- May 20, 2012
Citizens for Highway 49 Safety
News About Highway 49
Road Rage May Have Caused Latest Death on 49
June 1, 2006 Family members of a Nevada County man killed in a possible road rage incident were grieving for him Wednesday night.
They could not believe that Henry Uribe, 50, had left his home outside of Grass Valley just 24 hours before on his new Harley Davidson motorcycle and ended up dead after an apparent altercation with a pickup truck driver in Placer County.
"He was the backbone of our whole family," said daughter Shala Uribe.
↑ Reprinted with permission from The Union
Two crashes leave three in hospital
By Robyn Moormeister, The Union, May 31, 2006Two separate crashes on Highway 49 Tuesday sent three people to the hospital with injuries.
Donald Burt, 84, of Auburn was in fair condition Tuesday night at Sutter Roseville Medical Center recovering from internal injuries he sustained when his vehicle was broadsided as he was making a left turn onto Streeter Road at approximately 8:55 a.m.
↑ Reprinted with permission from The Union
Police patrol on 49 has cooled off
By Jim Ruffalo, Auburn Journal, May 30, 2006Sorting out the notebook while wondering how Memorial Day evolved from remembrance to a three-day boating outing.
And speaking of remembering our honored dead, no doubt there will be additional bodies piling up on Highway 49 if the rumors are true.
For a long time, that roadway from Dry Creek Road to the outer limits of Grass Valley was about as safe as the dash from the airport on the Baghdad Highway. But then came a band of concerned citizens who, finally, turned up the heat hot enough that even the local elected officials feigned interest...
↑ From Auburn Journal
Center Divider Demanded
By Robyn Moormeister, The Union, January 19, 2006Residents sound off at Highway 49 meeting. Fed up with fatal accidents and desperate for immediate solutions, local residents made it clear they want center dividers installed on Highway 49 between Grass Valley and Auburn at Wednesday night's community meeting.
↑ Reprinted with permission from The Union
Hwy. 49 tickets up, accidents subside
By Robyn Moormeister, The Union, April 1, 2006The California Highway Patrol reported Friday that for the first time in Nevada County history, there were zero accidents on Highway 49 during a 30-day period, from March 1 through March 30.
Officers attribute the drastic drop in collisions to a massive hike in enforcement efforts, spurred on by an alarming trend of 11 fatalities on the highway last year.
↑ Reprinted with permission from The Union
Message From Lt. Whitmore
First let me say thank you to the Highway 49 group for alerting the motoring public to the dangers of speeding on Highway 49. Accidents on Highway 49 have been greatly reduced thanks to the combined efforts of the California Highway Patrol and the media attention generated by Citizens For Highway 49 Safety.
In March 2006 there were no accidents on Highway 49. That is a landmark. While I realize that accidents will continue to happen, I think the public has taken charge and has slowed down. My officers have, and always will, vigorously enforce the vehicle code. As some of you may have read in the newspaper, if you speed there is a good chance that you will be stopped by an officer.
Let me close by saying thank you to Mr. and Mrs. Jones and all involved in the safety of Highway 49. And remember, take your time on 49.
↑ Thanks to Charles Whitmore, Lieutenant Commander, Grass Valley CHP
Captain Rick Ward, Commander, Auburn Newcastle CHP
The Highway 49 Safety Task Force is working together to improve safety on the Highway 49 corridor. The Auburn/Newcastle CHP office in conjunction with the Grass Valley CHP office is taking a zero tolerance on speeding. In fact, we conducted a joint speed enforcement on March 16, 2006 and issued a total of 114 citations for speeding and other violations. We will continue these joint speed enforcement efforts throughout the year. However, we need your help in reducing the number of accidents on Highway 49. For 2005, the Auburn/Newcastle CHP office investigated 1,818 traffic accidents for our entire area.Unfortunately, we investigated 213 accidents on Highway 49 last year, as compared to 224 accidents in 2000.
The Auburn/Newcastle Area office is responsible for more than 800 square miles of area in west Placer County, which includes I-80, S.R. 49, S.R. 193, S.R. 65, and over 1,100 miles of county roadways. We have 30 Road Patrol Officers assigned to the Auburn/Newcastle Area Office to patrol these roadways 24 hours a day, 365 days a year. We are committed to providing the maximum amount of service and traffic enforcement allowable with our current staffing levels.
Increased enforcement, mandatory daylight headlights, and other improvements are expected to help reduce the number of accidents on Highway 49, however, traffic safety is a team effort and we need your help. By following the good driving practices listed below, you will be doing your part:
- Stay alive, don't speed on Highway 49.
- Use your headlights for safety.
- Always drive at a safe speed.
- Click it or ticket, always buckle up.
- Don't drink and drive, designate a driver.
- Be patient, don't pass.
- Stay alert for oncoming traffic.
