News
Authorities concerned by highway traffic
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| Benson Police Officer Molly Ingram, with radar in hand, monitors traffic on State Route 80. Authorities are concerned by increasing traffic and number of accidents on the highway. (Thelma Grimes/photo) |
Thelma Grimes
San Pedro Valley News-Sun
Even with the addition of a center turn lane, local authorities say State Route 80 is a problem for traffic safety in the San Pedro Valley.
Traffic on the highway that connects Benson and St. David continues to increase, which directly contributes to the accidents and high rate of tickets being written.
Arizona Department of Public Safety Sgt. Brian Preston said a contributing factor is that there are many roadways connecting to the highway, and about 20 private driveways.
"There are seven miles of roadways and driveways, you have turning congestion, you have speeding and you have increased traffic," he said. "You put all those factors together and yes, we do have a high rate of accidents on that highway."
The Arizona Department of Transportation (ADOT) installed a turn lane last year, after complaints. Preston said there were more accidents before the turn lane was installed because it was only a two-lane road.
Theresa Bennett, owner of Junction Xpress, a convenience store at 1120 S. State Route 80 in Benson, has complained for years, saying she has seen too many accidents and injuries because the highway was two lanes.
Since the center lane was installed, Bennett said she has yet to see another accident.
"It makes it a lot easier for the cars turning," she said. "We haven't had any accidents out front here since they did it. I think that lane is a great asset to the road. I really don't think they need to widen it more than it is."
Benson Mayor George Scott said he received plenty of calls about safety issues on the highway until the turn lane was installed.
"I don't get as many calls now, but I have to say I've been pushing to get four lanes out there," he said. "People are having houses built and there's just too much traffic on that road. There's more on that highway than on State Route 90."
Along with more traffic, Benson Police Chief Glenn Nichols said the uncontrolled access and speeding cause the highway to be dangerous.
"We try to patrol that part of the highway and have a presence there," he said. "We at least try to do what we can. The left-turn lane has improved road conditions, but still there's just too much traffic."
Preston said ADOT continues to say the road is below capacity in terms of traffic counts, but they have only done a study on the daily average.
"They don't see what we see on Friday afternoons," he said. "Or even on the weekend when the kids are out driving around, tourists are heading to Tombstone. During those times there is a lot of traffic. There's congestion without a lot of areas for passing, and that leads to dangerous driving habits."
Molly Ingram, a Benson police officer, said the main thing she notices when patrolling the highway is the left turn lane is being used to pass other cars, which is illegal.
Preston said the most common ticket he writes on the highway is for passing violations.
"Every time I've seen it I can tell the drivers knows it's wrong," he said. "For them, they are looking at that nice open center lane and the temptation is just too strong."
Teen-agers also add to the mixture of problems, Preston said. Many times teens headed to Benson or St. David are in a relaxed atmosphere with friends and whether they are speeding, not wearing seatbelts or listening to the loud music and paying less attention to the road, accidents are bound to happen, he said.
On Feb. 3 three area teens were hurt badly in a two-car collision on the highway. Preston said one of the factors involving the incident was two of the teenagers were not wearing seatbelts.
Lucas Cherry, 17, and Thomas Gladysh, 15, were pinned underneath the Ford F-250 flatbed truck after it collided when a 1998 Dodge sedan being driven by Victoria Obergh, 16, turned left.
All survived but were flown to Tucson hospitals.
Preston said if the boys had been wearing seatbelts they likely would have walked away from the collision. Obergh did have a seatbelt on and mother credited that with saving her daughter's life in a letter to the News-Sun.
Brad Cherry, Lucas' father, said he doesn't blame the road conditions for his son's accident or any others.
"I really don't think there's a problem," he said. "As long as people watch what they are doing, I think the road is wide enough and the pavement is in great condition."
Preston said because of traffic issues, the Department of Public Safety works closely with the Benson Police to crack down on speeding and other violations. The two departments focused on the specific stretch in a crackdown last weekend.
