Using Accident Prediction to Improve Las Vegas’ Most Dangerous Intersections

Where Are the Most Dangerous Intersections?

City officials and traffic experts have studied accidents in Las Vegas to determine the most dangerous intersections in the city. It’s not surprising that these intersections are in the most heavily-traveled areas as well as in the areas frequented by tourists. The five most dangerous intersections in Las Vegas are:

• Charleston Boulevard and Lamb Boulevard
• Sahara Avenue and Rainbow Boulevard
• Decatur Boulevard and Tropicana Avenue
• Rainbow Boulevard and Tropicana Avenue
• Peros Road and Tropicana Avenue

Why Are Las Vegas Roads so Dangerous?

The City of Lights welcomes more than 42 million visitors each year. These visitors may not be familiar with the streets they travel whether they’re in a vehicle or on foot. Visitors might let down their guard when they arrive ready for a vacation. Also, the large number of people in Las Vegas alone means that there are plenty of opportunities for human error that can result in a crash.

What Are Officials Doing to Improve Intersections in Las Vegas?

There are a number of agencies working to improve traffic safety in Las Vegas. The Regional Transport Commission of Southern Nevada, the Nevada Centre for Advanced Mobility, the Nevada Highway Patrol, and the Nevada Department of Transportation all believe that accident prediction technology may have the answers.

They’re turning to big data analytics to predict where accidents are most likely to occur. Then, they can send emergency responders to those intersections before a crash even occurs. The initiative is part of the Nevada Strategic Highway Safety Plan.

Officials are looking at any information, data or other facts that might shed light on when accidents are most likely to occur. They’re also looking at why accidents happen. Here are just some of the types of information that researchers are gathering and analyzing to determine why, when and where traffic accidents occur:

• Times of day when accidents occur
• Most common accident locations
• Weather
• How the accident occurs
• Types of vehicles most often involved
• Speeds at impact
• Traffic control devices involved
• Driving records of drivers involved
• Ages of those involved
• Whether alcohol or drugs contribute to the crash

Until now, first responders had to wait to get a report of a traffic crash to travel to the scene. But armed with accident prediction technology, first responders can predict when and where accidents are likely to occur. Then, they can send their vehicles to the scene before a crash even occurs. Responders can carefully position their vehicles to be in the right place at the right time when an accident occurs. Las Vegas officials have partnered with a company called WayCare to provide data gathering and analytics for the program.

Why Are Response Times so Important?

When a traffic accident occurs, the vehicles involved often block traffic until first responders can arrive and clear the scene. When vehicles block traffic, they increase the risk of a second traffic accident occurring. In fact, for every minute that cars block a lane of travel after a crash, the chance of a secondary accident goes up by 2.5 percent.

Are Las Vegas Accident Prediction Programs Working?

Since beginning the pilot program with WayCare, officials report a 12 percent improvement in response times to accidents within the areas of study. Their faster response times have produced a 23 percent drop in secondary collisions. Arriving quickly to render emergency aid and reducing secondary collisions saves lives.

What Changes Can Las Vegas Make to Improve Traffic Safety?

In addition to positioning first responders strategically in order to prepare for traffic crashes, using accident prediction technology to predict traffic accidents can help public officials take other measures to improve traffic safety. Accident prediction alone doesn’t prevent accidents. But the data that researchers can harvest from accident prediction technology can help officials recommend measures that will enhance road safety. Here are some of the ways that officials might make recommendations and changes that improve safety on the roads:

Road design: A road might need an additional turn lane, a median or different grading to help drivers more accurately navigate an intersection.

Traffic control devices: A light might need a yellow signal for a longer period. An intersection might benefit from a turn arrow or other changes to help drivers stay safe.

Speed limits: Speed limit adjustments may reduce collisions and reduce the speed at impact if a crash occurs.

Minimum driving ages and licensing requirements: As states gather data about traffic crashes, they might consider raising or lowering minimum driving ages as well as adjusting education for drivers and minimum standards for licensing.

Drunk driving laws and drugged driving laws: A state may want to modify the legal limit and develop new ways to detect drugged drivers in response to data relating to driver intoxication levels in traffic crashes.

License sanctions for dangerous drivers: Officials might find that altering the driver’s license point system may keep dangerous drivers off the road while giving others an incentive to drive more carefully.

Law enforcement efforts: Law enforcement agencies can assign officers to provide additional patrol and traffic law enforcement at the most dangerous locations throughout the city.

How a Car Accident Attorney Can Help

Although accident prediction is proving to be beneficial in keeping Las Vegas roads safe, collisions happen. If you’ve been hurt in a traffic crash, you may be able to receive financial compensation. An experienced lawyer can help you evaluate how you can receive fair compensation after you’re in an accident.