Busy Mount Pleasant intersection draws concerns following multiple crashes

MOUNT PLEASANT, S.C. (WCBD) — Multiple car accidents have occurred throughout the year near the busy Oakland Market shopping center off U.S. Highway 17 in Mount Pleasant. Now, there are concerns about the dangers of the intersection and what can be done to improve safety in the area.

The Market at Oakland is home to many businesses that residents and visitors frequent every day. Even mid-afternoon on a weekday, the intersection to enter the shopping center is filled with cars. Employees at nearby businesses said the intersection is known to be dangerous because of all the traffic in the area.

“Like this one car almost t-boned me,” said Natasha Niles, who works inside the shopping center.

Data from the Mount Pleasant Police Department shows nine collisions on the northbound side of the road at Highway 17 and Oakland Market since January of this year. Six of those were at the intersection, and one of the crashes was fatal. On the southbound side of the road near Lexington Drive, there have been six crashes in the area.

“People just like blow these stop lights all the time and just don’t pay attention,” Niles said.

Other employees tell News 2 they use an alternate entrance to avoid making a turn at the Oakland Market intersection because of speeding and distracted drivers.

“I feel nervous when I take a left every day to go towards the Ravenel Bridge,” Niles explained.

According to the most recent data from the South Carolina Department of Public Safety, making left turns is considered to be very dangerous in South Carolina. The department analyzed vehicle maneuvers before crashes, and turning left resulted in at least 24,490 collisions in the state in 2022.

In Mount Pleasant, Mayor Will Haynie said the majority of crashes in the town are due to left turns at Johnnie Dodds Boulevard. However, he believes the left turn at Oakland Market and Lexington Drive poses concerns too.

“I think that those flashing yellow left turn arrows sometimes are mistaken by drivers to think it’s clear,” he said. “So we are looking at all that because our number one job as a local government is the safety of our people and that one seems to be a very problem area.”

Mayor Haynie said there is a process required through the state to make any changes to traffic signals, but the town is taking steps to identify dangers.

“We can’t just say ‘well let’s take the yellow turn signal out’ — there are certain warrants and certain things that have to happen,” he said. “But the first thing is let’s get a study, and let’s see if there’s a common denominator in all these accidents.”

In the meantime, those who frequent that area of Mount Pleasant said it is up to drivers to pay attention and follow the rules of the road.

Mayor Haynie adds that the town has a good record of being a leader in bike and pedestrian safety. He said they are also exploring road safety at all areas of the town from the Ravenel Bridge to Awendaw.