
Again, the large size of the intersection, coupled with traffic volumes, potential vehicle speeds, and the sight obstructions on the corners, make it imperative that drivers stay alert all the way through the intersection if proceeding with the right-of-way.