Here’s a look at Petaluma’s top collision intersections for 2010, according to the Police Department:
First:
McDowell Boulevard at East Washington Street, with 12. Police say all of the collisions occurred during daylight hours, 81 percent involved property damage only, 64 percent were caused by unsafe speed, 63 percent were rear-enders, 27 percent involved injuries and 18 percent were sideswiping.
Second:
East Washington Street at Sonoma Mountain Parkway, with 10. Police say 80 percent of the collisions happened during the day, 70 percent involved injuries, 50 percent were caused by left-turn, right-of-way violations on a green light, 40 percent were broadside crashes, 30 percent were head-on and rear-end, 30 percent involved property damage only and 20 percent were at night.
Third:
Petaluma Boulevard at Western Avenue with 7
Fourth:
East Washington Street at Lakeville Street, with 6
Lakeville Highway at Casa Grande Road, with 6
Fifth:
Keller Street at Washington Street with 5
North McDowell Boulevard at Redwood Way with 5
Petaluma Boulevard North at B Street with 5
South McDowell Boulevard at Baywood Drive with 5
Sonoma Mountain Parkway at Ely Road with 5
Sonoma Mountain Parkway at Rainer Circle with 5
Police also listed five mid-block locations where collisions last year were high:
–Petaluma Boulevard from Western Avenue to Washington Street, with 7. This block has been on the top 5 list for several years, police said, with many collisions being sideswipes because of the narrow lanes. Police said the city plans to reduce the number of lanes in an effort to eliminate such collisions. Such a “road diet” worked on Petaluma Boulevard North between Lakeville and Washington Streets, once a prime spot for collisions, police noted.
–Petaluma Boulevard from Highway 101 to Stony Point Road, with 4.
–North McDowell Boulevard from Lauren Drive to East Madison Street, with 4.
–Payran Street from Caulfield Lane to Lindberg Lane, with 3.
–East Washington Street from Maria Drive to McDowell Boulevard, with 3.
For the first time, the main cause of collisions throughout the city was right-of-way incidents, with 118 last year. Previously, unsafe speed had been No. 1 every year since 1986, but last year it fell to No. 2 with 115. Police said most of the right-of-way collisions occurred where drivers were allowed to run left on a green light after yielding. Obviously, many didn’t yield for one reasons or another.
Other main collision causes were No. 3 improper turning with 96 followed by unsafe starting or backing with 50, DUIs with 49, unknown cause with 43, other improper driving with 28, traffic signals/signs with 19, unsafe lane changes with 16 and pedestrian right of way with 12.
