LAS VEGAS (FOX5) -
The past year has been deadly on Las Vegas Valley roadways. In the last four months alone, 16 people have been killed in auto-pedestrian accidents in Clark County.
This has many wondering what makes Las Vegas so dangerous and what, if anything, can be done about it.
It's a combination of mistakes accounting for the fatalities. In some instances, pedestrians are walking in traffic; in others, drivers aren't paying attention behind the wheel.
What can be done about the seemingly endless traffic fatalities? First, people can change their habits. Some say that we also need tougher laws and a change to the physical design of our streets.
"Let's face it, our town is built for motor vehicles," said Erin Breen, who works with UNLV's Safe Community Partnership.
Breen is working on a number of pieces of proposed legislation, including stiffer traffic and pedestrian penalties and lowering speed limits.
"The average road speed in Clark County is over 50 mph, and pedestrians don't have a chance," she said. "If you're hit at average road speed in Clark County, you are our next fatality."
Parents, meanwhile, are pushing for more signs and traffic signals.
The Regional Transportation Commission (RTC) is knee-deep in a program called Complete Streets. It's aimed at designing roadways that are more pedestrian-friendly.
"We've created a designated lane for buses to go in, wider sidewalk areas, new pedestrian shelters, new landscaping, trees to provide shade," explained RTC Engineer Mike Hand.
When looking at longer stretches of road, law enforcement says the flat, wide design can easily skew a driver's perception.
"The faster you drive, you start getting those blinders come on because now you're looking farther down the road," said Metro's Sgt. Richard Strader. "You're losing what's important, and what's going to come out from the other side of the road."
With too much traffic to narrow the roadways, FOX5 asked about the possibility of more pedestrian bridges.
"It's a great solution, love it," said Hand. "How much money do you have?"
The RTC says the cost is simply too high.
"We can only do so much with the resources we have to make the streets safe," Hand continued.
While effort is being made to make Las Vegas safer, what it comes down to is the need for people to make better decisions behind the wheel and on the streets.
Police agencies across the valley have been holding pedestrian safety events to draw attention to the issue.
Since Clark County began keeping records, nearly 70 pedestrians have been killed by vehicles.
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