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4 of 7 It should also be noted that some reports have shown that older drivers are willing to take a standard 5.5 second gap, but that older drivers have a more difficult time recognizing the speed of oncoming vehicles and can misjudge the gap. This difficulty in speed recognition can result in older drivers choosing to wait for greater space between vehicles to feel comfortable making the turn. For typical roadway users, 500 feet of sight distance is required to see, evaluate and use a gap in traffic to enter the roadway. This value equates to what is comfortable for drivers around age 65; younger drivers require less than 500 feet. For older drivers (75+) the sight distance needed increases slightly to 530 feet. For the Merritt project, the intersection sight distance looking to the south (630 feet) is adequate for documented traffic speeds on Foothill of 45 mph and 55 mph. Older drivers should not have difficulty entering the roadway looking to the south, as it provides an ability to see a vehicles that are 8 seconds away. The intersection sight distance looking to the north is 550 feet. This provides visibility beyond the required 500 feet of sight distance for 45 mph, but limited sight distance at 55 mph. The typical driver will be able to evaluate the gaps in traffic to turn on to Foothill Road. Older drivers may choose to wait until no southbound vehicle is present before making the turn, as the 550 feet of sight distance is right at the gap acceptance time for older drivers. Accident Data In the past 20 years, there have been 7 crashes along the project frontage. Most of these crashes are the result of vehicles driving off the road, which are shown in the table as “hit object.” Year Direction Type Age Time 2004 SB DUI 54 3:00 AM 2007 SB Hit Object 18 11:00 PM 2011 NB Rear end 29 3:00 PM 2012 NB Hit Object 43 12:30 AM 2014 NB Hit Object 16 9:00 PM 2021 NB Hit Object – reading texts 16 8:00 AM 2022 SB Rear end 16 3:45 PM The review of the adjacent residential intersections shows 7 crashes in the past 20 years. None of the crashes involved a vehicle making a left turn from the side street. The Muirwood Drive South crashes, while both shown as broadside crashes, don’t necessarily call out a pattern, as they are almost 15 years apart. Puri Court’s crashes are like the crashes along the project frontage with the crash type “hit object.” These two crashes are 10+ years apart. Foothill Knolls did have two rear end crashes in successive years, but in opposite directions.