Rural intersection safety study OK’d

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INDIANAPOLIS — The Indiana House of Representatives recently passed legislation authored by State Sen. Michael Crider (R-Greenfield) and sponsored by State Rep. Bob Cherry (R-Greenfield) that would study rural intersection safety improvements.

This legislation would task the Interim Study Committee on Roads and Transportation with examining possible ways to improve safety at rural intersections and find potential incentives for landowners to increase sightlines at intersections.

“Many farmers grow crops right up to their property line and sometimes even into the road’s right-of-way, resulting in severely diminished visibility,” Cherry said. “This has resulted in an increased number of severe accidents and fatalities at these types of intersections.”

According to Cherry, this bill came as a result of a fatal accident in his district where a pickup truck collided with a large crop sprayer when the occupants could not see each other approaching the same intersection because the growing corn was blocking their view.

Senate Enrolled Act 265 now can be considered by the governor. Visit iga.in.gov to learn more about this legislation.