Show UHF trying to keep traffic accidents at bay 11 x 4 s Photo by Loren I 1 Taylorsville Redwood Campus has student parking spaces Major causes of traffic collisions were improper backing and failure failure failure fail fail- ure to yield right of way Jarrett Reich Contributing Writer Traffic accidents in the parking lots of Salt Lake Community College may not be considered the most dangerous threat on campus but they have become a major concern The Utah Highway Patrol reports that in 2009 there were collisions reported on the Taylorsville Redwood South City and Meadowbrook campuses Accidents are bound to happen given the amount of commuters coming to every day but the estimates that approximately 60 percent of those accidents were preventable Lt Jeff Willmore of the concedes that traffic accidents in parking lots rarely lead to injuries with only three accidents leading to injuries last year However there are other costs from these accidents Damaged vehicles translate into insurance claims out of pocket expenses and higher insurance premiums Out of pocket expenses and higher insurance premiums can result in additional stress to a a students financial budget Reduction of traffic collisions can prevent additional financial stresses Willmore says While drivers may not usually t I be in danger of injuries resulting from traffic accidents pedestrians certainly are Willmore stresses that both pedestrians and drivers need to be aware of the dangers around them Drivers need to yield to pedestrians crossing the street and pedestrians need to make sure they use crosswalks Pedestrians should understand when using a marked crosswalk that they have a measure of of protection in the sense that drivers are required to yield to them Drivers need to be aware 60 Continued on 60 of accidents preventable Continued from Al that they are required by state statute to yield to a pedestrian in a cross walk who is crossing in the same lane the driver is traveling in says Willmore Willmore suggests a afew afew afew few simple ways to help cut down on accidents and protect your car In 2009 the major causes of traffic collisions were improper backing and failure to yield right of way Improper backing collisions can be reduced by simply taking the time tune to look both ways when backing out of a parking stall and being aware of your surroundings especially when vehicles are in your vicinity Willmore says Additionally The data shows that drivers failing to obey the posted speed limit resulted in accidents Obeying the speed limit of 1 10 0 mil miles miles- s- s per-hour per in parking lots can assist a driver to avoid another driver of a vehicle who is backing out of a parking stall and may not be aware of vehicles in in the area says Willmore In the event that a student is involved in an accident on the Taylorsville Redwood South City or Meadowbrook campuses they are encouraged to contact th the Utah Highway Patrol at or from any phone When a trooper arrives at the site of the accident be prepared to provide a drivers driver's license license registration and proof of f insurance The faster law enforcement is called th the faster they can respond to fo o othe the scene and conduct a an investigation If anyone anyon has been injured in an accident they shou should d dial immediately Ifa If Ifa a driver collides with an unattended car they ar are required by law to at least post a written note on t tHe damaged car with their name address and vehicle le registration number t. t z |