ORLANDO, Fla. – On today’s Trooper Steve on Patrol, we’re chasing down a viewer question that honestly made me say, “Yeah… that checks out.”
Matt emailed me after driving east on I-4 near the Lee Road exit. He noticed something many drivers have probably experienced but couldn’t quite put into words. As you approach the area after Fairbanks Avenue, there’s an upcoming exit sign, but what’s missing is the familiar yellow “EXIT ONLY” panel. Drivers follow the roadway, round the curve and suddenly realize they’re in an exit lane with only seconds to react.
That’s when things get dicey.
Matt’s question was simple but important: With all the I-4 expansion and improvements over the last few years, why hasn’t the signage been updated to better warn drivers earlier?
[WATCH BELOW: Trooper Steve navigates construction in downtown Sanford]
So today, we’re taking Results-1 out to that exact stretch of I-4 to see what drivers are seeing in real-time. We’ll look at lane markings, advance signage, sightlines and how much notice motorists are actually getting before that decision point. Sometimes signage looks fine on paper, but driving it tells a very different story.
If we find that the signage is unclear, misleading or no longer matches the current roadway design, we’ll take the next step and reach out to the appropriate transportation authorities to flag the issue. That’s what this segment is all about, identifying real-world traffic concerns and helping get eyes on potential fixes before confusion turns into crashes.
If you’ve noticed something out on the road that doesn’t seem right, confusing, or just plain unsafe, send it my way. Chances are, if you’re experiencing it, plenty of other drivers are too.