Fewer crashes on First since signals altered

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Tuesday, May 13, 2008

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By Register Staff

Injury accidents have plummeted since the city changed traffic controls at First Street/California Boulevard intersection.

Since August, eastbound traffic wanting to turn south onto California has been able to do so on a red light after first stopping.

This has reduced traffic backups on First that made it difficult for northbound Highway 29 traffic coming off the freeway to turn west on First, Farid Javandel, the city’s traffic engineer, reported.

There were nine broadside accidents with injuries at the off ramp in the nine months prior to the change. During the nine months since, injury accidents dropped to two, Javandel said.

Queues are shorter now that motorists can make right turns on both green and red lights, Javandel said. This give motorists coming off the freeway less obstructed views when they pull out onto First.

10 comment(s)

Dwayne wrote on May 12, 2008 11:52 AM:

" So why isn't the city liable for the previous accidents, now that it has been shown that the timing of the lights was the defacto cause...??? I'm sure insurance company's have thought of that, so there must be a legal reason the city cannot be held accountable. "

plasticpinkflamingo wrote on May 12, 2008 1:17 PM:

" because you can't fight city hall? "

jenrosburg wrote on May 12, 2008 1:49 PM:

" Interesting! I was one of those 9 accidents...the one being hit! And, the new system would have totally helped in my situation. I am glad for the adjustment. "

db76 wrote on May 12, 2008 2:07 PM:

" This change is not an improvement for those people continuing stright through on California since most of the people never make a complete stop. Instead, they just blow through the light and force their way onto California. "

average_jane wrote on May 12, 2008 4:19 PM:

" dwayne it is called causation vs. correlation. Just because two things happened together does not necessarily mean that one caused the other to happen. Maybe it is the time of year as well. They have not accounted for seasons or the amount of light we have I am sure. Anyway. It would be interesting to see a year over year comparison... and quite frankly dwayne it is the fault of drivers NOT the city that there were accidents. "

101napa4gen wrote on May 12, 2008 4:39 PM:

" This is very interesting, this is the very intersection they want to add a hotel!!! I think I read an early article about a water fall and easy access off the Hwy? Wow Mr. Javandel, what do you think about a added hotel at this intersection? "

asahigo wrote on May 12, 2008 4:52 PM:

" Dwayne the city can't control other peoples stupidity. The accidents were a result of whichever driver was found at fault not the city. If we took the approach you eluded to, then all personal responsibility will be gone because it will always be "someone else's fault". "

Rocketman wrote on May 13, 2008 6:45 AM:

" Did you all notice the exact quote. "Injury accidents dropped by two" and this is plummeting??? All this has done is "maybe" eleviated one problem and moved it somewhere else. Do you know how many motorists that are s/b on California Blvd and NEED to change lanes into the through lane (right lane) to continue?? Now they have to worry about traffic that gets to make a right on a red light and then they want to change lanes in order to turn east on second!! Yeah, this is going to work!!

and to Dwanye...........the correct answer is; that if what the City does, does not meet State required CalTrans standards, the City can be held liable; if you follow through with the research. "

4gnapan wrote on May 13, 2008 9:23 AM:

" Um.. the quote was ..9 accidents in 9 months.. then 2 accidents in the following 9 months...

I drive this route EVERY day, usually several times. This simple change made all the difference in how high up the overpass the traffic would back up.

Those folks coming off the freeway northbound and wanting to turn west on 1st are still very ..hm.. whats the word i want.. Hosed?.. if there is any traffic at all.

Eventually this whole overpass is going to have to be reworked and widened. "

Rocketman wrote on May 14, 2008 6:07 AM:

" ..............sorry, misread the comment.....still doesn't change my opinion. This whole intersection is a mess! Try going n/b on California from the stop sign at Second. Impossible at some times of the day and I have seen traffic backed up past the Third Street intersection!! "

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