Placer roads getting safer
Records kept since 2003 show vehicle accident numbers cruising downhill
Some folks feel safer, others don’t. But the stats are a revelation. Traffic accidents in Placer County have been dropping yearly since 2003. Rick Ward, commander of the Auburn California Highway Patrol office, released the numbers this week. They show accidents dropping every year from a peak of 1,941 in 2003 to 1,302 last year. The decrease of 295 accidents between 2007 and 2008 represents the greatest year-to-year fall during the five years. Ward said that trend is expected to continue this year, with about 100 fewer accidents by the end of 2009. Ward said more aggressive enforcement, tougher rules on teen drivers and new laws about texting and cell phone use while driving have all helped. Some Auburn-area drivers say they have noticed the roads seem to be safer these days. Meadow Vista’s Teri Walther said she appreciates the Highway Patrol presence on areas of Interstate 80 around Dry Creek Road, which provides a deterrent for speeders. “They’re really on top of it,” Walther said. “I feel a lot safer in this area but there’s a big difference when I go past Penryn.” Monica Bottarini of Auburn said she was feeling safer now that she knows about the continuing drop in accidents. She added that she likes the rules banning cellphone use and text messaging by drivers. “Personally, I would like to see cellphone jamming in cars,” Bottarini said, referring to technology that would automatically turn off cell phones when vehicles are started. Not everyone is driving with a growing sense of security. Donna Smith of Lincoln Hills said she still doesn’t feel safe, despite the statistical drop in accidents. A freeway driver, she said she’s constantly being tailgated and when people pass, she sees that they still are talking on cell phones. Grayson Maloney said he’s still wary. A Washington State resident who visits California and Placer County on occasion, he said local roads and drivers still make him a little nervous. He rides a motorcycle. “But luckily, I’ve never been hit,” Maloney said. Jean Hackman of Lincoln Hills said she notices a lot of people in Sun City rolling through stop signs but she feels safer on the road than she did in 2003. “That was the year I moved here from San Francisco,” Hackman said. “I’m in a retirement area now and feel very safe.” Highway Patrol statistics cover an Auburn-area patrol zone that includes Interstate 80 in the foothills and valley. They show an overall 18.5 percent drop in accidents last year. Broken down even further, the decrease was 4.8 percent in North Auburn (from 82 to 78); minus 14.5 percent in the Foresthill area (from 76 to 65); minus 17.9 percent on Highway 49 between the El Dorado and Nevada county lines (161 to 133); and minus 6.2 percent on Interstate 80 between Riverside Avenue and Colfax city limits (502 to 414). Overall, there were still 10 fatal accidents last year – down from an average of 17 over the previous three years. The Journal’s Gus Thomson can be reached at gust@goldcountrymedia.com.
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Great news. Maybe now you can concentrate enforcement on Auburn Folsom Rd where passing over the double yellow lines seems to be the regional sport of choice.
people are driving less..but how does one justify increasing all these CHP bugets with more people? please show me more $$ and chp officers, and police create less accidents. They seem to generate more revenue by issuing tickets.....
Loomis: I agree with you. I won't take auburn folsom unless there is no other way to get where I am going. Between the cyclist who weave out into traffic and people being just dumb. It is one of our most dangerous roads.
Wow I'm glad we are safe now, I thought all the radar was going to generate some revenue, thank goodness I am wrong.
Taking away peoples cell phones will not change the fact that there are people who do not pay attention while driving. That will happen while they are on or off their cell phones. That is no reason to take away my constitutional rights!!!! Cell phone, speeding and seat belt tickets are another way to separate you from your money. What's next?? You can guarantee that's what they look for, its not about safety its about their pocketbook. Have you seen the new courthouse buildings on industrial Blvd.? Who do you think pays for that?? I feel like I am in prison every time I get on the road...
