The dangers of Phoenix's reversible "suicide lanes"

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For people who have lived in the Valley long enough, they have probably driven up and down 7th Street and 7th Avenue in Phoenix.

Both roads utilize the so-called "suicide lanes" to help with increased traffic during rush hour commute. The arrangement, however, can often be confusing, and sometimes dangerous, if one is not paying attention.

"The middle lane is a complete nightmare," said Gretchen Grabski.

"I'm sure there's a science behind it," said Stephanie Willson.

At least one person, however, understands it.

"I'm very used to it so I think it's great. I can only imagine how traffic would be like heading down to Central Phoenix or out of Central Phoenix if we didn't have that lane in the mornings or in the afternoons," said Jonathan Thompson, whose business, Doggy Daze, is near 7th Street and Missouri.

While Thompson is comfortable with the lanes, he knows that others aren't.

"We've had customers late for appointments because they've got in accidents on 7th Street because of the suicide lanes," said Thompson.

On Monday, new evidence of that danger surfaced. A video taken over the weekend of three near crashes in just a 30-second stretch has gone viral.

"I do see people using that middle lane incorrectly during those hours, and it can be a little bit scary as a driver," said Willson.

"It's totally a matter of execution and getting used to it and knowing where to turn, where you can't turn, because that's what makes it all flow," said Thompson.

"You see people going the wrong way on a freeway, happen to go the wrong way on like a suicide lane, that's why they call it the suicide lane," said Willson.