York County deputies cracking down on stop sign violations at two dangerous intersections
YORK, Neb. (KLKN) — Two major intersections just outside of York are becoming a hot spot for stop sign violations.
The intersections of Highway 81 and Highway 34 have seen several crashes and traffic stops.
York County Sheriff Paul Vrbka said drivers are slowing down, but “they’re not stopping completely.”
According to the sheriff’s office, on Wednesday, a deputy pulled over six vehicles for stop sign violations in the span of an hour.
“A lot of times people pull up here, and they have issues with the distance,” Vrbka said.
Authorities are cracking down because of how dangerous these spots can be.
Vrbka says in the past nine months, there have been four crashes resulting in six deaths at these intersections.
That’s not including the three people killed in a crash on Memorial Day weekend of last year.
“I don’t know if it’s inattention, distracted driving, phone usage, or people just in a hurry,” the sheriff said. “It just seems like these days in our society, people are on the go.”
Drivers in the area say it’s very easy to misconstrue how fast the traffic is flowing.
“They don’t understand how fast the semis are driving when they come through town,” Cliff Swanson said. “It’s a misconception of speed. I witnessed one death of a friend that was hit by a semi carrying a combine.”
SEE ALSO: One dead after crash with semi near York
After a series of deadly crashes a year ago, the Nebraska Department of Transportation installed signs alerting drivers of the stop and put in rumble bars for additional safety.
But Swanson feels that’s not enough.
“I think there should be lights or a major reduction of speed,” he said. “I realize that’s why they put that interchange in is so traffic can get through faster, but I don’t think it’s any safer.”
Part of the reason the York County Sheriff’s Office is wanting people to be alert now is because as we approach the summer months, officials know these roads will just get busier.
“Please stop taking these stop signs as suggestions and come to a complete stop before proceeding into the intersection,” the sheriff’s said on Facebook. “The one second you save by rolling through the stop is not worth the possibility of losing your life.”
