Red-Light Photo Enforcement and DUI Programs Help Reduce, According to Santa Maria Car Accident Lawyer

The largest city in Santa Barbara County, California with nearly 112,000 people, Santa Maria has a low car collision rate. Santa Maria car accident attorneys admit that the city's red-light camera and DUI enforcement efforts have helped hold down the number car collisions in the city.

National Highway Traffic Safety Administration statistics from 2001 to 2003 showed that Santa Maria had eight fatal car collisions. Or about 1.0 fatal Santa Maria car crash per 10,000 people, which is below the national norm.

In 2006, the California Highway Patrol's Statewide Integrated Traffic Records System (SWITRS) showed that seven people were killed and 467 people were injured in Santa Maria car collisions. One pedestrian was killed and one bicyclist died--with 41 and 22 injuries respectively. Motorcycle accidents injured 13. And DUI crashes resulted in four deaths and 76 injuries. In 2007, five car accidents resulted in six fatalities.

Santa Maria car collision attorneys will tell you that red-light cameras can help cut down on car accidents because they nab red-light scofflaws "red handed" on tape. They also convince would-be red-light violators to heed the law.

To reduce car accidents and injuries in the city, Santa Maria implemented a Red-Light Photo Enforcement program. It set up red-light cameras at major crash-likely intersections. Locations under their watchful eye include 4th Street and Mendocino Avenue, Betteravia and Miller, Mendocino Avenue and Administration Drive, Mendocino Avenue and Bicentennial Way, Miller and Stowell, Sonoma Highway and Farmers Lane, and South College Drive and East Battles Road.

Drunk drivers pose a major problem for many cities. Santa Maria was pro-active and joined Santa Barbara County's Avoid the 12 DUI enforcement program. One DUI checkpoint was set up on Broadway to identify drunk drivers and those without a valid driver's license and/or registration. Over 1,053 vehicles were screened and two DUI arrests were made. Seven unlicensed drivers had their vehicles impounded and two vehicles were towed because their owners were too drunk to drive. Santa Maria's Police Chief acknowledged that hit-and-run accidents have fallen as a result of the these checkpoints.

Countywide, in the last three weeks of December 2006, DUI arrests totaled 165, and 18 injury crashes were due to impaired drivers. The same period in December 2007 saw 213 DUI arrests, with 14 injury DUI accidents and one DUI-related fatality. The last three weeks of December 2008 witnessed 223 DUI arrests, with 18 injury DUI collisions and two DUI-related fatalities.

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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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.