Worst places for accidents:Frequent collisions occur at bypass intersections

By AMY SATTERWHITE / Staff Reporter for the Southern Standard

This accident, which occurred at the intersection of N. Chancery Street and the bypass, took place when a motorist ran a red light on July 21, 2004. The intersection is the second most dangerous in McMinnville. (File photo)

New Smithville Highway and North Chancery Street and their crossings with the bypass are the most accident-prone intersections in town, according to a report released by McMinnville officials.

More than 150 accidents have taken place at those two locations over the past two years, comprising roughly half of the total 307 accidents listed in a 26-month survey examining the frequency of accidents at 10 different McMinnville intersections.

“I’m very concerned about the top two,” Mayor Royce Davenport said of the findings, which were compiled by McMinnville Police Department in conjunction with a preliminary study performed by an engineering company called Johnson Controls. “It amounts to one accident per week and at the other, there is an accident about every 10 days. That’s way too high.”

City officials said while causes haven’t been studied in detail, the prevailing theory is people are failing to stop at the red lights at those intersections.

To help prevent that from happening, the city is considering purchasing cameras that would scan the most dangerous intersections and record what happens there.

City officials are likely to hear more information about such a proposal in the next few weeks when Johnson Controls, which is performing a wide-scale infrastructure study for the city, makes some recommendations about the accidents, as well as other ways the city could save money.

“Frequency is all that we’ve looked at,” City Administrator Herb Llewellyn said of the reports, noting the source of the problems may or may not be drivers who are ignoring red lights. He said that idea emerged after he personally knew someone who was hit at a bypass intersection.

“If we install cameras, it will help us understand what’s going on,” he added.

Davenport said if cameras ever materialize at the intersections, an officer would not necessarily have to be assigned to patrol the. Additionally, cameras could be deterrents for drivers who may otherwise fail to stop.

“You would have the efficiency of enforcing the law without more police officers,” Davenport said. He noted additional savings for emergency personnel or to travelers who might be afforded an extra cushion of safety by knowing the intersections are being watched.

Other top locations of accidents and frequencies from January, 2003 to February, 2005:

Hobson Street at North Chancery Street, 26

Sparta Street at bypass, 25

Morford Street at North Chancery Street, 23

West Sparta Street at Sparta Street, 20

Spring Street at bypass, 16

Sunset Drive at bypass, 15

Mullican Street at bypass, 14

Locust Street at North Chancery Street, 13.