DEARBORN — On early Friday morning, Oct. 11, another major car accident occurred on the intersection of Chase Rd. and Warren. Ave., at a traffic light that functions as a flashing yellow and flashing red after 10 p.m. each night.

The Arab American News (TAAN) has previously written about the accident-prone intersection, and local business owners have cited the flashing traffic light as the source of accidents that continue to occur there.

Other business owners also pointed out that erratic driving and increased traffic flow has been common in the area, especially with the addition of restaurants and hookah lounges in recent years. 

In July, TAAN was told by the Dearborn Police Department that Wayne County was responsible for functioning traffic lights on Warren Ave. However, upon contacting Wayne County’s Department of Public Service and Road Divisions, TAAN was told that the City of Dearborn has full control of maintaining the signal at the intersection.

This fact was made evident after TAAN contacted the Dearborn Police Department, regarding concerns of heavy traffic flow in the a.m. hours, during the Holy Month of Ramadan, when local residents tended to stay out late to eat an early breakfast.  The flashing light at this intersection made it extremely difficult for drivers to transition smoothly across the road. 

Upon bringing the issue to the department’s attention, the traffic light was changed to a regular green-yellow-red cycle in the following days. However, after Ramadan, the light was once again switched back to a flashing yellow. 

Following a couple more accidents at the intersection, TAAN contacted the department, but phone calls were not returned.  In September, TAAN spoke with Tom Delaje of the City’s Department of Public Works, who was able to clarify that he was responsible for operating traffic signals across the City. He says that he is only able to change signals after he receives clearance from Dearborn Police Chief Ron Haddad.

“We do control that intersection, and I do remember recently changing the flash there. We don’t really have a problem changing it back, but we just need direction from the police department,” Delaje stated.

Delaje added that in 2012, a traffic flow study was conducted by the State, with cooperation from both the City and the County. Suggestions were made to the City on the type of traffic signal that would be best suited at each intersection, based on the amount of projected traffic.

Delaje says the police department was given suggestions at only a few smaller intersections, following the study. However, the intersection at Chase and Warren was not one of them.

“The County and the City was told to make a few changes, in an effort to get better gas mileage. If there were no cars on the side streets, alterations were made. I think their goal was to have vehicles not stop at lights, if they did not have to,” Delaje adds. 

Delaje says that he left a message at the Police Department’s Traffic Safety Division last month, regarding the accident-prone intersection, after he spoke with TAAN, but he has not heard back from them.