Personal InjurySanta Barbara Car Accident Lawyer Concerned About City's Dangerous Intersections
Santa Barbara in Santa Barbara County, California is a beautiful city that draws tourists year around. Its 2008 population of nearly 90,000 must often share its streets with visitors. This can create congestion at the city's dangerous intersections and result inSanta Barbara motor vehicle collisions.
"Santa Barbara's worst intersection is located downtown--at Carrillo and Anacapa Streets--surprisingly, just a few blocks from the Police Station," observed car accident lawyer John Bisnar who is an expert car accident lawyer. "A total of 52 accidents occurred at this intersection in 2006. Additional dangerous intersections include Carrillo and Castillo; Carrillo and Highway 101; De la Vina and Canon Perdido, and Haley and Bath Street."
Police say, Santa Barbara motorists are more inattentive than speeding. To add a margin of safety at Carrillo and Anacapa, the city altered the signal lights at the intersection. After one light turns red, there is a multi-second delay before the cross-street's light turns green. The goal was to reduce the likelihood of Santa Barbara car crashes.
California Highway Patrol's Statewide Integrated Traffic Records System (SWITRS) reported in 2006 that six people died and 572 people were injured in Santa Barbara auto accidents. DUI car crashes in Santa Barbara accounted for one fatality and 88 injuries. In addition, 79 bicyclists and 14 motorcyclists were injured. A total of four pedestrians lost their lives and 62 were injured in car collisions.
The following year, two accidents--occurring just days apart from each other--at Cliff Drive near Santa Cruz--added to the total number of car crashes in Santa Barbara. The first collision, killed a 70s-year old resident as her car was hit by a Jeep when she pulled out of her driveway. The other driver was seriously injured. Firefighters extricated the drivers using the "jaws of life." The very same weekend, a driver slammed into a home on Cliff Drive, injuring two people. Officials insist it's a dangerous area and motorists have been cautioned to be extra careful Cliff Drive.
Residents often complain about the dangers of certain streets in their neighborhood. In February 2009, one resident said that the corner of DeLaVina and Figueroa is very dangerous, and that on a weekly basis, this intersection is the site of numerous Santa Barbara car crashes. Recently, one elderly man was hit by a bus at the intersection. Making matters worse are the cars parked on DeLaVina, which block the view for turning drivers. In addition, speeding motorists and those jockeying to make the left turn, prevent kids and seniors from being able to cross safely.
"Dangerous intersections pose a real problem for many cities," said John Bisnar. "Efforts should be focused on improving their safety through redesign and/or increased traffic enforcement."
For more information, read "The Seven Fatal Mistakes That Can Wreck Your Personal Injury Claim" by California personal injury attorney John Bisnar. The book is free to accident victims--just go to www.BestAttorneyBooks.com to get a copy sent to you, or you can buy one at www.Amazon.com. Please see other BISNAR | CHASE California car accident lawyers.
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