Red-Light Cameras Go Up to Bring Down Vista Car Accidents

With a population of nearly 96,000, Vista in northern San Diego County, California has been ranked as the seventh-best city in the US for family life. Unfortunately, as Vista car accident attorneys will admit, the city has suffered a number of tragic car crashes, often caused by red-light scofflaws.

According to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration, from 2001 to 2003, Vista had 22 car accident fatalities--or 2.4 fatal Vista car crashes per 10,000 people. Admittedly below the national norm, these statistics are still troubling.

In 2006, the California Highway Patrol's Statewide Integrated Traffic Records System (SWITRS) indicated that 12 people lost their lives and 373 were injured in Vista car collisions. Motorcycle crashes killed two and injured 14. Pedestrian car accidents resulted in one fatality and 27 injuries. Bicyclists suffered 25 injuries. DUI crashes took four lives and resulted in 67 injuries. In 2007, 11 car accidents resulted in as many fatalities.

In 2009, a car accident on Highway 78 just west of Melrose Drive killed one man and severely injured another. The passenger was ejected and died. The 26-year-old male driver was treated for his injuries, then placed under arrest for DUI and gross vehicular manslaughter.

As reported by the National Highway Safety Traffic Administration, nearly half of all car collisions happen at intersections. Tragically, these crashes tend to be T-bone collisions, which usually cause more severe injuries than front or rear-end car collisions. The reason for this is that side car collisions offer fewer protections for occupants. What's more, these car accidents are more severe because red-light runners often speed up as they try to outrun the red light.

To hold down the number of car accidents, Vista installed red-light cameras at many major intersections throughout the city. Four red-light camera systems were installed along College Blvd. at Frazee Rd., Highway 76, Oceanside Blvd., and Waring Rd. Red-light cameras were also set up along Vista Way at Emerald Dr. and S. El Camino Real. And along Melrose Dr. at Oceanside Blvd and Hacienda. Additional cameras have gone up at Mesa Dr. and College Blvd., S. Santa Fe Ave and Vista Village, Santa Fe and Escondido, and Sycamore and Shadowridge.

Many Vista car collision lawyers have opined that, used appropriately, red-light cameras can reduce car accidents at troublesome intersections. Many also conclude that the cameras do act as a deterrent to would-be red-light violators.

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.