Lit Arrows Slow County Traffic

Previous signs at sharp curve Unheeded; fatalities occurred

Kenosha News Staff - Apr. 26, 2002

BRISTOL—The Kenosha County highways Division is hoping a new high-tech warning light will slow drivers negotiating a sharp curve on Highway Q where a fatal accident occurred just months ago.

The east-west road juts south half a mile west of Highway MB, then it curves again roughly onefourth of a mile away. Drivers are cautioned to take both curves slowly, but many have failed to heed the warnings, particularly at the northernmost curve.

There, at 104th Street (Highway Q) and 168th Avenue, a 31 year-old Illinois motorist heading westbound struck a large tree stump Dec. 15. The man, Matthew C. Lepke, died of his injuries four days later. Earlier, a driver reportedly ripped through the guardrail there.

Audrey Van Slochteren, said that the stretch of road has been the site of numerous accidents over the years, with drivers striking the tree and guardrail upon failing to slow appropriately for the sharp curve. After the December fatality, she wrote a letter to the county seeking help.

“I thought it was time something be done,” Van Slochteren said. “There have been too many accidents. Too high a cost has been paid in repairs, human life and injuries."

The curve already had the guardrail and a variety of warning indicators signaling the approaching bend in the road and the direction drivers should follow. Signs also caution motorists to reduce their speed to 15mph. Still, accidents persisted.

Now the highway department has installed a unit made of a series of L.E.D. lights, which are brighter than standard lights. The powerful lights flash in the shape of an arrow pointing in the direction drivers are to follow. [BlinkerSigns®]

"It's a real attention grabber," said Gary Sipsma, director of Kenosha County’s highways division. “As far as we know, this is something that just came on the market within the last six months. It may have been available elsewhere in the country, but not around here. It’s not your conventional beacon. It’s more than that."

Sipsma said that the warning is solar-powered and equipped with a photo sensor, so the bright flashing is highly visible at night or on overcast days.

Van Slochteren said that it seems to be doing the trick.