Gary Pool, Hancock County engineer
Provided photo
HANCOCK COUNTY — According to the numbers presented by county engineer Gary Pool, Hancock County has the lowest fatal accident rate when compared to surrounding counties.
At the most recent commissioners meeting, Pool said that, while looking at the data, they found that per 80,000 people in Hancock County, two people have passed due to car accidents specifically on county roads. Of 100,000 people, the average would be 2.5.
“I would like to get that (number) to zero. We almost had it one year,” Pool said. “People would say that’s unrealistic but it’s a noble goal.”
For surrounding counties, Hamilton County had the highest number of fatalities with 10 so far this year, Madison County had nine fatalities, Henry County with four, and Rush and Shelby County both had three fatalities. Hancock County is the lowest with two fatalities.
The overall state average is seven fatalities per 100,000 people.
Compared to the county’s average of five fatalities in 2022, the number is cut in half, and Pool believes that can be seen due to rumble strips on the roads and extra signage at two-way stops.
Since Pool has been working for the county, he said that over the past 10 years there has been a lot more round-a-bouts, extra striping and improvement of potholes. The round-a-bouts that have been installed at the danger intersections have almost completely removed injuries.
Pool said that the state is good about giving grants, and commissioners and council are good about pursuing these kinds of projects, despite some that are not favored by the public, like the round-a-bout on 600W.
“But when it’s done, it’s going to be great,” Pool said. “It’s going to reduce accidents in that area.”
Commissioner Bill Spalding said in the meeting that, overall, when looking at these crashes, it’s not the roads that cause accidents, but human error.
Pool said that the department has been doing work to decrease the consequences of human errors, such as increasing the amount of striping on the roads and increasing striping to six inches on the edges.
Pool also said that a lot more rumble strips and signage at two-way stops have been installed, so in situations where someone may not be paying attention or on their phone, it will alert them and reduce the impact of human error.
Commissioner Gary McDaniel had brought to attention during the meeting the wear of the strips, and Pool said the strips have about a five- to six-year life cycle while sometimes snow plows can speed up the process.
McDaniel said that one area that is getting worn down is 400 S and 200 W, a two-way stop intersection he takes often.
Pool said that if there is anyone who wants to report rumbles strips that are starting to get worn down to go ahead and call the highway department and let them know so that way it can be added to the schedule.
Pool said these fixes don’t happen the next day, but once added to the schedule they should be taken care of in the next year or two.
Additional ways to help prevent accidents, fatalities and promote road safety is to wear seatbelts and stay off cell phones.
