Dangerous Intersections

It is probably no surprise to you that the most dangerous intersections in Indian River, St. Lucie and Martin counties are all on U.S. 1.  U.S. 1 is the oldest highway serving the country’s East Coast, stretching 25-hundred miles from the Canadian border to Key West.  I bet it’s is also the busiest, with traffic signals every 20 feet -- or so it seems.  Let’s take a drive south on U.S. 1.  We’ll start in Vero Beach at eastbound State Route 60, Indian River County’s most dangerous intersection.  This was the scene of 21 crashes in 2012, reported Scripps Treasure Coast Newspapers.  I drive through here frequently.  It’s confusing.  Just to the north, U.S. 1 bends 90 degrees.  In St. Lucie County, we drive through Fort Pierce to the intersection of U.S. 1 with Prima Vista Boulevard.  There were 82 crashes here in one year, according to the latest count.  Many involved drivers making U-turns on U.S. 1 in front of drivers turning right from Prima Vista.  Now we are in Martin County.  At the intersection with Britt Road there were 60 crashes in 2012.  The intersection is being rebuilt with turning lanes and new signals.  Nearby merchants call it “dysfunction junction.”  Let’s head back north.  But not on U.S. 1.  For 88.9 FM, this is Paul Janensch.