DOT Route 31 traffic study in Ogden,
Sweden leads to more monitoring

New York State Department of Transportation has completed a traffic study investigating the section of Rt. 31 between Sweden-Walker Road and Gallup Road in the towns of Sweden and Ogden, Monroe County.

The study collected accident data and analyzed cause and effect patterns, measured traffic volumes, looked at field data including roadway characteristics, travel speed characteristics of motorists, existing traffic control devices and signs.

Based on a sample of free-flowing vehicles, it was determined the vast majority of motorists (71%) travel between 50 and 59 miles per hour. The speed limit is posted at 55 mph. A small group of motorists (9%) exceeded the limit by more than five miles per hour, and (1%) exceeded the posted speed limit by ten miles an hour or more.

Accident history with particular attention given to the three recent fatal accidents was studied. The accident history revealed 75 accidents within a three-year period. The common patterns of these accidents included driver inattention, failure to yield the right of way, the use of alcohol and collisions with wildlife.

The study revealed common threads relating to actions involved by motorists that would be susceptible to correction by law enforcement including aggressive tendencies; failure to yield the right of way, following too closely, improper lane change, disregard for traffic control device and the use of alcohol.

As a direct result of this traffic study, NYSDOT has requested a targeted enforcement effort by the State Police and the Monroe County Sheriff's Department. Law enforcement personnel will be deployed along this stretch to encourage compliance of the highway and traffic law. Electronic message boards will be placed along the corridor to inform motorists of the targeted enforcement area.