How Striping and Signage Can Save Lives

Striping and signage are two of the easiest variables to control when it comes to traffic safety.

But it seems like they're often an afterthought. Or that someone at the city, county or state is just going through the motions.

And that lack of focus/attention/common sense has the potential to end or change lives.

Here’s a photo of an intersection. Take a look a the length of the stop bar and the outbound oil patterns on the pavement.

Granted, there was a small "no left hand" turn sign across the highway. And a "right hand turn only" sign under the stop sign on the right hand side of the intersection.

But it's pretty obvious that drivers interpreted and treated this as two lanes: one from which you can turn left across the highway and the other from which you can turn to the right onto the highway.

The State didn't want drivers to turn left. It was too dangerous. But the configuration of the "staging area" doesn't communicate that to drivers. Like so many things in life, it could be made considerably better with a fresh coat of paint.

And, after a horrible wreck at the intersection, that's exactly what the State did. It repainted it. This is what it looks like now:

It's pretty obvious now that there's only one outbound lane and that it has to turn right.

How hard would it have been to configure the intersection like that from the outset?


There are jenky intersections like this all over Washington. Bad striping and confusing signage invites (or at least doesn't clearly prohibit) actions that create very preventable risks.

Where it's difficult to check for and accurately assess speed of oncoming traffic less conspicuous vehicles like motorcycles are at the greatest risk of being involved in a collision.

If you're aware of a dangerous intersection or other section of road let us know. We can do a Public Records Act request and investigate to see if there's an inexpensive way to make it safer.