Dangerous Intersection in New Smyrna Beach Prompts Residential Action

Some residents living close to the intersection of Old Mission Road and Mills Drive in New Smyrna Beach are joining together to demand that changes be made in order to increase the road safety of the juncture. Based on a report made by News 6, the push from residents follows a string of incidents and minor accidents, with the last one taking place this past Thursday.

Two teenagers, both on bicycles, were riding down the sidewalk towards the intersection. As they were headed through the intersection, a car came through the area, failed to fully stop at a stop sign, and proceeded to hit first one and then the other cyclist.

As everyone was ultimately able to walk away from the crash without injury, it is not clear if police were immediately called in, but the Florida Highway Patrol did state that the the accident is only one of two that have been reported at this particular intersection since 2016. Regardless, this terrifying crash illustrates exactly the sort of problems residents claim are plaguing the intersection and has galvanized those who live nearby into demanding that the town address the issue.

One of the most passionate advocates for the updated safety measures believes that a primary contributing factor to the incidents is the proximity of the intersection to the New Smyrna Beach High School. This resident told reporters that every day at noon and every day at 2:00 in the afternoon the crossing of Old Mission Road and Mills Drive becomes choked with people traveling to or from the school as drivers use Mills Drive as a shortcut in order to avoid a traffic light on the nearby 10th Street.

This resident also claims to have a partial solution to the problem. By relocating the stop sign, they say that it would give people on the sidewalk a better visual on the location of cars, and it would make it so that people on bike attempting to cross the intersection know whether or not a car might be breezing through a stop sign at that particular moment.

Reporters from News 6 brought the problem of the intersection to Volusia County’s traffic and engineering department where the information was met with appreciation and a promise to begin looking into solutions for the problems.

James O. Cunningham

Since 1977, personal injury lawyer James Cunningham has provided effective legal advocacy to people who are injured through the negligent actions of another person or entity throughout the Central Florida area. He fights to obtain recoveries for his clients’ physical and emotional pain and suffering and pursues his clients’ personal injury cases with a commitment to excellence and impeccable preparation.