New initiative targets dangerous intersections to reduce fatal crashes

COLUMBUS, Ohio (WCMH) — The Columbus Division of Police (CDP) has started increasing enforcement in several areas around the city in an effort to reduce the number of serious injury and fatal crashes on city roads. 

It's part of a new collaboration between CDP and Vision Zero, the city's initiative to reduce the number of deadly crashes to zero by 2035. One of the areas CDP is focusing on to start is Morse Road.

“It’s just a lot of speeding on this strip. Especially since I’ve been here the last two months, all I hear is cars. I’ll be looking like who got the loud pipes, like you hear nothing but somebody going down the street racing every day," Jeff Moorer said.

Not only does Moorer work in a barber shop along Morse Road, but he has also lived in the area his whole life.

“I’ve seen accidents happen, I've had accidents on this road, my mother had accidents on this road. It's a very dangerous road," Moorer said.

The Morse Road corridor is one of the first CDP will have increased enforcement on for the month of August. The others are East Broad Street, South Hamilton Road, Refugee Road, West Broad Street, and North High Street.

“In these initial corridors and in the future corridors, unfortunately, we have seen a larger number of fatalities in these corridors than anywhere else, so that's why we wanted to focus on those first," Sgt. James Fuqua said.

This year, there have been seven fatalities in six crashes in these areas CDP is focusing on first, according to the division. Fuqua said speed and distracted driving are some of the most common violations officers see.

"You’re going to see officers on bicycles, on motorcycles, in traditional cruisers and your speed trailers, it's essentially an all hands-on-deck approach to do everything to get people to reduce their speeds and eliminate these crashes," Fuqua said. 

Moorer is hoping the increased enforcement works.

“At the end of the day, we need safe driving out here. We don't need anybody out here doing stuff that's gonna jeopardize anybody else's life," he said.

The months of July through October are the deadliest on Columbus roads, according to CDP. After the first enforcement corridors for the month of August, they plan to move to others. Fuqua said it's about helping drivers understand how changing their behavior can make the roads safer.

"We are going to have a ton of resources in these areas to reduce that, some people may receive a citation, but some people may receive a warning. But we have to be very diligent in these areas to get the public to understand just how serious these corridors are as it relates to traffic crashes and fatalities," Fuqua said.