Latest news with #roadSafety
CBS News
5 hours ago
- General
- CBS News
How Sacramento is looking to increase traffic safety on Folsom Boulevard
SACRAMENTO — Sacramento has reached a top-20 list no one wants to be on. The city ranked as one of the most dangerous places for drivers, bicyclists, and pedestrians in the nation. Now, safety improvements are being made along one busy street where a mother lost her life three years ago. "The biggest problem that we have is people drive way too fast," said Megan Johnson, a senior engineer with the city. In January 2022, Lupe Jimenez Brown was hit and killed by a car outside her daughter's elementary school on Folsom Boulevard in east Sacramento. "It was a day that we never want to see again," said Isaac Gonzalez, founder of Slow Down Sacramento. Gonzalez is a parent at the same school and says the road remains unsafe. "We see near misses that really resemble the crashes that happened, that took Lupe's life," he said. Now, city traffic engineers are unveiling a roadway redesign along a 16-block stretch of Folsom Boulevard, including the intersection where Lupe died. The first planned change is a road diet, where one of the two lanes in each direction is removed to make way for a new center turn lane and a new buffered bicycle path. "Doing a lane reduction makes the road feel more constrained, and it eliminates the likelihood and tendency to just drive way too fast," Johnson said. Another more controversial proposal is to remove 19 on-street parking spaces that could impact some local businesses along the boulevard. "There is limited parking as it is, and most buildings don't have parking spots around this area," said Carrie Bailon, a hairdresser at Black Sheep Hair Studio on Folsom Boulevard. "So it's like, 'Where are the clients going to go?' " Removing the parking spots will create a continuous bike path to Sacramento State University and is part of the city's Vision Zero goal to eliminate all vehicle crashes that cause serious injury or death. "I'm really happy that the city's working on this right now, and hopefully it's installed before anyone else has to die," Gonzalez said. The city is currently designing the Folsom Boulevard traffic safety plan and hopes to break ground in late 2026. "Our number one priority is always going to be safety, and so it is a safety need that's driving this decision," Johnson said.
Yahoo
5 hours ago
- General
- Yahoo
Loudoun County Sheriff's Office warns of increase in pedestrian, bike crashes
The Brief The Loudoun County Sheriff's Office is sounding the alarm about a rise in pedestrian accidents. Officials say there has been a 70 percent increase countywide in pedestrians struck compared to last year. They are asking pedestrians and drivers to increase awareness and improve safety practices. LOUDOUN CO., Va. - There's been an alarming rise in the number of pedestrians hit on Loudoun County roadways. What they're saying Authorities are concerned about the staggering increase in pedestrian and bike crashes across the area. The message from the Loudoun County Sheriff's Office: Pay attention, drop the phone, look at the roadways and for drivers, slow down. "I always look at the eyes to make sure no one is ahead of me or in front of me. The only way I can stay safe is to make sure they're safe at the same time I'm driving," said Martha Urquia. The backstory The alert comes just about three weeks after yet another fatal crash involving a pedestrian that occurred Friday, May 9. It was the latest incident of a pedestrian being struck in the county — just one of a growing number of pedestrians, scooter riders and bicyclists who have been hit on Loudoun roadways so far this year. According to the Sheriff's Office, there has been a 70 percent increase countywide in pedestrians struck compared to this time last year. "Drivers have to be extra alert when they're driving. You have the sun coming up earlier, glare that can strike your car. We're doing everything we can do to get the message out," Loudoun County Sheriff Mike Chpaman said. Local perspective FOX 5 spoke with the sheriff but also a long-time Loudoun County resident who knows families who have been affected in pedestrian-involved accidents and says the existing infrastructure could be to blame. "One of the issues we have is that our roads are rural. We have a lot of rural-type roads that have become more urban and I just think we lack a lot of sidewalks on a lot of these roads," Leesburg resident Phillip Thompson said. Law enforcement provided some quick tips for pedestrians: Only cross at marked crosswalks. Look both ways. Wait for traffic to fully stop before stepping into the roadway. The Source Loudoun County Sheriff's Office
Malay Mail
6 hours ago
- General
- Malay Mail
Kuching police confirm Lamborghini driver reported fatal Jalan Airport accident, not hit-and-run
