This New Hudson Valley Driving Trend Is a Nightmare

A new driving trend seems to have hit the Hudson Valley, and not only is it illegal, but it could lead to deadly consequences.

There are more than a few unfortunate driving habits in the Hudson Valley, and many of them seem to happen at the Route 9/44-55 interchange at the Mid-Hudson Bridge. While the most popular move can cost commuters up to $450, a new trend could get someone seriously hurt.

The arterial in Poughkeepsie, NY is the home to some of the most dangerous driving maneuvers in the Hudson Valley (Google)

Dangerous Driving in Poughkeepsie, NY

The first time I saw a driver pull this stunt, I almost felt bad for them. Surely they had made a mistake, panicked, and resorted to an illegal maneuver. The second time I witnessed it just days later, however, I started to wonder if a pattern was emerging.

Twice in one week, I witnessed drivers exiting towards the Mid-Hudson Bridge before executing a very dangerous U-turn to return to Poughkeepsie (Google)

Rise in Illegal U-Turns at the Arterial in Poughkeepsie, NY?

The tactic involves a car exiting Route 9 south to merge onto the Mid-Hudson Bridge (above), but instead of continuing onto the bridge, the car then tries to make a U-turn to return back to Poughkeepsie (below).

This car refused to merge with traffic to cross the Mid-Hudson Bridge and instead attempted a U-turn to return to Poughkeepsie (TSM Poughkeepsie)

Coincidence or Trend?

The first time I witnessed the move, the U-turning car came within inches of being T-boned by a fast-approaching dump truck. The massive vehicle slammed on its brakes, blaring its horn, and stalled just before coming into contact with the offending driver. I thought I had surely witnessed a fluke until the very same thing happened just days later.

Making this U-turn isn't just dangerous, it's illegal (TSM Poughkeepsie)

While part of me refuses to believe that seeing this dangerous maneuver twice in a single week is a coincidence, the truth is that the arterial remains a very confusing cluster of entrance and exit ramps. Did the drivers mean to take the next exit, which would have spit them out in Poughkeepsie, but instead resorted to a dangerous U-turn when they realized their mistake?

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There have been rumors for years that the Route 9/44-55 interchange would be redesigned to make the roads "safer, more reliable, and better integrated with nearby neighborhoods". Perhaps I witnessed the most vital piece of evidence that this project needs to happen sooner than later.

New York State's 5 Most Dangerous Roads [RANKED]

With plenty of big cities and numerous busy highways, it should come as no surprise New York state is unfortunately home to some of the most dangerous roads in the nation. While you would expect New York City to be the home of such roadways (2 on this list), the danger is not limited to the Big Apple. According to Catalano Law, 3 New York State's 5 most dangerous roads live mostly Upstate and should be navigated with the most extreme caution. Here are the 5 most dangerous in the Empire State.

Gallery Credit: Matty Jeff

The 25 Most Dangerous Roads in New Jersey

Gallery Credit: Matt Ryan

Filed Under: Poughkeepsie Arterial

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