Personal InjuryBellevue Low Car Accident Rate Linked to Pro-Active Safety Efforts
Bellevue near Seattle is a growing metropolis with a downtown area that is the second largest city center in Washington. While populations and businesses have expanded, in 2007, Bellevue reported just two car fatalities and no DUI or pedestrian fatalities. "Such low accident rates in a city with a population of nearly 122,400 is impressive," noted nationally recognized car accident attorney John Bisnar of the highly acclaimed BISNAR | CHASE law firm. "Every city should always seek ways to reduce its car accident rate."
Among the many things the Seattle-area Bellevue did to keep its car accident rate so low was to propose a red-light camera pilot program. Designed to enforce speed limits in school zones and at dangerous intersections, the pilot program called for installation of cameras on Northeast Eighth Street, Bel-Red Road and 148th Avenue Northeast. Cameras were also recommended for intersections in the proximity of Stevenson, Lake Hills and Sunset elementary schools.
A number of car injury lawyers like John Bisnar have suggested that red-light cameras, used properly, can help bring down car accident rates.
Addressing an entirely different traffic problem, the city installed a high-friction, epoxy-resin overlay on an approach to one of its more crash-prone intersections in 2004. This intersection had been a threat to drivers heading east on Forest Drive just before reaching Cold Creek Parkway. On approach, drivers are confronted with a very steep (14 percent) downgrade and a sharp 33.5-meter (110-foot) -radius left curve before reaching the T-intersection. From 1997 to 2002, this intersection was the site of 21 car crashes and four rollovers. Most of the car crashes were rear-end collisions that happened during wet or icy conditions. Rollovers and rear-end accidents contribute to a high number of fatalities and injuries, say car accident lawyers.
Several attempts at solving this problem failed to produce results at this intersection. The city tried adding more road markers, raised pavement buttons, even a large flashing warning sign at the bottom of the grade. But after the high-friction overlay was installed, there were just two car crashes between October 2004 and June 2008. One car's brakes failed, while another car crash occurred because a driver simply wasn't paying attention.
"Making city streets safer for motorists, bicyclists and pedestrians is a top priority for any municipality," observed car accident attorney, John Bisnar. "Adding technology to the mix of approaches can result in some innovative traffic solutions to prevent car accidents."
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