Kanes Corner leads way as city's accident hot spot
Published Wednesday July 8th, 2009
SAINT JOHN - It's probably not a shocking revelation for motorists who regularly drive through the city's east side, but the top three accident hot spots in the city are Kanes Corner, Loch Lomond Road and Rothesay Avenue.
A trying intersection at the best of times, Kanes Corners leads the pack with 50 accidents over the last three years.
Sgt. Jeff LaFrance heads up the Saint John Police Force's traffic unit. Using the force's new intelligence-led policing techniques, which use computer software to track and identify trends, LaFrance dug into three years of accident reports to assemble the top-three list. The only criteria was that the accidents were reported as having injuries associated with them. Minor accidents, or fender benders, weren't included in the numbers.
"I guess everybody knew or assumed that these areas were areas of concern, we just didn't know how much," LaFrance said.
Armed with concrete data, police will now target the three areas first with education and then enforcement.
Loch Lomond Road logged 40 accidents over the three-year period.
"They're all over the place, right from one end to the other."
Surprisingly, usually hectic Rothesay Avenue came in third with 23 accidents.
"Yellow lights don't mean speed up," LaFrance said. "They mean slow down and stop."
After publicizing the city's more dangerous spots for motorists, the traffic unit will try to educate drivers. Each area has its unique contributing factors.
At Kanes Corner, a congested intersection, the accidents usually involve a car turning left and being hit by an oncoming car.
"Be aware of intersection safety," LaFrance said. "You should always be checking the other intersecting road to make sure someone is not running that red light."
Loch Lomond is a long stretch of road that lulls some drivers to sleep and tempts others.
"On Loch Lomond, a lot of them are speed related, people talking on their phones or whatever."
On Rothesay Avenue, the issue is a busy four-lane road peppered with businesses and cars exiting and entering the roadway.
"It's a high-traffic area with a lot of vehicle traffic accessing the roadway," LaFrance said. "So you have to be aware of that, you just don't drive along looking down at your toes because anyone can pull out in front of you at any time along Rothesay Avenue."
Most of the accidents happen during morning and afternoon rush hours, he said. But that doesn't mean people can let their guard down when the rush hour ends and traffic becomes more sedate.
Practising defensive driving, he said, is key in reducing such accidents.
"You have to drive for yourself and the other guy."
Defensive driving techniques include being aware of your surroundings, making eye contact with other drivers in your path, staying focused, looking far down the road and anticipating hazards.
After trying to educate drivers through the media and spot checks, LaFrance said, police will then target the problem areas and begin handing out fines and laying charges until drivers get the message.
"If you're paying attention, you shouldn't be running into other cars."
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'nuff said! Forget education on this one, go straight to tickets!