By Lori EhdeThe Rock County Highway Department recently participated in an audit that studied the overall safety of local roads and intersections.Road Safety Audits, as they’re called, were conducted in counties throughout Minnesota this summer, with the primary objective to improve safety."I think it was worthwhile," Sehr said following the community meeting Aug. 15 at the library. "They came up with a lot of good information."Specifically, he said the goal of the audit is to reduce the number of fatal and personal injury accidents through low-cost engineering improvements at sites identified as problematic.Three problem sites were identified in Rock County: oThe intersection of West Dodge Street (County Road 5) and Highway 75 by the school campusoThe intersection of County Road 9 (golf course road) and County Road 4 (East Main Street) east of LuverneoThe intersection of County Road 4 (Old Highway 16) and County Road 17 near Manley Tire and Service Station.The audit report provided a crash history summary for each site and suggestions for specific safety improvements the county can consider.Crash data at the Dodge Street and Highway 75 intersection include the following:oThere were two personal injury crashes in the past six years.oA high percentage of all crashes there were due to drivers failing to yield the right of way.oMost of the crashes involved eastbound to northbound left turn vehicles colliding with northbound and southbound through vehicles.oA high occurrence of the crashes was on Monday and Friday.o40 percent of crashes occurred between 3 and 4 p.m.General observations about the intersection included:oAdequate sight distance on all approaches,oObserved speeds were 5 to 10 mph over posted limits, but as high as 50 mph.oDrivers tend to increase speed on the section of Highway 75 near the school because they top hills on both ends of the road segment.Among other suggestions, the following are the ones consultants most highly recommended to improve the site:oIncrease law enforcement and enforce the 30 mph speed or consider increasing it to a higher speed.oEmploy a traffic control officer during the afternoon peak hour at the intersection to control vehicles and pedestrians crossing there."Vehicle and pedestrian traffic at this intersection is high in the afternoon after school is let out due to parents picking up students, staff and students leaving the school and students walking home," consultants wrote in their summary.Crash data at the County Road 9 and 4 intersection east of Luverne included the following:oThere have been no fatal or injury accidents recorded in six years.o75 percent of the crashes were collisions with deer and 25 percent were run-off-the-road crashes.oCrashes usually involved vehicles traveling westboundo50 percent of the crashes usually involved wet or slippery pavementoMost of the crash-involved drivers were younger than 25.General observations about the intersection include:oObserved speed on County Road 4 is at or near the posted limit.oThe intersection is very difficult to identify under low light conditionsoMultiple access points (driveways) are present along County Road 4 to the east.oDrivers on County Road 4 use a narrow paved shoulder to the north of the intersection as a by-pass laneoMature pine trees in the southwest quadrant makes for poor sight distance to the west.Among other suggestions consultants most highly recommended removing the pine trees blocking vision and improving signage on County Road 4 indicated the County Road 9 approach.At the Manley Service Station intersection, crash data included the following:oThere were four personal injury crashes and one fatal accident recorded at the site in six years.oMost involved vehicles were traveling westboundo45 percent of the crashes were vehicles that ran off the road west of County Road 17.o70 percent of the crashes occurred under low light conditions.oAbout 65 percent of the crashes occurred on a Saturday or Sunday.Consultants made the following observations about the intersection:oPoor sight distance exists for southbound drivers looking east due to parked semi-trailers and other vehicles at the service station.oObserved speeds are at or near posted limits.oThere are horizontal alignment and vertical curve issues to the west of County Road 17.oRailroad pavement markings are degraded, their size and placement need review.oRailroad crossing is located 75 feet south of the intersection.Among other suggestions, the following are the ones consultants most highly recommended to improve the site:oInstall 48-inch stop signs on the right and 36-inch stop signs on the left of both northbound and southbound approaches. "The railroad crossing signs and gates on CSAH 17, south of CSAH 4 are very large and distract drivers’ attention away from the stop signs," the summary read. "The railroad is parallel and very close to CSAH 4, which makes it hard to see the road and may cause drivers to miss the stop sign."oAdd intersection lighting.oRequest semi-trailers and other vehicles park in areas that don’t block sight distance for southbound vehicles at the intersection.oRelocate the 40 mph speed advisory sign from the "Curve Ahead" warning sign to the "Intersection Ahead" warning sign. "Per county staff, this speed advisory is meant for the intersection, not the curve, and is currently posted in the wrong place," consultants said.COULD PULL THIS:In addition to studying safety at the problematic intersections, the assessment considered crash data specific to Rock County.For example:oIn 2005, Rock County experienced 151 total crashes resulting in one fatality, 45 injuries, 105 property damage only.oIn 2004, Rock County had two fatalities and 199 total crashes.oOver the past six years, 70 percent of drivers involved in fatal crashes were maleo28 percent of drivers involved in fatal or injury crashes in that time were 15 to 24 years old (that age group comprises 16 percent of Rock County’s population)oIn the past six years, 29 percent of Rock County’s fatal crashes were alcohol related (compared with a statewide average of 35 percent)oDriver inattention and illegal or unsafe speeds are the most often cited reasons for crashes on every roadway system.The study, conducted by SRF Consulting Group Inc., Minneapolis, was funded through an $18,000 grant Rock County applied for through the Minnesota Department of Transportation.