Drivers say some traffic signals at U.S. 301 and Gibsonton Drive aren't working, and it's causing some big traffic headaches.
For most of U.S. 301 in Riverview, medians keep traffic from crossing over the lanes to local businesses. It's at major intersections where drivers can make a legal U-turn in order to reach their destination.
However, Gibsonton resident Sam Clues said the way the lights are designed often puts two cars in the same space at the same time.
"I happened to glance up real quick because I was aware of what was going on," Clues said. "At the lights that face the people heading northbound on 301, and the lane on the right hand side of 301 northbound also has a green arrow."
Here's the issue: for traffic in all directions at U.S. 301 and Gibsonton, through traffic gets a protected green left-turn arrow. The traffic in the lanes to their left get a protected right-turn arrow. Signs posted in all directions tell U-turning traffic to yield to the cars turning right.
That's often not what happens.
The issues for drivers is the right of way. The majority of traffic is asked to yield to a minority of cars making the right turn.
"It just seems a little bit crazy to me that they have two consecutive green lights in completely different lanes heading different directions," Clues said. "That could cause an accident."
State officials were asked to pull the crash data at the intersection. The data showed there aren't enough accidents to warrant making a change. That said, the design is relatively new.
"These right turn overlaps with 'U-turn Must Yield To Right Turn' sign postings are relatively new, but as more are placed in operation the public will get used to this new operation," Florida Department of Transportation spokesperson Kris Carson said.
Based on success at that intersection, the state says drivers can expect more intersection configurations like this in the future.