Stay Left -- No, Right! No, Left!

There are two kinds of people who drive Interstate 275 South through St. Petersburg -- those who don't know where they're going, and are whipsawed back and forth in a panic by exit-only signs, and those who do know, but are in deadly peril from the first kind.

The fiery and fatal crash of a diesel-fuel truck on Wednesday night, which has put the I-375 exit out of commission, apparently occurred after the driver mistakenly exited left instead of continuing southbound.

At that exit, the leftmost lane is exit-only, headed for downtown St. Petersburg. The next lane over gives you the option of exiting left or continuing to the right. I can't tell you how many times I've been in that lane, exiting, when a panicked driver in the leftmost lane has suddenly veered across my path, desperately trying to get back to the southbound side.

Yet immediately afterward, the southbound interstate splits again, with I-175 bearing to the left toward Tropicana Field, and I-275 to the right continuing toward Bradenton and Sarasota. Once again, the wise St. Petersburg commuter knows that at that split, last-minute drivers in the left lanes will panic and plunge back to the right, unmindful of the fact there may already be cars in those lanes.

Oh, and just for funsies, as the road continues southbound from there, the original two lanes each in turn become exit-only lanes (at 22nd Avenue South and 54th Avenue South), so to keep southbound, you have to be sure to keep moving back to the left.

In sum, to tell people how to get through St. Petersburg: don't accidentally go left at I-375. Then don't accidentally go left at I-175. But then you can't stay where you are on autopilot; you have to keep getting over to the left to avoid exit-only lanes on the right.

Now, in a perfect world, if drivers were alert, paying attention and savvy to the signs, can they negotiate this without a hitch? Yes. But in this world, people ignore exit-only signs, they talk on the cell phone, they get distracted, they panic easily, and in that moment of panic they think it is more important to yank the steering wheel than to look first. The question is not whether people ought to be better drivers, but whether we can post enough signs and warnings and signals to keep them from being worse ones.      

Comments

[John Gibson]

It reminds of an octopus redesigned by a committee.

I drove that interstate when it was first built and am still befuddled by it today.

However, it would help if people actually drove something close to the speed limit and left room between cars so the panicky drivers can actually get out of that left lane.

[Jennifer W]

Here Here!! Please stay at or under the speed limit people. I do, driving my little 4 cylinder hybrid at the speed limit feeling like I am crawling along at 45mph based on the way people pass me. I avoid the interstate whenever possible because

1. people just drive too fast for my liking

2. when I do leave space between me and the next car, I am cut off relentlessly by people going 80 or above, which makes me slow down more to then give more space again, and the process continues

3. I have to pay more attention to the other drivers who are confused by the strange exits around downtown. Not their fault most of the time because they are not familiar with the area.

It all reminds me of something my mother taught me when I was learning to drive: if you are on an interstate and you accidentally take the wrong exit, DON'T SWERVE BACK! Take the exit anyway and re-enter the highway at the next opportunity. Just follow through with your motions to avoid accidents. Perhaps this truck driver would still be alive today if he had followed my mother's advice.

[Jane]

Don't forget the traffic merging ONTO 275 South on the left-hand side south of the octopus. Just when you thought it was safe...
I've lived in Southern St. Pete for many years now and have seen everything you've described and, as Jennifer describes all at top speed. People! If you're not sure where you are, slow down and read the signs! Yes, it's confusing so PAY ATTENTION! Jennifer's also right about the advice of staying where you are and continue along the exit you find yourself on. It's tough enough for those who drive this route daily, we know it's difficult for people unfamiliar with the roads.

Oh, and you haven't lived in St. Pete if you haven't guided your teenage brand-new driver through the 175/275/375 maze. Mine got the same advice: DON'T SWERVE BACK!

[CJ]

I can't tell you how many times I've wound up exiting on 375 when I wanted 175. I don't go down there often but I do know my way around.

Drivers cut back across lanes all the time when they're in the wrong exit lane - not just in St. Pete, but everywhere. I saw one recently where Roosevelt exits south from Ulmerton - east. That's simple and well marked. I was amazed the SUV that got cut-off managed to avoid an accident.

I told my son when he started driving that at least 10% of the other drivers were idiots. That made 1 of every 10 cars on the road someone you have to watch out for.

I have to wonder if the tanker driver was very tired because he drove on those roads all the time. A very sad situation all around.

[Marissa]

It is incredibly confusing when you get to that part of the interstate. I don't like traveling past that part because you are right - people don't know where they are going and get confused which is a hazard to other drivers. Just watch other people closely and be careful.

St Pete's version of malfunction junction before the improvements(which have helped quite a bit by the way). MAJOR DIFFERENCE:in Tampa the speed limit is 50 mph through that section preceeded, and succeeded by 55mph speed limits. In St Pete the limit is 65 mph all the way through town on I-275. The speed limits ought to be reduced to 50 mph from 22nd Av N to 22nd Av S, with an overall speed limit of 55 mph from 54th Av N to 54th Av S. That won't solve the design problem, but ought to make it a tad safer, when making the drive. This is submitted by a driver who typically drives 5 to 10 mph over the limit on interstates.

[Alex]

I have to admit, I am one of those drivers who has gotten caught accidentally exiting and then merging back onto 275 to avoid the exit. Sorry St Pete. I live way up in Pasco County. So I don't get down there very much