Las Vegas Valley’s left-turning drivers often blind to pedestrians

Motorists often turn left into the paths of oncoming pedestrians and motorcyclists rather than stopping for them as required by law, said Erin Breen, head of the Vulnerable Road Users Project at UNLV.

“Drivers fail to look all the way left and make their turn, only to find themselves faced with a pedestrian who is legally using the crosswalk,” Breen said. “At that point, there’s no time to stop for them.”

Sometimes, the collisions are fatal.

A motorcyclist was fatally struck by the driver of a 2017 Honda Civic that was turning left onto Spring Mountain Road near Spring Shower Drive around 7:35 p.m. on Feb. 12. Las Vegas police said neither driver appeared to be impaired.

On June 18, a 60-year-old woman was walking in a crosswalk on Tropicana Avenue when she was hit by a Dodge truck that was turning from Mojave Road. Police said that the 82-year-old driver of the truck stopped and called for help.

More recently, a man was struck by a 2014 Toyota Corolla that was turning left onto Flamingo Road from southbound Maryland Parkway. The pedestrian was taken to Sunrise Hospital and Medical Center but later died. Police said the driver stayed at the scene and did not show signs of impairment.

When stopped at traffic signals with a solid green ball or flashing yellow left-turn arrows, drivers waiting to make a left turn are required to yield to oncoming traffic, including motorcycles, while also watching for pedestrians, Breen said.

Last year was the deadliest on record for pedestrians in Clark County, where 78 people were fatally struck by vehicles on public roads. However, those numbers appear to be trending downward, according to figures released Friday by Nevada’s Office of Traffic Safety.

Clark County reported 26 pedestrian deaths between Jan. 1 and June 30 in Clark County, down from 37 during the same time in 2017.

Additionally, there were 17 motorcyclist deaths countywide as of June 30, down from 22. State figures show there were three bicyclist deaths in Clark County, down from four at this time last year.

Statewide, there were 153 total traffic fatalities during the first half of 2018, on pace with the same time last year, state traffic safety officials reported.

Watch for flying debris

During her travels across Nevada, Terry from Carson City said she regularly sees commercial trucks with signs warning drivers: “Keep back 200 feet, not responsible for windshield damage.”

“I was under the impression that it is the responsibility of the driver to make sure his vehicle is properly loaded and covered so if rocks, gravel or other items fall out and hit my vehicle, then they are liable for damages,” Terry wrote in an email to the Road Warrior. “What is the case here?”

Despite those warning signs, the driver and the company are “100 percent responsible for every inch of that truck to include its contents,” said trooper Jason Buratczuk of the Nevada Highway Patrol.

That means if the truck is dropping rocks or debris on the roadway, then they are responsible for it, even if warning signs are posted on their vehicles, Buratczuk said. That’s because the drivers are responsible for hauling a safe and secure load.

“If a vehicle got struck with debris from a truck, they should try to get the license plate and see if a company logo is on the vehicle,” Buratczuk said. “They can then pull over and call NHP and we will do a crash report so the responsible party’s insurance information can be exchanged with the victim vehicle.”

Confusing sign

Ellen from Henderson said she was confused by a set of traffic signs displaying a stick figure, a downward-pointing arrow and the words “Here To” on Santiago Drive, Windmill Parkway and Arroyo Grande Boulevard in the area surrounding the Arroyo Grande Sports Complex.

Kathleen Richards, a spokeswoman for the city of Henderson, said the signs are meant to provide direction to motorists to “yield here to pedestrians.”

While the design is unusual, Richards said that “recognizing an image is often easier than reading text.”

Wider road wanted

Pamela from the east valley wanted to know whether Clark County officials plan to widen Broadbent Boulevard between Russell Road and Boulder Highway.

County spokesman Dan Kulin said there are no plans to widen this section of road.

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