Study reveals traffic hot spots

The Carson City Sheriff's Office recently completed a review of the most troublesome intersections in Carson City, aimed at helping officers pinpoint traffic enforcement.

Sheriff Ken Furlong said that in 2010, there were 13 percent fewer traffic accidents than reported in 2009 and 22 percent fewer accidents than in 2008. In all, Carson City deputies and Nevada Highway Patrol troopers responded to 907 accidents in Carson City for 2010. Of those, 189 were injury accidents, 717 were non-injury, and one involved a fatality, the report shows.

"Each accident represents an increased probability of a fatality, and the department's enforcement and education goal is to have no (accidents)," he said.

The one fatal accident in 2010 occurred when a motorcyclist was killed on South Carson Street near Clearview Drive after his bike was struck by a wrong-way driver. Statistics show one fatal accident in 2009 and two in 2008.

"All of our Carson City fatalities have been along that South Carson corridor for the last three years," said Furlong.

The most dangerous locations, with 21 to 25 accidents at each site in 2010, were Fairview Drive at Roop Street, Fairview Drive at the freeway bypass, and Carson Street at Winnie Lane.

"At each of these locations traffic is controlled by a traffic signal, which goes to show that just because a light is green it doesn't mean the other traffic has stopped," said Furlong. "Also

contributing to many of these accidents are drivers making left-hand turns and crossing oncoming traffic."

Furlong said the opening of the freeway exit onto Fairview Drive has more than doubled traffic along the surface street.

City Engineer Andy Burnham estimated traffic counts on Fairview Drive went from about 12,000 cars a day in 2009 to over 30,000 in 2010.

"That significant increase passes through both residential and business zones. As a community this is problematic," said Furlong. "Freeway completion is anticipated to help along this corridor, yet continues to be several years down the road."

The next most critical intersections are those having 16 to 20 accidents. For 2010, those locations were Carson Street at College Parkway, Eagle Station at Old Clear Creek Road, Saliman at Fairview Drive and William Street at Fairview Drive.

"Even in this group, each of the locations identified is controlled by a traffic signal," he said. "All drivers should be extra vigilant when passing through these areas.

Furlong said citywide budgets cuts affected traffic patrols.

"Staffing reductions resulted in less time available to target enforcement. For the year end, citations for violations were down nearly 10 percent," he said. "Even so, the department intends to increase enforcement in those areas suffering the greatest number of accidents.

For the highest accidents areas, along Fairview Drive and at Winnie Lane and Carson Streets, Furlong has directed his officers to ticket any violators. Warnings will not be permitted, he said.

"If a vehicle is stopped for even a minor violation, the driver of the vehicle must be cited," he said. "It is essential that we aggressively go after those who may cause these accidents to occur."