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Show fix y?4 jW1 ::::vV::"i-::v:-:: --..v-:.--. " v '"' . V ::''- -iv: m'. .'. I 7::::;:i:::;::-:-:Sv::V-x::. t:--:: : ,;,:. ::-:::, - . . y ' .,, V s- ' , ' : : .,:. :' y!v -s- ' , . , , 1 - ' , ' . - , , t ' ;v ' v ! . -1' m'- i. ' , - ' f 'Yk 1 - 11 , ' L . .. : Bountiful traffic accidents decrease r I"" Y"" Y... ....'Jfi c ' " -V Ya - c"""tt: ''IlirZ.'..rZ.."l BOUNTIFUL - Despite an increase in vehicular traffic, the number of . accidents within the city dropped substantially in 1988 compared to the previous year, City Engineer Jack Balling told the Bountiful City Council. "I guess we can attribute the decrease in accidents largely to the improved im-proved traffic patterns within the city - especially on 500 South west of Main Street," he said. "There have always been traffic problems on 500 South but widening the street and providing left-turn collector lanes has : done a lot to reduce the number of rear-end collisions.' ' Y i Mr. Balling also noted increased control devices at intersections as help-i help-i ing to reduce accidents. "It's nice to have an influx in traffic yet have a de- crease in the number of accidents." He said the total number of accidents dropped from 725 in 1987 to 654 in 1988. Accidents at intersections also decreased from 190 in 1987 to only 153 last year. :-" ( The intersection of 500 South and 500 West handled the most traffic during dur-ing 1988, averaging about 34,000 vehicles per day. This intersection also -recorded the most accidents, 22 compared to 24 the year before, or 1.77 accidents ac-cidents per one million vehicles. :..,. ' Nexton melistofaccident-proremteRections was 500 Soudi and Main ' Street with 17 accidents compared to 10 in 1987 - one of only four major-accident major-accident intersections with more accidents last year than the year before: '' . ' Q CONTINUED ON PAGE 2 Accidents on decline CONTINUED FROM PAGE 1 : ; ( There were 14 accidents at 500 South and 200 West, but this is fewer than the 29 fender-benders at the same site the previous year. The intersection intersec-tion of 400 North and 500 West had an even dozen accidents compared to 16 the year before, while 400 North and 200 West was the only other city intersection in double-figure accidents with 1 1, compared to 19 in 1987. Intersections with more accidents last year than the year before were 400 North and 400 East, nine compared to foun 1800 South Orchard Drive, se- 7 ven compared to four, 1800 South Davis Boulevard, six compared to three; and 2600 South 500 West, seven compared to six. Mr. Balling told the council that widening 500 South, completed in the fall of 1987, provides a left-turn storage lane and greatly reduces the number num-ber of rear-end accidents. He noted that even though there was an increase : in volume of traffic on this section, the total number of accidents decreased from 75 in 1987 to 47 in 1988 - a decrease of 37 percent He said the average accident rate for the 18 intersections studied was ' 1.10 accidents per one million vehicles. "This compares to the 1.50 aver-t! aver-t! age when the pity conducted its ongintraffic safety, study. in J974.V said ' Mr. Balling. , ,;,ij.r He told the council of other methods of reducing traffic accidents in the future as follows: 1. The widening of Orchard Drive from 500 South to 2200 South to allow two lanes of traffic each direction plus a left-turn storage lane. This plan also provides for new signal installations at 500 South, Mill Street, and ; 1800 South Streets. This project is scheduled for completion later this year. 2. Adapting signal coordination and separate left-turn signals on all signaled sig-naled intersections along 500 South Street This project is also scheduled for completion later this year. 3. Study of signal lights at 1800 South Main, 1800 South Davis Boulevard, Boule-vard, and 100 East on 500 South. These studies will be completed this year and implemented as warranted. - . , 4. The widening of 500 South Street from 100 East to 400 East This project is scheduled for 1990. 7 .- |