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~'c ~_T <br /> //I I/ I`~~ I <br /> July 31, 1996 ~ Public Works <br /> Administration <br /> CONTACT: Joe Hessler, Traffic Technician, 687-5285 City of Eugene <br /> From Public Information Section, 687-5523 858 Pearl Street <br /> Eugene, OR 97401 <br /> (503) 687-5262 <br /> FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE <br /> EUGENE TRAFFIC ACCIDENTS INCREASE IN 1995 <br /> Traffic accidents in Eugene increased in 1995 after a four year decreasing trend, <br /> according to the Eugene Public Works Department. Pedestrian and bicycle accidents also <br /> increased. <br /> From 1989 to 1994, accidents decreased from 2,288 to 2,028, a change of 11%. The <br /> 2,272 accidents in 1995, the most since 1990, was 12% higher than 1994. There were 51 <br /> pedestrian accidents and 102 bicycle accidents in 1995, compared to 1994, when there were 39 <br /> pedestrian and 79 bike accidents. Part of the increase in pedestrian and bike accidents is <br /> attributed to improved accident reporting. <br /> With Eugene's growing population, the increase in accidents can be attributed to the <br /> increasing number of vehicles being driven daily on city streets. City Traffic Engineer Gary <br /> Ludeke says "Even though the total number of accidents was higher in 1995 than in previous <br /> years, the accident rate per mile driven, and the accident rate per capita has continued to decrease <br /> 'I given the higher mileages." <br /> The 1995 accident report shows that the 7th Avenue and Mill Street intersection at the <br /> base of the Ferry Street Bridge ranked highest in both accident frequency and accident rate. <br /> <br /> ~`rr,,.i Accident rate measures the number of accidents for every million vehicles entering an <br /> intersection. (MORE) <br /> <br />