In a concerted effort to address traffic safety issues, Las Vegas Metro Police have spotlighted 12 intersections notorious for a high incidence of deadly crashes. As part of a newly unveiled safety initiative, heightened enforcement will apply to these areas with the hope of reducing the valley's traffic fatalities. FOX5 Vegas reports that this action arose from data indicating that 108 individuals have lost their lives in Metro's jurisdiction so far this year.
According to FOX5, LVMPD Traffic Lieutenant Cody Fulwiler shared a sobering perspective by saying, "Those are family members. Those are people. It’s not just a number." Fulwiler's stance on the significance of each life lost. His views were indelibly marked by a personal tragedy when officer Colton Pulsipher, on his way home, fell victim to a drunk driver in an accident that highlights the very dangers these intersections pose.
Enforcement strategies will include pulling officers from other duties to patrol these areas, with a focus on speed, failure to yield right of way, and impairment as the three main factors contributing to lethal collisions. In the face of previous years' 160 fatalities, the department's goal is to reduce that number to under 125 this year, particularly as the holidays approach—an oft-noted deadly period due to increased partying and alcohol consumption, as detailed in the News 3 LV coverage.
Local mother Suzan Smith, who knows the pain of losing a child to a speeding driver, expressed optimism about the new approach. "I love that they are going after the drivers that do seem to cause the most fatalities, the most injuries, the most accidents. Your chances of hurting someone or hurting yourself are going to greatly increase if you are distracted, if you are speeding, if you are intoxicated," Smith told News 3 LV. This statement reflects a shared sentiment among those affected, hopeful that preemptive action might save lives.
Last but not least, LVMPD's approach will resemble the methods used during holiday DUI blitzes, which have proven effective in preventing fatalities. Lieutenant Fulwiler told 8 News Now, "We’ve had zero fatalities during those times, so we bridged off that and developed a plan." The intersections designated for increased surveillance include Charleston Boulevard at Decatur Boulevard and Flamingo Road at Maryland Parkway, among others outlined above in discussions of the new safety strategy.
