COMPREHENSIVE SAFETY PROGRAM PRODUCES DRAMATIC RESULTS

The article describes a comprehensive traffic safety program initiated in the City of San Buenaventura, California, which aimed at reducing accidents at the highest accident locations in the city. The effort consisted in identifying all intersections and half-mile segments that had 3 or more accidents in a year. The accident rate, which is expressed in accidents per milllion vehicles, was calculated for each location. Each location was then prioritized, and accident patterns at the highest accident rate locations were analyzed using collision diagrams. Collision diagrams were prepared, and mitigation measures were identified after the analysis. The most frequent pattern of accidents that was found to be correctable involved right-angle accidents. Mitigation measures such as improved corner sight distances, new traffic signals, improved traffic signal head visibility, and improved stop sign visibility were identified. Rear-end and left turn accidents were typically reduced by providing left turn phasing.