Most accident-prone spots show improvement since 2007
COLORADO SPRINGS, COLO. -- Crash rates for Colorado Springs intersections continued to show improvement in 2008. This continues the trend from in 2007 and 2006 as well.
Each year, the City ranks its most accident-prone intersections based on a rate that factors in traffic volume, the number of accidents and accident severity. The higher the score, the worse the location fared.
The most accident-prone location in 2007 had a rate of 6.29, as compared to 3.67 in 2008. The rate of the 25th most accident-prone intersection went from 1.49 in 2007 down to 1.40 in 2008.
While traffic enforcement and engineering improvements occur on an ongoing basis, the top 25 accident-prone intersection list is an important tool that allows the City to:
- Complete a more comprehensive analysis on these locations to examine which accidents were due to random driver error (i.e. drunk driving, falling asleep, or being distracted) or if trends exist where actions by the City can enhance safety with targeted law enforcement, education or design changes.
- Increase traffic enforcement at these locations.
- Generate public awareness so drivers pay particular attention at these locations.
The Colorado Springs Police Department and the City’s Traffic Engineering Team work closely to improve public safety on traffic issues. The top 25 locations of last year were heavily monitored by law enforcement and engineers. Nine of the intersection locations on this year’s list have engineering improvement projects associated with them, five of which are supported by Pikes Peak Rural Transportation Authority funding. Twenty-one locations fell off the top 25 list this year. Due to human behavior playing a role in most crashes, random fluctuations in traffic accidents do occur naturally.
2008 Top 25 top accident-prone intersections, ranks, and rates:
RANK | INTERSECTION | RATE |
1 | BRIARGATE PY/N POWERS BLw+ | 3.67 |
2 | PALMER PARK BL/SPACE CENTER DR | 2.37 |
3 | RANGEWOOD DR/VICKERS DR | 2.27 |
4 | S NEVADA AV/SOUTHGATE RDw | 2.17 |
5 | LAKE AV/VENETUCCI BLw | 2.02 |
6 | N POWERS BL/RESEARCH PYw+ | 1.96 |
7 | BARNES RD/N POWERS BLw+ | 1.89 |
8 | N CAREFREE CR/TUTT BL | 1.89 |
9 | E FOUNTAIN BL/S UNION BL | 1.86 |
10 | AIRPORT RD/S ACADEMY BL+ | 1.85 |
11 | N POWERS BL/N UNION BLw+ | 1.78 |
12 | DUBLIN BL/N UNION BL | 1.77 |
13 | AUSTIN BLUFFS PY/STETSON HILLS BL | 1.74 |
14 | MILTON E PROBY PY/S POWERS BLw+ | 1.61 |
15 | E BIJOU ST/N CHELTON RD | 1.60 |
16 | AIRPORT RD/S CIRCLE DR | 1.58 |
17 | E ST-ELMO AV/S NEVADA AV | 1.58 |
18 | E COLORADO AV/E PIKES PEAK AV | 1.55 |
19 | E BIJOU ST/N CASCADE AV+ | 1.53 |
20 | N CAREFREE CR/ORO BLANCO DR | 1.52 |
21 | N POWERS BL/S CAREFREE CRw | 1.50 |
22 | E PLATTE AV/N MEADE AV+ | 1.49 |
23 | BARNES RD/TUTT BL | 1.46 |
24 | NEW CENTER PT/S CAREFREE CR+ | 1.42 |
25 | E PLATTE AV/N ACADEMY BL | 1.40 |
wCDOT jurisdiction, +2008 or 2009 Improvement project location
The City plans to continue improving traffic safety in Colorado Springs by: monitoring which intersections are the most accident-prone again next year, enforcing traffic laws, educating the public, pursuing State Hazard Elimination and Safety grants to help fund improvements, and continuing to build Pikes Peak Rural Transportation Authority safety capital projects and make PPRTA-funded minor modifications.
Information provided by City of Colorado Springs.
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