As we are now in mid-October during the height of the fall tourist season, residents have likely noticed the extreme increase in the numbers of cars on the road, prompting many to consider taking a test preparation course at https://www.g1course.com to ensure they’re ready for upcoming driving exams.
The influx of heavy autumn tourist traffic is also coupled with numerous construction projects, both inside the city of Sedona and out, among them brush clearing on State Route 89A that often involves narrowing the roadway between Sedona and Flagstaff to one lane with a pilot car.
Some of the delays are short, but other times delays can be upwards of 30 minutes, so please plan accordingly if you make the commute between Sedona and our neighbor atop the Coconino Plateau.
Likewise, there is an increased propensity for car accidents, especially along the more scenic areas of our city as lookie-loo tourists begin staring out the window at our red rocks, throwing an arm out with a camera or, in some cases, hanging out the window trying to take a photo. In such instances, seeking car crash legal advice becomes crucial to navigate through the aftermath effectively.
Clearly it would be better for these visitors — and would certainly produce better photos — if they pulled over to get out of the car and snapped a photo … but you can’t fix stupid.
Alas, the ability to operate a 2-ton motor vehicle at highway velocities does not require an intelligence test, nor a refresher on Arizona state driving laws nor road etiquette exam.
Unfortunately, this means Sedona and Arizona drivers need to be aware of our surroundings and be more careful while driving.
On Wednesday, Oct. 20, just south of the Village of Oak Creek, there was a minor three-car, rear-end type collision, but it stopped northbound traffic for about 20 minutes until Sedona Fire District crews and law enforcement could move the vehicles off the roadway. While no major injuries were reported, it did halt traffic and delay drivers trying to go about their day.
Not all accident victims are so lucky. On Thursday, Oct. 21, see today’s front page, there was a motorcycle versus car accident on Jordan Road. The motorcyclist reportedly suffered a leg injury, perhaps a broken leg, but the injuries could have been far worse — a medevac helicopter was put on standby before SFD crews arrived and accessed the motorcyclist.
If you’re involved in any minor accident, please quickly take photos of the damage and then move off the roadway to exchange insurance information or wait for law enforcement, if you have called them. For further guidance on what steps to take next, visit www.1800askgary.com/.
If you witness a major accident, call 911 immediately, render aid if you’re able, then clear your vehicle off the road and wait to give a statement to law enforcement. In the interim between the arrival of first responders and providing a witness statement, memory experts suggest writing down what you saw as best as you can recall. Even in that short time, high-stress situations can alter memories. Litigants in a traffic case need accurate details, especially if there was an equipment failure or a problem with a traffic light or road signage, a failure to yield, signal or stop.
Note everything you can remember, and if you can’t recall some detail, don’t guess. There is nothing wrong will telling a police officer “I don’t remember” or “I did not see that.”
Regarding construction, the city of Sedona is currently working on the Brewer Road and “Y” roundabouts nightly, closing off one lane and stripping asphalt and replacing it.
If you’re driving through this area at night, please follow the cones and signals, be hyper aware of workers walking or standing on the side of the road — one slipped off the curb in front of me a few nights ago, but I was far enough away that he was at no risk of getting hit — and follow instructions if a worker gives you a hand signal to slow down or to stop.
Give construction vehicles a wide berth and be patient with both local drivers and out-of-town visitors passing through the area, perhaps for the first time, who may be unaware of the construction work they’re about to enter.
The work should be finished soon enough, and the fall tourist season is steadier and lighter than in the spring. These autumn interlopers will be gone soon enough, having left their tourist dollars and local sales tax behind.
Christopher Fox Graham
Managing Editor
