Comments on: FDOT: Molino Intersection Is Dangerous, New Traffic Light Can Cut Crashes

By: Eracer

Eracer — Sat, 13 Jun 2015 22:57:25 +0000

Anyone that thinks another traffic light will solve the traffic crashes at any given red light in Pensacola needs to think again and drive defensively. I drive for a living and I encounter drivers ignoring red lights on an almost daily basis.

By: BT

BT — Thu, 11 Jun 2015 23:22:21 +0000

I noticed there isn’t a sign prohibiting U-turns on Hwy 29. Wasn’t that one of the things all this work was supposed to address? U-turns across traffic into the Tom Thumb parking lot?

By: Alex A

Alex A — Thu, 11 Jun 2015 19:49:18 +0000

I would wager someone on 97 with a green light will be hit by a 29 driver running this light. Not knowing they put a light up since he went down that road 3 months ago .before August 1.hope it doesn’t happen. Guess 196 and 29 will be next

By: Citizen

Citizen — Thu, 11 Jun 2015 03:57:45 +0000

Its’ there. It’s on. Get used to it.

By: Hwy 97 Home Owner

Hwy 97 Home Owner — Wed, 10 Jun 2015 23:16:59 +0000

I live on Hwy 97 close to the Farm Bureau. I for one, am all for this light. It surely cannot make the intersection more dangerous than it already is. I’m ready to try something new, and hopefully this will be an improvement. Yes, there will still be accidents there, as with any intersection. But, I’m hoping and praying that just the presence of the light (a real functioning red light other than a flashing one) will alert drivers to at least slow down upon approaching. It will take some getting use to for everyone but I’m definitely an advocate of trying this avenue. It’s better than nothing. I have a 19 year old son who drives through that intersection multiple times a day. And yes I worry every time he leaves home, like any mother. If this light deters some (and hopefully most) of the accidents there you better believe I support it. I don’t understand why some of you people are so bitter about this. Yeah people are careless and not paying attention while driving, agreed, but thats always going to be the case. Some people are just idiots, nothing we can do about that. Lets give the light a chance before we condemn it. I hope and pray all you nay-sayers eat your words and the intersection accidents become a thing of the past.
Although, I do agree with the problem about turning onto Crabtree Church Road-that could definitely cause accidents for sure, just from the traffic congestion trying to turn there. They may want to re-think that move, although its a little late in the game now. We shall see…….

By: Robinhood

Robinhood — Wed, 10 Jun 2015 19:12:17 +0000

Human errors for sure !!!! That is the main cause for ALL accidents that have happened at that particular intersection. People are in a hurry to DIE I believe since that intersection is completely OPEN to where you can clearly see traffic coming at you from both North-29 AND South 29. People making U-TURNS when they are not supposed to is a major concern even though they have extended the median. Nothing you can do about idiots that can not read but terrible others have to suffer from them idiots not obeying the law.

By: Dennis HE Wiggins

Dennis HE Wiggins — Wed, 10 Jun 2015 19:04:38 +0000

I’m gonna join Molinoman. Highway 31 is the longest highway in America. In pretty much every municipality is goes through (around here, at least) it is multi-laned, so I think that constitutes a “major highway.” If you travel it, you will see that there are traffic lights on 31 in almost every town or city through which it passes. Based on your statement about Highway 29, JW, the lights in Cantonment, Ensley, and even Pensacola should not be there.

That statement is not even remotely logical OR sensible.

And as far as all these other things that some say need to be done (warning signs, “rumble strips,” etc.) that would indeed help, but I would venture to say that the overwhelming majority of the people who travel through that intersection are local. That would mean those same people (“locals”) are the ones who are involved in the majority of the accidents. Maybe in the VERY near future signs and such will be installed, but why keep putting off activating the light? Its purpose is to save lives. If activating the light will decrease the accidents by over 59% (“22 of the [37] reported crashes could have been prevented by a traffic signal”), then maybe it should have been activated the day it was installed!

By: JW

JW — Wed, 10 Jun 2015 17:39:17 +0000

@molinoman Thank you for your kind words. Look, I do know folks who have lost family members at this intersection, and for that I am terribly heartbroken about it and wish that it never happened. I do truly hope the lights actually help slow down accidents, but they will NEVER stop incidents from happening there. Especially with a convenience store there. People are going to drive how they want to drive. Next thing you know we will be placing traffic lights on I-10.

By: Harvey

Harvey — Wed, 10 Jun 2015 17:06:50 +0000

Wasted money. People are at fault. They do not pay attention

By: molinoman

molinoman — Wed, 10 Jun 2015 16:34:15 +0000

@JW ‘You don’t place stop lights on major highways’

That is the most idiotic statement I have read so far in this whole ‘red light/no red light’ debate.

Does the intersection need to be reworked? Of course. But saying no red light is needed, or needed on a major highway is just loonacy.

I’ll tell you what my grandpa said to me when I started driving. Don’t worry about what the other idiots are doing, worry about what you are doing and pay attention.

God bless.