Angered by three recent accidents at the same North Laurel intersection, residents are renewing a call for a traffic signal to help reduce snarls in their community.
Members of the North Laurel Civic Association plan to discuss the intersection of U.S. 216 and Baltimore Avenue at their meeting Tuesday at Laurel Woods Elementary School.
"For years we've tried to get a light there," said Patsy Yingling, the association's president. "There's just too much traffic there. We're very upset about it."
George Miller, a traffic engineer with the State Highway Administration, said his department would conduct a traffic study at U.S. 216 and Baltimore Avenue by the end of March 1995, at the request of state Sen. Martin Madden, D-13A, who represents the North Laurel area. Previous studies have shown that the intersection did not need a traffic light, Mr. Miller said.
"We've been reviewing that intersection annually for quite some time," he said. "We look at accidents, signing and speed. In this particular case, the intersection doesn't fit the criteria for a traffic light."
Howard County police recorded five accidents at the U.S. 216-Baltimore Avenue intersection, about a half-mile east of Interstate 95, during the past 21 months. Local residents say there have been more.
The highway administration considers any intersection with 15 total accidents in 12 months a high-accident location.
If during a 12-month period an intersection has five or more accidents in which one vehicle strikes the side of another, that also would warrant a traffic signal. That type of accident signals that the intersection is dangerous for motorists making turns, Mr. Miller said.
In addition, if a motorist has to sit at an intersection for 10 minutes or more before being able to make a turn, Mr. Miller said the highway administration would consider posting a signal.
"But you have to use some engineering judgment," he said. "You have to use some common sense."
In the highway administration's judgment, the intersection isn't that bad.
"There should be an adequate trial of lesser alternatives," Mr. Miller said.
Traffic lights "will also increase your rear-end accident collisions, which could be more severe," he said.
One alternative came in September 1993. The highway administration reduced the speed limit at the intersection from 50 mph to 40 mph.
Residents say that wasn't enough. They charge that police records are not showing all the accidents that occur at the intersection.
"They are the worst record keepers," said North Laurel resident Donna Thewes. "I think the computer is eating up their records."
Ms. Thewes said she saw two of three recent accidents at the intersection that happened in three weeks between Thanksgiving and the middle of this month. County police said they had only one accident recorded at that intersection during that time.
"The police were out flagging the intersection," Ms. Thewes said. "I was there. That whole intersection was blocked off for one of the accidents because they had to bring in a MedEvac [helicopter]."
Traffic at the intersection is expected to continue increasing because of a housing development off Baltimore Avenue that is near completion.
"It's inevitable that they are going to have to put a stoplight at that intersection," said state Del. John S. Morgan, D-13B, who represents the North Laurel area.