Will This New Update Actually Help Hudson Valley Traffic?

One of the most frustrating stretches of road in the entire Hudson Valley is getting an update... but will the change actually do anything to improve driver safety?

It's important to make the distinction between roads that are dangerous because of their physical features (twists and turns, low visibility etc), and roads that are made dangerous thanks to the actions of drivers. The new updates focus of the latter.

New Update on Route 9 Focuses on Important Issue

The new update is focusing on an area where commuters seem to consistently ignore one of the most important rules of the road: yielding. Not only is the aim to increase safety, but the recent additions could hopefully save drivers money as well.

New Update at the Route 9 Arterial in Poughkeepsie, NY

The small stretches of road to receive the recent facelifts are the entry and exit ramps of the Route 9 arterial at the Mid-Hudson Bridge in Poughkeepsie, NY. It could very well be the epicenter of the non-yielding epidemic.

Will New Signs Help Yielding on Route 9 Arterial?

Like clockwork, vehicles using the exit ramps from both Route 9 and the Mid-Hudson Bridge refuse to yield the right-of-way (below). Not only is it dangerous, but failure to yield is a driving infraction punishable with a fine up to $450.

The new updates (below) were installed Tuesday morning, April 15th 2025. The bright yellow addition to the arterial's yield signs are meant to draw attention to the fact that there is no safe merging area (below).

While yielding at traffic circles also seems to confuse local drivers, the danger levels might not be as high. While traffic circles inherently slow vehicles down, failure to yield at the arterial could end with a high-speed collision.

It's difficult to say if moving a yield sign from one side of the road to the other (above) will do much to convince drivers to yield, but the arterial needs all the help it can get. Check out some more "traditional" dangerous roads below.