"I'm in a retirement area now and feel very safe"
.... I don't. She obviously never drives I- 80 through Roseville, or around Watt Ave, nor has she ever gone to the Galleria area during commuting times, especially in bad weather, and tried to cross lanes of traffic to get back onto 65 North.... and then there is the Blood Highway, 65 North. Where did all these people come from, and why are they still allowed on the road ?
Fortunately I have never been inside Galleria at Roseville and you would never catch me in that kind of traffic. I moved up in the hills for a reason! I wish the effort was concentrated more on the real criminals and not just the ones who pay for them... Do they have statistics for the crimerate???
Car Phone Jamming Device??!!!
Wow... What if you're in an accident? Talk about forced invasion of privacy!! Whats next? Camera's in your cars? It sure would cut down on carpool lane fraud. I am amazed at how these invasive devices are being made to look as if their for our own protection!! AMERICA!! WAKE UP.
Our freedoms are slowly being taken away from us and we're handing them over...
We live in Placer County. Not LA. Try driving there on a daily basis. We've got it made traffic wise. Maybe if we got a little more involved with our community, we'd be veto-ing some of these commercial expansion projects in our towns and there wouldn't be a need for more officer patrols. I've been pulled over and ticketed for "Following too closely" to the veihicle in front of me, when I was slamming on my breaks to avoid hitting him as he swerved into my lane. When explained to the officer, he didn't see that part, and the real wreckless driver sped off to cut others off.. They DO need more revenue. And we're being made to feel as if it's for our own safety. Stories like this are planting seeds for eventual population control. Just how far are we away from curfews?
Please don't surrender your families freedoms. No matter how small.
The folks from Lincoln Hills driving 40 MPH in 55 zones are similarly causing folks to become very impatient and frustrated on Hwy. 193 and Sierra College Blvd. I don't agree with it but they're making some pretty stupid moves to get around the ultra-slow drivers on those roads.
To all those people complaining about their rights being violated. May I remind you that we all have rights and responsibilities. You have already spoken about your rights, now let me remind you of some of the responsibilities.
You have the responsibility to:
1 Obey traffic laws.
2 Drive sensibly so as not to cause another person injury or death
3 Drive while free from intoxicants
4 Be courteous to the other drivers
5 Move out of the way to allow cars to pass if you're driving under the speed limit and are holding cars behind you. We assume that it is safe to drive the speed limit.
There are more but those above will do for now.
Enjoy your rights and responsibilities. and have a great weekend.
you have to be a mental midget or intellectually dishonest to think that seatbelt and cellphone laws are about safety and not about money.
the cellphone law is legeslated equality you are now as incompitent as those who have no business having a drivers license. you can put on mascara while driving but not use your cell phone.
Valuemyrights, I don't know if the mental midget comment was directed at me. If so, you are entitled to your opinion, in the meantime all you mental giants with rights keep snuffing yourselves and unfortunately others too along Auburn Folsom rd.
You don't have to obey any law you disagree with, I will obey those that in my opinion provide me a better chance of surviving an accident. BTW, a few years ago someone exercising their right to drink and drive head on into the car I was a passenger on. I was exercising my right to wear a seat belt and it kept me from going out the windshield, unfortunately this was before cars had shoulder belts so I did suffer some very serious injuries to my face but, there is no doubt in my mind that if I had not been wearing a seat belt I would not be sitting here typing this. When people ride in my car they will wear their seat belts, if they refuse they can ride with someone else or take their own car.
Have a righteous Sunday.
WOW, not sure what that is all about! My comment was not directed at anyone, and I do not drive Auburn-Folsom Rd. I do obey the laws even if I do not agree with them. I am one of the safest and most considerate drivers you will ever meet on the road, however I am tired of my freedoms being taken away little by little and everyone else not seeing it for what it really is. Our four fathers fought for OUR freedom and the very laws that are being past go against our constitutional rights! We now we fear government instead of government fearing the people, NOT GOOD! HMMMM where are we headed????? THAT IS MY POINT!!