The first RUCS transportation working group meeting is set for December 11. This will be the first brief in a series on transportation issues.
The federal surface transportation act calls for an increased emphasis on the safety and security for motorized and non-motorized users. While much focus has been given to these matters in the past, most has revolved around urban issues. Many safety and security concerns, like roadway safety, pedestrian and bicyclist safety, and flood evacuation are present in both urban and rural areas; however, rural areas present many unique challenges for addressing safety and security.
Safety concerns for local roads largely center on high-speed crashes and run-off-the-road accidents. Although drivers may often be at fault, unforgiving roadway conditions can turn a simple crash into a fatality. Rural collisions account for a disproportionate number of roadway fatalities. In California, 37 percent of all fatal crashes are in rural areas, a fatality rate of 16 deaths per 100,000 persons, compared to 9.3 deaths per 100,000 persons in urban areas.
One factor contributing to a higher fatality rate in rural areas is longer emergency medical response times, but other high-risk behaviors like speeding and alcohol use also contribute.
Because of the high fatality rate, short-term solutions are underway. One solution, intelligent transportation systems projects, can be implemented quickly and provide many of the same safety benefits as construction projects. In El Dorado County, warning signs are proposed for an uncontrolled, non-signalized intersection to warn motorists of cross-traffic.
For more information contact Matt Carpenter at mcarpenter@sacog.org.