Attention to county roads appreciated

Studies a good first step to figuring out what will make roads safer

The Yuma County Board of Supervisors is once again turning its attention to rural road safety after a series of accidents, including two fatal crashes in December.

According to a recent Yuma Sun story, the county is installing a traffic signal at Avenue B and County 19th Street, which had previously been identified as an area where accident risks are high.

Supervisor Tony Reyes said that the next step will be to install either traffic signals or warning lights at any rural intersections where traffic counts justify their use. That’s a solid move, but it’s one that takes time. The county can’t just randomly set up more traffic control devices without doing the appropriate studies, as Reyes notes.

“There will be some intersections where putting in traffic signals is justified, but in others not. For that, there has to be a study, and warning lights will be installed according to the needs. But either way, people will see more activity by the county in that regard,” Reyes said.

And as we’ve seen, additional lights and traffic signals only go so far in keeping the roads safe. Somerton Avenue and County 18th Street already has stop signs and warning lights, yet a mother and her son were still killed at the intersection when a pickup truck failed to yield the right of way, colliding with an SUV.

Would a four-way stop light at that intersection make a difference? Maybe.

One can make the case that County 14th Street is a dangerous roadway as well, with two serious accidents on Nov. 17 and Dec. 21 at County 14th and Somerton Avenue, and a fatal collision on Dec. 18 at County 14th and South Avenue 4E, according to the Yuma Sun archives.

Additional lights and traffic control indictors could make a difference at these intersections, but that is only part of the equation to making the roadways safer.

The other factor is a tough one to fix — getting people to pay attention while driving. That means removing distractions and giving the roadways the attention they deserve — but that is something that falls under personal responsibility. It’s not something that can be legislated or forced. Drivers instead must pay attention, drive defensively, and be alert.

However, we’re glad the Yuma County Board of Supervisors is taking the issue seriously and looking at traffic control measures to help these roads become safer.