In northeast Raleigh, just north of Marsh Creek Park, drivers are now experiencing a safer commute at the intersection of Buffaloe Road and New Hope Road thanks to recent traffic safety improvements. The junction, handling nearly 44,000 vehicles daily, was once a notorious hotspot for severe accidents. According to the Raleigh City reports, there were five crashes resulting in serious injury between 2017 and 2022, including a fatal collision in 2022.
To mitigate these dangers, a developer introduced new crosswalks on the south and east legs of the intersection, complete with pedestrian signals and refuge islands. These changes have allowed for safer access to bus stops, neighborhood areas, and a local grocery store. Further, in May 2023 the City of Raleigh's Vision Zero program stepped in to enhance signal operations, introducing fully protected left turns to prevent collisions from left-turning vehicles. Now, drivers are met with a green arrow, signaling a clear, protected turn away from oncoming traffic.
But that wasn't all: red light running, another major cause of accidents at the intersection, was tackled by the addition of retroreflective backplates to the traffic signals in September 2023. The high-visibility backplates, a noted safety countermeasure, have shown effectiveness in reducing crash rates stemming from this specific issue.
The city's commitment to safety reflects in the early data post-improvements, although it's been just 14 months since the changes came into full effect. A before and after study reveals there have been no fatal crashes, and no crashes leading to serious injury. "The severity of crashes is much lower," the City of Raleigh report states. While long-term data will paint a more comprehensive picture, initial numbers indicate substantial decreases in total crashes and injury-causing impacts.
