West Asheville intersection gets new all-way stop: What to know

ASHEVILLE - A West Asheville intersection has been converted to an all-way stop "in the interest of safety," according to a July 15 news release from the N.C. Department of Transportation.

NCDOT staff, in coordination with City of Asheville staff, installed new stop signs and pavement markings at the intersection of Emma and Bingham roads. The operation also included new “stop ahead” and “new traffic pattern ahead” signs in the area.

Previously, only traffic on Bingham Road had to stop at this three-leg intersection. Now, traffic on Emma Road must also come to a full and complete stop.

There were a total of 21 crashes at the intersection during a 10-year study window, NCDOT spokesperson David Uchiyama told the Citizen Times. Of these, six were "Class C" injuries, in which one or more people complain of pain or momentary unconsciousness, and 15 were property damage only.

"This treatment is an effective, low-cost measure that will improve safety in the area. The all-way stop is a countermeasure for a chronic front-impact crash pattern that exists at this intersection," the release said.

All-way stop installations across North Carolina have dramatically reduced the total number and severity of crashes across the state, it said. All-way stops reduced total crashes by 68%, reduced injury crashes by 77%, and frontal-impact crashes by 75%.

What to do at an all-way stop​​​​​ ​

• ​The first vehicle at the intersection has the right of way;
• When two or more vehicles reach an intersection at the same time, the vehicle to the right has the right of way and may go straight or, if legal and after signaling, turn left or right;
• When two facing vehicles approach an intersection simultaneously, both drivers can move straight ahead or turn right, after coming to a complete stop. If one driver is going straight while the other wants to turn left, the driver who wants to turn left must yield; and
• Even with the right of way, drivers should remember to use appropriate turn signals and watch for pedestrians and other vehicles.

Sarah Honosky is the city government reporter for the Asheville Citizen Times, part of the USA TODAY Network. News Tips? Email shonosky@citizentimes.com or message on Twitter at @slhonosky. Please support local, daily journalism with a subscription to the Citizen Times.