What are the most dangerous intersections in Newport Beach and Costa Mesa?

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James Long, a 55-year-old store clerk who works in a plaza near Jamboree and Bristol, said driver confusion is common. The intersection sees about 78,000 vehicles per day.

"It's one way on Bristol. When people who are not from around here come shopping here and exit, instead of making a right, they make a left," he said. "That happens very frequently."

Newport Beach City Traffic Engineer Tony Brine said the overall number of traffic accidents in the top five intersections was relatively low last year. Areas with higher traffic volume and large intersections tend to see more accidents, he said.

Some intersections near the busy Fashion Island shopping center saw a handful of accidents last year. Newport Center Drive at Civic Center Drive and San Miguel Drive at Avocado Avenue, which are both in the top five, each saw four accidents.

To help reduce the number of accidents, the city regularly reviews accident reports from the police department to determine the causing factors, Brine said.

"For many of the accidents, the driver is at fault," Brine said by email. "If there are specific improvements that can be made to address the accident factors, we will schedule those improvements."

To help traffic run smoothly, Newport Beach, along with other Orange County cities including Costa Mesa, has been working on a multi-year project to modernize the traffic signal system. To date, the city has completed upgrades to 91 traffic signals, Brine said.

"We also have (surveillance cameras) at 27 intersections, which allows us to monitor traffic and make timing adjustments from the traffic management center in City Hall," Brine said.

While upgrades and improvements are important factors in road safety, driver awareness is the key for preventing an accident, especially in busy intersections, said Lt. Jeff Lu of the Newport Beach Police Department's Traffic Division.

"The most important thing is to remain aware at all times, because things can happen so fast," he said. "It's really all about defensive driving. It's what we learned when we were 16, and it's still important today."

Here are a few safe-driving reminders from Lt. Jeff Lu of the Newport Beach Police Department's Traffic Division.

1. Don't get distracted. "We really want people to not be distracted when they're driving," Lu said. "We have laws in place about cell phone use and texting while driving, but other things that are perfectly lawful can be districting as well. Someone could be playing music in the car, or looking for something they dropped on the floor. It's important for drivers to minimize distractions and remain focused."

2. Keep a safe distance. "Maintain a safe distance from the car in front of you at all times," he said. "Maintaining a safe distance gives you time to react to other drivers. Space is your friend."

3. Look in both directions. "When you're turning right onto a street and you have the green light, it's always a good idea to look both left and right before you turn. Someone may be coming fast and not able to stop. If you're turning out of a driveway, always look left and right. You might miss a pedestrian or bicyclist if you're not paying attention."

4. Maintain a safe speed. "Maintaining a safe speed isn't just about following the speed limit, it's about keeping a safe speed for the current roadway conditions," Lu said. "If visibility is reduced or there's construction in the area, the speed limit may not be the safest speed for the conditions.


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