New system aids county’s study of traffic, accidents

Del Norte County has acquired new equipment to determine where most traffic accidents happen and analyze traffic patterns.

The Geographic Information System (GIS) was purchased with a $30,000 grant, according to County Engineer Arthur Reeve.

All 303 miles of country roads will be tracked with the GIS by the county Community Development  Department.

“County personnel are being trained on the new software,” said  Reeve. “It is amazing how much detailed information is available now for understanding traffic collision patterns.”

The grant came from the California Office of Traffic Safety through the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration.

“Now Del Norte County will have the information necessary to better understand why and where traffic crashes occur,” said Christopher J. Murphy, director of the Office of Traffic Safety. “This is a case where technology will be at work saving lives far into the future.”