Dangerous stretch: One crash per week between Colfax, Pullman
By Josh Babcock, Moscow Pullman Daily News staff writer
4/16/2015
Keep eyes on the Road
A cross is seen next to U.S. Highway 195 near the intersection with Albion Road between Pullman and Colfax on Wednesday.
The 14-mile stretch of U.S. Highway 195 between Pullman and Colfax saw 260 traffic accidents and seven fatalities - or an average of about one accident a week - during a five-year span from April 1, 2010, to April 10 of this year, according to a collision report from the Washington State Patrol.
The most recent death on the highway took place on April 4, when 28-year-old Dina Williamson, who was driving alone, crossed over the yellow center line on the highway and collided with an oncoming car.
According to the report, someone is injured on the section of road every 46 days, and in the past five years the roadway has had 16 serious injuries, or instances in which those injured were unable to leave the scene of the accident.
According to a study conducted last year by the Washington State Department of Transportation on the entire stretch of U.S. Highway 195, "findings indicated collisions along the corridor were attributed more to driver behavior than roadway design."
Whitman County Sheriff Brett Myers also noted driver behavior is one of the main factors contributing to accidents between Pullman and Colfax, a stretch of highway he described as "fairly accident prone."
Courtney Shawley, a sergeant with WSP, said he agrees. He said a lack of sleep, cellphones, GPS devices and other electronics often distract drivers and lead to poor driver behavior. Shawley noted it's not just portable devices that distract drivers, but even the accessories that come with cars.
Both Myers and Shawley also pointed to driving too fast during icy conditions as another main cause of accidents between Pullman and Colfax.
Shawley said even when driving conditions are poor due to weather and drivers are not speeding, they may still be driving too fast for roadway conditions. He added inattentive driving plays a huge role when road conditions are poor, especially when drivers aren't focusing on the condition of the roadway.
A middle turning lane and widened shoulders, similar to the shoulders and turning lane on the Pullman-Moscow Highway, would be significant in increasing safety on the highway, Myers said.
According to the WSDOT study, installations of shoulder rumple strips, widening the standard 4-inch lane edge stripping to 6- to 8-inch widths in select locations, increasing passing opportunities and developing an intelligent transportation corridor that communicates real-time conditions and driver behavior are all ways WSDOT found may improve the safety of the highway. While WSDOT has completed the study of State Route 195, currently there is no funding in place to aide those changes.
Shawley said between Pullman and Colfax educating drivers on the dangers of distracted driving is a point of emphasis.
"Our goal is to make the roads as safe as we possibly can," Shawley said. "Ask yourself is what you're doing distracting you from driving."
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