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An 'optical illusion' on Interstate 285, just outside Atlanta, Georgia, is the cause of some ten crashes this year that have seen trucks rollover onto their sides as their drivers fail to properly negotiate a bend in the road.

Drivers see an off-ramp which is completely straight, when in actual fact the freeway leads to an almost 180 degree curve.

Most of the rollovers happen in the first few feet, meaning the curve is catching truckers by surprise. 

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One particular section of I-285 is particularly troublesome; the I-285 southbound ramp to Interstate 20 eastbound in DeKalb County

At least 25,000 drivers use the ramp every day but it isn't the high traffic volume that causes the crashes, but perhaps a design flaw

A long straightaway leads to a sharp transition ramp. The speed limit on the ramp is 35 mph but people typically drive faster on the straight portion not realizing a large curve is awaiting them

The 'Atlanta Bypass' usually sees some of the worst traffic conditions and worst accidents in the metro area

The disastrous curve has seen multiple crashes occur during the past 18 months as drivers are caught unawares as they approach the turn.

By the time they realize, often it is too late to correct the course of their semi-trailer and the truck loses control and ends up flipping over.

An investigation by a local television news program has now caused Georgia's Department of Transportation to take a serious look at the problem and make some changes to help drivers in the future avoid catastrophe.

'It's like deja vu,' said WSB traffic reporter Mark Arum, 'That interchange has kept me in business for 18 years.'

Everything from beer, to eggs, to cattle, to auto parts end up spilling across the road in DeKalb County. 

'I'm not an engineer, but common sense says there's something wrong there,' says Mr Arum. 

Georgia's Department of Transportation has been looking at the problem and although they couldn't find anything wrong in the construction of the ramp, there were some other quirks that could make it difficult for drivers to control their trucks. 

Trucker drives around notoriously dangerous Atlanta bypass

The view of the curve is also blocked by trees, which makes it more difficult for drivers to see what is in front of them

There is one lane of highway to the driver's right that goes straight. If the driver can't see the curve, they might think the straight lane is theirs

To help with the illusion the DOT plans on installing reflective panels on the wall that separates the ramp lane with the through lane to help drivers differentiate between the two

The DOT plans to install six signs indicating a truck tip-over danger zone approaching the troublesome ramp to alert truck drivers earlier and more often to slow down their big rigs

'We have other ramps like this in the Atlanta area, so it's not that this is a horrible design,' said Herman Hill, who has worked for the GDOT for 15 years.

Mr Hill noted that the road is straight for at least half a mile before turning into a curve.

He deduced that because of the straightness, drivers typically speed up.

The view is also blocked by trees, so the curve doesn't really come into view until drivers are already in it.

The warning signs recommend 35 miles per hour but most cars would be travelling around the 70-75 mark.

'We're coming off 285, we're probably going 70-75,' remarked Hill. 

The GDOT has decided that alerting drivers to the problem earlier is likely the easiest way of solving it.

The curve occurs very suddenly after drivers have been able to speed down a straight section of freeway

A higher center of gravity and a heavy load can make a truck more difficult to maneuver at the last minute so truck drivers cannot typically react as quickly as car drivers can

Lethal: Open records requests found at least 10 truck rollovers or sideswipes in the last year and a half

Six new truck tip-over warning signs are planned to be erected at the start of the straight portion of the road along with new speed advisory signs and flashing lights. 

Reflective panels will also be installed along the median wall to block the optical illusion that is causing so much confusion.