Westlake Village Car Accidents Decline Thanks to Traffic Calming and Strict Traffic Enforcement

You don't have to be a Westlake Village car accident lawyer to notice that car accidents occur infrequently in Westlake Village. Situated on the western edge of Los Angeles County, California, this secluded residential enclave with a population of almost 9,000 has implemented pro-active traffic enforcement and traffic calming efforts to keep car collisions to a minimum.

Above Average Enforcement Translates to Fewer Car Accidents

Westlake Village car accident statistics for 2006 are quite revealing. According the California Highway Patrol's Statewide Integrated Traffic Records System (SWITRS), one person was killed and 22 were injured in city car collisions. DUIs caused three car crash injuries. One pedestrian died and one bicyclist was injured in car crashes. Westlake Village car collision lawyers say these kinds of car collision numbers reflect the city's commitment to safety.

Looking at 2007, Westlake Village reported 97 car collisions with only one fatality. Speeders caused 19 car crashes. A number of studies showed that, whether measured by the number of car accidents per million-vehicle-miles of travel for streets, or by the number of car crashes per million entering vehicles for intersections, car accident rates consistently fall below regional averages. Moreover, the city's 2007 enforcement index of 80:1 (the ratio of hazardous citations and DUI arrests to injury car accidents) is far above average. Westlake Village car crash lawyers will agree that a high enforcement index can significantly reduce a city's car accident numbers.

Cameras Monitor Drivers to Reduce Car Collisions

Another factor that can lower a city's car crash rate is the use of traffic cameras. Westlake Village has already installed cameras at four intersections. These include cameras at Lindero Canyon and Hedgewall Drive, Via Colinas and Via Rocca, Via Colinas and Lindero, Lindero Canyon and Thousand Oaks Boulevard. These cameras are not red-light cameras designed to catch red-light scofflaws. They serve to monitor traffic flow and remind all drivers that they should obey traffic laws.

Traffic Calming Can Prevent Car Crashes

As an added traffic safety measure, Westlake Village is constantly evaluating the effectiveness of its traffic calming program. Among these are speed humps like those on Three Springs Drive, which have reduced speeds by 7-10 mph. Other traffic calming measures include speed trailers, traffic circles and narrow streets.

A growing number of Westlake Village car accident attorneys are in favor of such traffic safety measures. All combine to enhance the city's safety and lower its accident rate.

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.