KUCHING, May 30 — Police have ruled out a hit-and-run in the fatal accident involving a Lamborghini and a pedestrian at Jalan Airport here on Tuesday evening. Kuching district police chief ACP Alexson Naga Chabu confirmed yesterday that the 54-year-old businessman driving the Lamborghini came forward to lodge a police report within the required 24-hour timeframe. 'The Lamborghini driver lodged the police report an hour after the accident. He did not run but reported the incident,' he told The Borneo Post. He added that the driver was subsequently arrested to facilitate investigation and is now a suspect in the case. According to Alexson, the driver stated that he was travelling from Jalan Airport to Padungan when the incident occurred. Meanwhile, the police have identified the deceased pedestrian as Chinese national Bi Guang Dong, 52, a general worker involved in the Autonomous Rapid Transit (ART) lane construction. Alexson said Bi was crossing the road when he was struck by the Lamborghini. He was subsequently declared dead at the scene by medical personnel from the Sarawak General Hospital. 'In the meantime, the body of the deceased is still at the Sarawak General Hospital, awaiting claims from family members in China,' said Alexson. Police have classified the case as dangerous or reckless driving that results in death, an offence under Section 41 (1) of the Road Transport Act 1987. The Section provides for five to 10 years in jail and a fine of between RM20,000 and RM50,000 upon conviction. Alexson urged witnesses or anyone with relevant information to contact investigating officer ASP Lucas Apin on 013-8246881 or 082-259900, or to visit the nearest police station. — The Borneo Post
Independent Singapore
10 hours ago
- General
- Independent Singapore
Pedestrian struck by right-turning car at Upper Thomson junction; police investigating
SINGAPORE: A pedestrian was hit by a right-turning car while crossing at the junction of Marymount Road and Upper Thomson Road Wednesday afternoon (May 28), sparking public concern over road safety and driver attentiveness. The Singapore Police Force confirmed that a report had been lodged and that investigations are currently ongoing. No further details were released on the condition of the pedestrian. The incident came to public attention after a video was shared in the Facebook group SG Road Vigilante, which often posts footage of traffic incidents across the island. According to the group, the accident occurred at approximately 1:16pm. In the video, a pedestrian wearing a black top and holding an umbrella is seen walking on the designated crossing when a car, making a right turn, fails to slow down and strikes the individual. The footage has since garnered widespread attention online. The video triggered a flurry of comments from netizens, with many condemning the driver's apparent lack of caution. 'Don't people look at the side of the road when they turn now?' wrote one commenter. Another asked, 'Is the driver looking at his phone or navigation?' Others expressed disbelief, questioning how the driver could miss seeing someone with an umbrella in broad daylight. However, not all responses were critical. A few commenters suggested that the driver's view might have been momentarily blocked—possibly by a roadside bollard or other visual obstruction. Some also reminded pedestrians to remain vigilant, with one noting, 'I always look both ways even when it's my right of way.'
RNZ News
11 hours ago
- Business
- RNZ News
Public consultation opens for raising Transmission Gully speed limit to 110km/h
Transmission Gully. Photo: RNZ / Angus Dreaver The Transport Minister has announced consultation begins on Friday on raising the speed limit for Transmission Gully to 110km per hour. The $1.25 billion motorway north of Wellington - opened to the public in March 2022 after years of delays. Last year two large motorways north of Wellington the Kāpiti Expressway and the Peka Peka to Ōtaki Expressway had their speed limits increased to 110km per hour. Transmission Gully was built to the same safety levels but did not receive the same treatment at the time due to parts of the road not being complete. Transport Minister Chris Bishop said now New Zealanders would get to have their say on the increased speed limit for the road. "Transmission Gully was designed and constructed to a high safety standard. This is reflected in the low crash numbers on the road since opening in 2022." Bishop said there had been 150 barrier strikes on the route but nobody had died on it. Transport Minister Chris Bishop. Photo: RNZ/Calvin Samuel There would also be consultation on a raised speed limit to 110km per hour on the Raumati Straights which connected Transmission Gully to the Kāpiti Expressway. If it came into force, that would mean the speed limit would be 110km per hour on State Highway One from north of Ōtaki to nearly all the way into Wellington City. Consultation will last six weeks. In February RNZ reported that NZTA Waka Kotahi estimated it spent more than $600,000 on external lawyers for a legal battle with the builders of Transmission Gully, which was later settled out of court. The road was built under a Public Private Partnership (PPP) contract between the Wellington Gateway Partnership and builders CPB Contractors Pty Ltd and HEB Construction Ltd. The dispute related to unfinished construction and quality checks. At the time the agency said the legal proceedings were filed in response to their expectations works were completed to the "project's contracted standards". In December the agency announced it had settled the dispute out of court. Sign up for Ngā Pitopito Kōrero , a daily newsletter curated by our editors and delivered straight to your inbox every weekday.
