Napa’s Most Dangerous Intersections
Napa is a major city and hub of activity for the northern Bay Area. It’s also the heart of the local wine industry and is visited by people from around the world throughout the year. All of this adds up to a lot of both commuter and local traffic on local roads, which unfortunately also means a fair number of vehicle accidents. While it’s impossible to say exactly when and where a crash will take place, there are certain trends that collisions tend to follow. One of the best ways we can predict where accidents might happen is by looking at how many crashes have previously happened at particular locations. If you want to know about crashes in your area, check out these UC Berkeley statistics on Napa’s most dangerous intersections.
Intersections Ranked
Intersections are typically the locations on city roads that see the highest number of accidents. In Napa, these intersections were the most dangerous. Each intersection is listed next to the number of accidents that took place within 250 feet of the location during 2007-2018:
- Saint Helena Highway at State Route 29 and Trower Avenue, 81
- Solano Avenue at Trower Avenue, 78
- Carneros Highway at State Route 12, 67
- Sonoma Highway at State Route 12, 67
- Jefferson Street at Pueblo Avenue, 49
- Montoyas Alley at Pueblo Avenue, 47
- Jefferson Street at Trancas Street, 42
- Salvador Avenue West at Saint Helena Highway, 40
- Redwood Road at Solano Avenue, 39
- Salvador Avenue at State Route 29, 38
What Makes Intersections Dangerous?
There are a few key factors that make intersections more dangerous than straight-away sections of the road. Most importantly, the directions in which traffic travels are multiplied, meaning that drivers need to be twice as attentive to approaching vehicles. Secondly, vehicles at intersections enter each other’s paths, and drivers need to be able to anticipate each other’s actions. This can be difficult, especially if the intersection has low visibility or faulty signals.
How Can I Improve My Safety at Intersections?
To make sure that you aren’t seriously hurt during a crash, it’s important to know how to drive defensively at intersections. Firstly, always begin slowing down your vehicle well before you reach a stop sign or red light. Slowing suddenly not only increases the chance that you will be rear-ended but also may leave you unable to keep your car from entering oncoming traffic. Secondly, always keep a significant amount of distance between your vehicle, and other cars stopped at the same intersection. If your vehicles are too close, a collision may cause a domino effect.
While these tips will do a lot to improve your safety, it’s impossible to anticipate reckless drivers, defective roads, or other factors that could put you in a dangerous situation. For this reason, you should always keep your full focus on the road and approach every situation with caution, intersection or not.
More Articles by Ed Smith, Napa Personal Injury Lawyer
- Two Dead in Napa Accident
- Defining Napa Personal Injury Lawyers
- Crash in Napa Sends Four To Hospital
Napa Personal Injury Lawyer
I’m Ed Smith, a Napa personal injury lawyer. The recovery process after an auto accident can be hard. If you were seriously hurt in a wreck, give me a call to talk about your options and receive my free, friendly advice. I’m available at (800) 404-5400 and (707) 564-1900.
For more than 37 years, I have helped people in Napa and nearby cities with claiming fair case settlements and verdicts for serious injury cases. To read our client reviews, check out my profiles at the below-listed websites:
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