Cerritos Car Accidents Reduced By Cameras and Four-Way Red Lights

A "gateway" city in the heart of the Los Angeles/Orange County metro center, Cerritos in Los Angeles County, California is served by three busy freeways (91, 605 and 5). As hub for this high level of traffic, Cerritos car accident attorneys will confirm that accidents in Cerritos are almost unavoidable.

Cerritos Car Crash Statistics Below Average

From 2001 to 2003 Cerritos had 16 fatal car collisions, according to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration. This is an average of about 3.1 fatal Cerritos car crashes per 10,000 people--below the national average

In 2006, the California Highway Patrol's Statewide Integrated Traffic Records System (SWITRS) revealed that five people died and 434 people were injured in Cerritos car crashes. One bicyclist died and five were injured. Seventeen pedestrians were injured. Motorcycle accidents killed two injured 18. Drunk drivers killed three and injured 21. In 2007, five car accidents resulted in five deaths.

A Mix of Old and New Collision Avoidance Techniques

To help avoid car collisions, Cerritos originated the technique of momentary four-way red lights at intersections nearly three decades ago. These measures were soon adopted by many areas neighboring Cerritos--including South East Los Angeles, and Northwest Orange County.

Implementing all-red clearance times has been shown to increase intersection safety by reducing the chance of a right-angle car crash. Even if motorists run the red light (within a fraction of a second after the light turns red), accidents tend to be fewer and far between. The fact is, while an all-red interval may not influence a motorist's decision to beat the red light, the presence of an all-red light--if it's long enough--can improve the safety of an intersection.

To further reduce the number of car collision injuries, Cerritos adopted a Red-Light Photo Enforcement program. The city set up red-light cameras at major crash-prone intersections, including Artesia and Bloomfield, South Street and Gridley, South Street and Studebaker, and Studebaker and 183rd Street.

Praised by Cerritos Car Accident Law Firms

A number of Cerritos car collision lawyers have acknowledged that four-way red-light intersections and photo enforcement systems can be effective in reducing car collisions. The limited time four-way red lights create a safety margin of time for cars approaching or waiting at an intersection. Dovetailing these efforts, Red-light systems not only nab red-light runners but serve to alter their behavior, since violators realize that the fines can be very stiff--as high as $360. Preventing cars from crashing and injuring people is the worthwhile goal here.

Be on the Hit-and-Run Lookout

BISNAR | CHASE, in conjunction with WeTip, a leading anonymous crime reporting service and law enforcement advocacy non-profit organization, is launching a program intended to wipe out hit-and-runs in the state of California by offering rewards for tips leading to the arrest and felony conviction of hit-and-run drivers. See Hit-and-Run Reward for more details.

BISNAR | CHASE 2006-2010 Super Lawyers names outstanding lawyers from more than 60 practice areas who have attained a high degree of peer recognition and professional achievement. BISNAR | CHASE has received this award for five consecutive years. Brian Chase was named one of the 2010 Top 50 Orange County Lawyers.