Atlanta: Deadly Hot Spot of Twisting Highways and Truck Rollovers (transplants, 2015)

[Airforceguy]

Nowhere do mid-century roadways and 21st century congestion collide with such deadly force as in Atlanta, where a tangle of twisting roadways and densely packed moving traffic combine to create America’s extreme tipping point. More than 200 trucks have flipped around Atlanta since 2001, according to a study by the American Transportation Research Institute. And more than 200 people have died in truck rollovers in Georgia during that time.
The top 10 rollover hot spots in the Atlanta area all involve exit ramps that require a rapid reduction in speed and often have sightlines obscured by bridges or the curvature of the road. Many lack adequate signs and flashing lights to warn of impending rollover risk.
A four-hour drive in a tractor-trailer around Atlanta reveals the scars of past rollovers—black skid marks on concrete exit walls and tractor-trailer-shaped dents in the grass along the roadside.

Atlanta: Deadly Hot Spot of Twisting Highways and Truck Rollovers - Bloomberg Business

[tikigod311]

Add totally selfish and uneducated drivers and its a total pleasure to drive Atlanta roads!

[PKCorey]

I expected #2 to be #1. I have to drive 75 and see the ramp for 285. I never realized, it had so many accidents.

[sedimenjerry]

I remember one stretch where it seemed like every week there was a really bad truck accident making the news.

That map of Atlanta was basically every major highway intersection. 400 doesn't have that much truck traffic so not surprising that it wasn't included.

[afdinatl]

These transplants can't drive

[AtlantaIsHot]

While the highways are to blame for a great deal of it, I also place enormous blame on other drivers. I have seen cars disrespect trucks many, many times. Cutting them off, riding their bumper, weaving in and out, slamming on brakes after cutting them off. You would think that anyone with a little sense would realize that if they are involved in an accident with a big rig, they will be the loser. I always give them as wide a berth as I can. I also pass them as little as possible. People are just so thoughtless on the highways it seems. All they seem to care about is getting to their destination as quickly as possible, with no thought to anyone or anything else. It's like they no longer realize how risky driving is.

[toll_booth]

The number one problem interchange for truck rollovers is listed as 285/75 on the south side, near the airport. Looking at this combined with the story in question, I guarantee you that the problem ramp is 75 north to 285 west. Look at it on map software--it's one of those horrible 270-degree ramps.

I also noticed that both 285/20 interchanges came up. In fact the one on the east side is #2 for rollovers, and I'll bet the number one contributor there is the 20-west-to-285-south ramp--another 270-

Another thing these two interchanges have: VERY poor warning signage. At the very least, they should be like all those warnings on 285-east-to-75-north at the Cloverleaf, where you are told in no uncertain terms that you had better slow down, or else. By contrast, just look how little warning there is on the east side 20/285 interchange:

https://www.google.com/maps/@33.7148...UTZpntbl7A!2e0

That 15 mph ramp exit speed sign is literally it. There is literally no prior warning. That's right--drivers are expected to slow all the way down from 65+ mph to 15 mph on the mainline. That's a difficult proposition even for a sedan, and it's nearly impossible for a fully-loaded 18-wheeler. I don't care how awake and alert the driver is--the laws of physics are not going to let that truck stop in that short of a distance.

GADOT needs to better sign these ramps well in advance. And they need to look into replacing the worst ramps entirely, such as the ones mentioned here.

[Craziaskowboi]

My favorite is the loop ramp from I-75 SB to I-85 NB. It's bad enough that it's a left exit, but then you get the hairpin turn that's so sharp that GDOT has had to paint both lanes with lots of stripes and stuff warning people to slow down. And as you go around the turn, you can see the big mound of dirt with various car parts and other debris strewn all over it, presumably from people who were busier looking at their portable screens than they were at the road. They should build a flyover ramp from I-75 SB to I-85 NB.

By the way, am I the only one who thinks that Pleasant Hill Road could be straightened between I-85 and Ronald Reagan Parkway? It seems to be an unnecessarily curvy road.

[bu2]

Originally Posted by toll_booth

The number one problem interchange for truck rollovers is listed as 285/75 on the south side, near the airport. Looking at this combined with the story in question, I guarantee you that the problem ramp is 75 north to 285 west. Look at it on map software--it's one of those horrible 270-degree ramps.

I also noticed that both 285/20 interchanges came up. In fact the one on the east side is #2 for rollovers, and I'll bet the number one contributor there is the 20-west-to-285-south ramp--another 270-

Another thing these two interchanges have: VERY poor warning signage. At the very least, they should be like all those warnings on 285-east-to-75-north at the Cloverleaf, where you are told in no uncertain terms that you had better slow down, or else. By contrast, just look how little warning there is on the east side 20/285 interchange:

https://www.google.com/maps/@33.7148...UTZpntbl7A!2e0

That 15 mph ramp exit speed sign is literally it. There is literally no prior warning. That's right--drivers are expected to slow all the way down from 65+ mph to 15 mph on the mainline. That's a difficult proposition even for a sedan, and it's nearly impossible for a fully-loaded 18-wheeler. I don't care how awake and alert the driver is--the laws of physics are not going to let that truck stop in that short of a distance.

GADOT needs to better sign these ramps well in advance. And they need to look into replacing the worst ramps entirely, such as the ones mentioned here.

Georgia and Atlanta are terrible with signage. Its designed for people who drive it every day and don't really need advance warning.

[PKCorey]

Originally Posted by toll_booth

The number one problem interchange for truck rollovers is listed as 285/75 on the south side, near the airport. Looking at this combined with the story in question, I guarantee you that the problem ramp is 75 north to 285 west. Look at it on map software--it's one of those horrible 270-degree ramps.

I also noticed that both 285/20 interchanges came up. In fact the one on the east side is #2 for rollovers, and I'll bet the number one contributor there is the 20-west-to-285-south ramp--another 270-

Another thing these two interchanges have: VERY poor warning signage. At the very least, they should be like all those warnings on 285-east-to-75-north at the Cloverleaf, where you are told in no uncertain terms that you had better slow down, or else. By contrast, just look how little warning there is on the east side 20/285 interchange:

https://www.google.com/maps/@33.7148...UTZpntbl7A!2e0

That 15 mph ramp exit speed sign is literally it. There is literally no prior warning. That's right--drivers are expected to slow all the way down from 65+ mph to 15 mph on the mainline. That's a difficult proposition even for a sedan, and it's nearly impossible for a fully-loaded 18-wheeler. I don't care how awake and alert the driver is--the laws of physics are not going to let that truck stop in that short of a distance.

No, its the ramp from 285 S to 20E that is the problem. Even with the blinking lights and warning signs, trucks come down to fast and by the time, they notice the curve, the load has shifted and they are rolling over. They resurfaced that ramp a couple years ago and it is now pitted and the walls are torn up from the numerous rollovers.

The only idea, I could suggest is for them to put a huge yellow sign right at the split of ramps to 20 E and W about this being a dangerous ramp and slow down.