In a news release, DPS Patrolman D.T. Scott, said using the center lane for passing on the highway is a violation, and to further assist authorities to make the highway safe, residents can report violations to the local office by calling 586-3957.
San Pedro Valley News-Sun
Even with the addition of a center turn lane, local authorities say State Route 80 is a problem for traffic safety in the San Pedro Valley.
Traffic on the highway that connects Benson and St. David continues to increase, which directly contributes to the accidents and high rate of tickets being written.
Arizona Department of Public Safety Sgt. Brian Preston said a contributing factor is that there are many roadways connecting to the highway, and about 20 private driveways.
"There are seven miles of roadways and driveways, you have turning congestion, you have speeding and you have increased traffic," he said. "You put all those factors together and yes, we do have a high rate of accidents on that highway."
The Arizona Department of Transportation (ADOT) installed a turn lane last year, after complaints. Preston said there were more accidents before the turn lane was installed because it was only a two-lane road.
Theresa Bennett, owner of Junction Xpress, a convenience store at 1120 S. State Route 80 in Benson, has complained for years, saying she has seen too many accidents and injuries because the highway was two lanes.
Since the center lane was installed, Bennett said she has yet to see another accident.
"It makes it a lot easier for the cars turning," she said. "We haven't had any accidents out front here since they did it. I think that lane is a great asset to the road. I really don't think they need to widen it more than it is."
Benson Mayor George Scott said he received plenty of calls about safety issues on the highway until the turn lane was installed.
"I don't get as many calls now, but I have to say I've been pushing to get four lanes out there," he said. "People are having houses built and there's just too much traffic on that road. There's more on that highway than on State Route 90."
Along with more traffic, Benson Police Chief Glenn Nichols said the uncontrolled access and speeding cause the highway to be dangerous.
"We try to patrol that part of the highway and have a presence there," he said. "We at least try to do what we can. The left-turn lane has improved road conditions, but still there's just too much traffic."
Preston said ADOT continues to say the road is below capacity in terms of traffic counts, but they have only done a study on the daily average.
"They don't see what we see on Friday afternoons," he said. "Or even on the weekend when the kids are out driving around, tourists are heading to Tombstone. During those times there is a lot of traffic. There's congestion without a lot of areas for passing, and that leads to dangerous driving habits."
Molly Ingram, a Benson police officer, said the main thing she notices when patrolling the highway is the left turn lane is being used to pass other cars, which is illegal.
Preston said the most common ticket he writes on the highway is for passing violations.
"Every time I've seen it I can tell the drivers knows it's wrong," he said. "For them, they are looking at that nice open center lane and the temptation is just too strong."
Teen-agers also add to the mixture of problems, Preston said. Many times teens headed to Benson or St. David are in a relaxed atmosphere with friends and whether they are speeding, not wearing seatbelts or listening to the loud music and paying less attention to the road, accidents are bound to happen, he said.
On Feb. 3 three area teens were hurt badly in a two-car collision on the highway. Preston said one of the factors involving the incident was two of the teenagers were not wearing seatbelts.
Lucas Cherry, 17, and Thomas Gladysh, 15, were pinned underneath the Ford F-250 flatbed truck after it collided when a 1998 Dodge sedan being driven by Victoria Obergh, 16, turned left.
All survived but were flown to Tucson hospitals.
Preston said if the boys had been wearing seatbelts they likely would have walked away from the collision. Obergh did have a seatbelt on and mother credited that with saving her daughter's life in a letter to the News-Sun.
Brad Cherry, Lucas' father, said he doesn't blame the road conditions for his son's accident or any others.
"I really don't think there's a problem," he said. "As long as people watch what they are doing, I think the road is wide enough and the pavement is in great condition."
Preston said because of traffic issues, the Department of Public Safety works closely with the Benson Police to crack down on speeding and other violations. The two departments focused on the specific stretch in a crackdown last weekend.
In a news release, DPS Patrolman D.T. Scott, said using the center lane for passing on the highway is a violation, and to further assist authorities to make the highway safe, residents can report violations to the local office by calling 586-3957.
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