Many factors contribute to good health, and traffic safety is one of them. Lives are too often cut short by motor vehicle accidents, and many survivors of accidents suffer long-term consequences of their injuries.

Statistics help us understand how we are doing as a community. The numbers for Lake County tell us that we have our work cut out for us.

The Lake County Community Health Needs Assessment 2010 (http://health.co.lake.ca.us/Assets/Health/Public+Health+Division/Health+Needs+Assessment+Dec+2010.pdf) noted that the three-year average for years 2006-2008 showed 16 deaths from motor vehicle crashes, and an age-adjusted death rate of 22 per 100,000 population, more than twice the age-adjusted rate at the state (10 per 100,000) and just under twice the national rate of 14 per100,000. Although the rates are considered “statistically unstable” due to the small numbers, they are enough to raise concern.

Similarly, the 2011 County Health Rankings http://www.countyhealthrankings.org/california/lake) reported that the Lake County’s motor vehicle crash death rate (for the years of 2001-2007) was 28 per 100,000 population, more than twice both the national benchmark and the California rate, both of which were 12 per 100,000.

The best rate of 6 per 100,000 was in Marin County and the worst rates ranged up to 54 per 100,000 in small counties where the numbers were not statistically reliable.

So we know that we should be concerned, but what are the reasons for our troublesome rates? The numbers tell only part of the story.

Lake County has some fairly unique characteristics when it comes to traffic safety. Can we really compare ourselves to Marin County when it comes to driving conditions?

Options for travel around Clear Lake and into adjacent counties are limited to a very few highways, of which only approximately seven miles are defined as freeway.

Local traffic blends with vacationing tourists and travelers who are just passing through on their way to other destinations.

Other local roads range in quality, but include many that are unpaved and some that do not include a full lane for each direction of traffic. Sidewalks are sporadic and bike lanes tend to be narrow or absent.

As a rural area, road lighting is rare (the lack of “light pollution” is much appreciated by star gazers), and drivers must be ever vigilant in watching for deer, raccoons and other wildlife that unexpectedly cross in front of traffic.

Winter weather brings snow to some areas and black ice to many others.

And even though our emergency medical services provide excellent response for our rural setting, ambulances face the same driving challenges as the rest of us and major injuries often result in a helicopter ride to major trauma centers located 60 or more miles away.

If this paints a picture, it is a far cry from Marin County.

 How can be we better understand how to address Lake County traffic safety needs? The key is to find better information about the details of our own accident patterns.

One of the great strengths of people in Lake County is their resourcefulness and ability to help themselves. Unexpected partnerships foster creative methods and solutions. A perfect example is the traffic accident mapping feature launched by Lake County News.

What better way to educate ourselves about traffic safety than to have current information about the location and nature of accidents that take place in Lake County?

We have an opportunity to gather data about the characteristics of accidents that allow us to focus on solutions that make the most sense for our conditions.

Although we may not be able to obtain all the information we’d like to see, we’ll be able to learn more than we could ever extrapolate from raw numbers relating to traffic mortality.

Unlike traffic fatality data available through the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (http://www-fars.nhtsa.dot.gov/Trends/TrendsGeneral.aspx), locally gathered data will include non-fatal accidents and other information of interest.

Here are some thoughts on what we might find helpful:

• Where are the accident “hot spots?” Can they be improved with better road maintenance, design, visibility, or other engineering approaches?

• How old are the vehicles involved in accidents? In today’s economic environment, are older cars lacking current safety features being driven? Is deferred maintenance of tires, brakes, and other needed repairs factoring into the occurrence or outcomes of accidents?

• Are very small vehicles, such as electric cars or motorcycles involved?

• Are there patterns that relate to the age and experience of drivers?

• Is distracted driving a continuing problem?

• How often do drivers involved in accidents lack valid drivers’ licenses?

• Do most accidents involve Lake County residents, or are they more likely to involve visitors, tourists, or people just passing through?

• We know that alcohol intoxication leads to accidents, but do other drugs, including both illicit and prescription drugs, play a significant role?

• How often do animals or other roadway hazards (ice, rocks, mudslides, etc.) contribute to local accidents?

• How often is transport of motor vehicle accident victims to a local hospital or out-of-county trauma center required?

While this list may be a bit ambitious, any information we can gather to better define the nature of traffic accidents in Lake County will allow prevention efforts to target the causes. In fact, simple awareness of accident “hot spots” will likely promote more cautious driving in those areas.

As Lake County’s public health officer, I am appreciative of the initiative shown by Elizabeth Larson and Lake County News in bringing a new traffic accident mapping project forward. The map can be seen at http://bit.ly/VxtrK0 .

In the process, we are strengthening collaborations among the media, California Highway Patrol, the Lake County/City Area Planning Council, and Lake County Public Health.

Good, locally relevant information allows us all to mobilize action steps to protect and improve the health of our community.

Dr. Karen Tait is the public health officer for Lake County, Calif. She served as an advisor on Lake County News' recent five-part series, “Hazards Ahead,” focusing on the county's high vehicle collision rate and its effects on the health of county residents.