Public Safety at Intersections Ignored for Three Years in a Row in Ludington

[XLFD]

Starting in June of 2009, I have devoted a few hours of my time twice a year in documenting the neglect that Ludington's DPW has found no time to correct in their year round employment.  The Federal Department of Transportation's handbook Vegetation Control for Safety details the common sense notion that it is a duty of the governmental entity to make sure that the signs that regulate an intersection are free and clear of being blocked by trees, bushes, other signs, and anything else. 

If such signs are blocked, motorists not very familiar with the area (which includes much of our summer visitors) may shoot through thinking they have the right of way, finding out too late that it isn't.  Often, if the signs are blocked, so is the motorists vision up the intersecting street.  And that includes the oncoming motorists vision as well. 

I have seen no corrective action taking place over the last two years.  I well expect the same to occur this year, since the City leadership is more safety-unconscious and impotent than ever.  As usual, the obscured signs that make the list here are more than 2/3 hidden for more than half of the block.   Some are much worse than the minimum.  It's not only dangerous, but also holds all of us to account for the City's negligence in any litigation where the City is held responsible for an accident.

 

1:  Madison-Melendy-W.JPG

2:  Foster-Madison-W.JPG  Here an RV is blocking the sign, and too close to it by law.

3:  Franklin-Third-S.JPG

4:  Franklin-Sixth-S.JPG  Should be obvious to stop here, however!

5:  Lincoln-Second-N.JPG

6:  Emily-Filer-N.JPG  One-way sign obscured as well.

7:  Delia-Loomis-N.JPG  Honest-- a yield sign is in there.

8:  Danaher-George%20N.JPG  Stop or Yield?

9:  Brother-Franklin-E.JPG

10: Brother-Franklin-W.JPG  Shape of sign is evident in #9 twin

11: Diana-Franklin-E.JPG  Very thick spruces

12: Anderson-Franklin-N.JPG  Drive-in school?

13: Sherman-Tinkham-S.JPG  City leaders are 2 blocks away.

14: Lakeview-StMary-E.JPG

15: Quevilion-StPaul-W.JPG

16: StCatherine-Tinkham-S.JPG

17: Lowell-Rath-W.JPG  Blue spruce getting bigger over the years

18: Delia-Longfellow-N.JPG  Stop sign totally hidden behind the tree

19: Lavina-Lowell-E.JPG 

20: Lavina-Whittier-N.JPG  Trees planted near the corner

21: Emily-Stray-W.JPG

22: Lavina-Stray-W.JPG  And that jeep is parked too close as well.

23: Emily-Resseguie-W.JPG 

24: Emily-Ludington-S.JPG  This one isn't too bad, unless you're riding high

25: Lavina-PM-W.JPG  Sheriff's office in background

26: Delia-Ludington-S.JPG  Lots of traffic at this blocked sign.

27: Court-Delia-W.JPG 

28: Delia-Fitch-E.JPG

29: PM-Rath-E.JPG

30: Haight-Robert-W.JPG

31: Fitch-Rath-W.JPG  Truck is parked too close also

32: Robert-Tinkham-N.JPG

33: Fitch-Lewis-W.JPG  Tree is very dense with leaves

34: Haight-Robert-E.JPG  That's #30 across the way

35: Lewis-PM-W.JPG  Dodging Art Fair traffic

36: PM-William-E.JPG

37: Court-Gaylord-E.JPG  No-see-um Stop sign in high traffic area

38: Fitch-Ferry-W.JPG  Recent planting grows and grows.

39: Fitch-Lakeshore-W.JPG 

 

Very visible stop sign from the south, hidden behind the information signs from the oncoming traffic.  This sign remains the most critically placed stop sign located illegally beyond the sidewalk.

[Dave]

Wouldn't it be ironic if Shay or other members of the 'club' got into an accident at one of these intersections?

[XLFD]

The irony meter would even climb higher if they did so, and then the other person who went past the obstructed sign sued the pants off the City for their injuries and the City leader's negligence.

 

Here's perhaps the most ironic tale ever:  http://www.darwinawards.com/legends/legends1998-16.html

[Marty Redman]

I read this other day and drove around today.  It is hard for me to believe a city like Lud allows this to go on.  I am more likely to see a city truck go by than to see these signs.  Why do they sit on there hands?

[Willy]

XLFD
That has got to be one of the most bizarre stories I have heard, if it is true. It's really quite funny in a macabre way.

[XLFD]

To gauge the veracity of this, just drive or ride through any of the intersections above while facing the direction (N,S,E,W) that is indicated.  You will find about forty more signs that should have some tree trimming around them as well if you do your own research.  Here's some of the previous pictures from last year, just in case you missed them:

http://ludingtoncitizen.ning.com/forum/topics/vegetation-control-fo...

http://ludingtoncitizen.ning.com/forum/topics/vegetation-control-fo...