FeedsCrash conscious
Cops eye intersections
Canton police are working this spring to figure out ways to reduce traffic accidents at problem intersections in the township.
They have their work cut out for them, too.
There were 73 crashes at Ford and Haggerty roads in 2005—good for an average of one every five days—the highest total of any intersection in the county, according to crash data from the Michigan State Police.
That’s about 20 more accidents than the next highest intersection on the list, Linwood and W. Davison in Detroit, which had 54 crashes.
The high incidence of crashes—which endanger citizens and snarl traffic—is a big problem for a police department anticipating the June opening of IKEA at the northwest corner of that intersection, when thousands of new visitors will be navigating the township for the first time.
Starting today, the department will step up enforcement of traffic violations they say are causing many of the accidents. Sgt. Todd Mutchler said motorists need to always pay attention to their surroundings and drive defensively—especially during the late afternoon hours.
“You don’t need statistics to tell you rush hour is when traffic is increasing,” said Mutchler.
Drivers often perform dangerous maneuvers near the intersection, pulling in and out of private business driveways in front of heavy traffic. 20 percent of the accidents there in 2005 were left-turn related, according to Mutchler.
Driver distraction plays a big role, too.
“Just over 50 percent of (traffic accidents) were rear-end related,” said Mutchler. “All of our lives are busy in these times, rushing from point A to point B, talking on cell phones, adjusting radio dials, so drivers are looking away too long and not stopping soon enough.”
Tonight, police will set up temporary signs informing motorists of the enforcement zone. Drivers should see an increased presence of police cars from 3-7 p.m. Another enforcement period is scheduled for next Friday, April 28. Mutchler hopes the visibility of patrol units alone will encourage safer driving, though they’ll have their ticket books handy.
Police plan to also observe how traffic signals and signs affect the flow of traffic and behavior of drivers. They’ll make suggestions to the Wayne County Road Commission and Michigan Department of Transportation at the end of the program.
Other problem intersections to be targeted were being decided last week.
“We know that Ford and Canton Center has been slowly creeping up with a number of accidents,” Mutchler said. That location had the county’s fourth-highest crash total in 2005, with 52. Two Westland intersections—Ford and Wayne, and Ford and Newburgh—were tied for third place with 53.
