The intersection of Santa Monica and Robertson boulevards in West Hollywood is the 19th most dangerous for pedestrians in Los Angeles County according to a study by the Los Angeles Times.
The Times analyzed pedestrian accidents from 2002 to 2013 for the study, identifying 579 intersections where the accident rate was higher than average. According to the Times analysis, nearly a quarter of all pedestrian accidents take place at only one percent of traffic intersections. The Times study ranked the danger of intersections by how much the number of pedestrian accidents deviated from the mean.
There were 58 collisions during the 12-year period of the study at the Santa Monica / Robertson intersection in West Hollywood. Twenty-four of them involved pedestrians, four involved bicyclists and nine were hit-and-runs. There were no fatalities.
The most dangerous intersection was Slauson Avenue at Western Avenue in Los Angeles, with 158 collisions, 40 of which involved pedestrians (two of whom were killed), 10 of which involved cyclists and 48 of which were hit and run. The second most dangerous was the intersection of Hollywood Boulevard and Highland Avenue, with 154 accidents, 38 of which involved pedestrians, 10 of which involved cyclists, and 43 of which were hit-and-runs. There was one pedestrian fatality at that intersection.
Other intersections in the top 100 of the Times’ ranking that are in or adjacent to West Hollywood include:
No. 27. Santa Monica Boulevard and Orange Grove Avenue. Twenty six accidents, 17 involving pedestrians, one involving a cyclist and three hit-and-runs.
No. 56. Sunset Boulevard and La Brea Avenue. One hundred eight five accidents, 26 involving pedestrians, 23 involving cyclists, and 43 hit-and-runs.
No. 61. Sunset Boulevard and Detroit Street. Forty-six accidents, 16 involving pedestrians (one fatal), two involving cyclists, and nine hit-and-runs.
No. 93. Santa Monica Boulevard and Hayworth Avenue. Twenty-three accidents, 13 involving pedestrians and four hit-and-runs.
After several collisions involving cars and pedestrians last year, the City of West Hollywood launched a pedestrian safety campaign that has included public advertisements warning pedestrians to pay attention when they cross the streets, small signs between traffic lanes warning drivers that they are approaching a pedestrian crosswalk and a study that will result in traffic lights at major pedestrian crosswalks on Santa Monica Boulevard that will be coordinated with traffic lights at existing traffic intersections.
There will be the traffic jam of all times in West Hollywood when the two projects will be built corners of SantaMonica and WestKnoll. “Sprouts market+other companies and the Hot Dog Shack.(formerly KooKooRoo)
Personally, I look both ways before I cross the street. Likewise, if it’s not clear, I have no problem waiting (max under min, usually 10sec) because the lights will change, and traffic is gone or dead stopped. Just wait a second has worked for me all my life. Also, if you are walking a dog, cars will stop more and faster. Baby strollers can get traffic to screach to a stop (usually it is someone with a “DOG STROLLER” …. but it stops traffic fast. SERIOUSLY (I am mostly talking about the starbucks/westmount crossing) many times WEHO sheriffs have NOT… Read more »
There is a traffic light corner of Santa Monica/Westboune which does not allow pedestrians. to cross the street safely unless they run. The Walk Signal needs to be on at least 3-4 seconds longer. I have called up the Transportation department and spoke to council members.
Unfortunately both were a waste of time.
WeHo should take some lessons from what they’ve done in SF. SF had many many issues reg. this (these) subjects. There are several solutions to making it safe for pefestrians & bicycles and forcing cars to slow down and take notice of their surroundings.
Considering how much attention crosswalk safety has gotten in West Hollywood. The Los Angeles Times story about this same study, showed not a single Letter to the Editor from a West Hollywood resident or crosswalk advocate in today’s opinion page.
We do like our little bubble.
@Manny: Done. White Lotus has the right idea.
Why not do what Beverly Hills does on Rodeo and have a separate light for pedestrian crossing on the weekend? This would benefit both drivers and pedestrians at the Robertson/SMB and San Vicente/SMB intersections.
Jeffrey, I’m glad you’re not an urban planner…..or should I say, I hope you aren’t.
If the red hand stays illuminated, you are not to cross the street, even if the green light is on. You are jaywalking if you do cross.
Also, if you do not push the cross street button (which I’ve always wondered if it was really attached to anything) the “Red Hand” will remain illuminated even though the light has turned green in your favor and the time to cross the street will be reduced.
Pedestrians MUST exercise caution, especially in a crosswalk with no stop lights. Look BOTH ways and enter gradually to ensure that all vehicles have stopped. If a vehicle is obstructing your view of the next lane, look around it to be certain everyone has stopped.
Jeffrey – exactly – the gist of the article is actually how GOOD WeHo’s record is. We are at the high end of surface street congestion in the LA area, but much safer than other areas.
Clicking on the link and looking at the greater area it seems that we in West Hollywood are actually doing a lot better than other areas like Westlake or East Hollywood or Hollywood or even KoreaTown and some of the solutions could be incorporated into our intersections to make them even better like giving pedestrians a head start before traffic lights turn green or some more traffic calming at Robertson and Santa Monica. The intersection of LaCienega and Santa Monica could definitely use some leeway for pedestrians, especially coming down the hill and turning left to go west on Santa… Read more »
Manny if we’re not a vacation resort destination. Why is the city allowing the 15 new Hotels, that are currently or will soon be under construction! The traffic and pedestrian accidents will increase 10 fold! We will need a monorail as well. That stops at the elevated cross walks!