The Reno Gazette Journal reports that Reno Police Traffic Division statistics show that the following citations were issued in the targeted intersections:

-19 citations were issued in the intersection of West Plumb Lane and South Virginia Street

-15 citations were issued at East 6th Street and Wells Avenue

-13 citations were issued at West 7th Street and Keystone Avenue

The RPD said they have concentrated their traffic enforcement actions near intersections with high accident rates. Of the 15 intersections where enforcement activities were directed in May, eight had no accidents and five had 1 accident.

There were two accidents near South McCarran Boulevard and South Virginia Street, where nine citations were also issued. Three accidents were reported at the intersection of West 8th Street and North Virginia Street.

In all, officers issued 119 traffic citations in May at the various targeted locations, with 10 accidents reported in those areas, police spokesman Steve Frady said.

Police also reported that 580 arrests were made for driving under the influence from January 1 through May 31, compared to 571 during the same period in 2007.

The National Safety Council reports that rural areas account for about 65 percent of traffic deaths. Further, 75 percent of all noncollision accidents (overturns, jackknifes) occur in rural areas. The allure of the countryside is obvious, but dangers are all around.

Rural Hazards

Rural roads are usually not as well maintained as urban roads and major highways. Always wear your seat belts and be especially alert for:

-Blind curves or intersections. Approach each curve expecting the worst. That means slowing down and staying on your side of the road.

-Excessive speed. Drive within the speed limit. It's based on the road's characteristics under ideal conditions, and it is established for your protection. Reduce speed in heavily wooded areas and at night.

-Soft shoulders. They will give way under the weight of your vehicle, and they could pull it down a slope or into a ditch.

-Narrow roads and one-lane bridges. Like it or not, you may have to yield to another driver. Don't be stubborn.

-Poorly marked intersections and railroad crossings. Approach them with caution.

-Woods and tall crops which obscure curves.

-The possibility for head-on collisions. To avoid them:

-Always stay to the right of the center line.

-If an oncoming vehicle veers into your lane for any reason, slow down right away, sound your horn and flash your headlights. Drive to the right to get out of the way. Driving into a ditch is less dangerous than driving into a vehicle.

-If the choice is between a head-on collision and hitting a fixed object, such as a tree or utility pole, it's safer to hit the fixed object, which has no momentum of its own.

Unpredictable Weather And Animals

Weather hazards are compounded on rural roads.

-Carry a survival kit and a cellular phone.

-In wet weather, try to stay in the path in the road that has been worn by traffic. The traction is better there.

-Heavy rains can cause flooding in low areas. A car can be swept away in only one foot of water. Don't try to cross rushing water.

-Wet gravel roads and fall leaves require extra stopping distance. Slow down in the rain.

Animals are a special danger in the country. According to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration, more than 100 people are killed and 8,000 are injured each year in crashes involving animals, particularly deer. You can't predict an animal's actions, but you can prepare your response.

-Use an animal warning device.

-If you encounter a small animal on the road, do not swerve to avoid hitting it. Stay on the roadway. The alternative could mean the loss of your life.

-Because of their size and increased numbers, deer present a special hazard:

-Dusk and dawn are their times of peak activity.

-If one deer crosses ahead of you, stay alert! They usually travel in groups.

-Be most alert in areas where foliage and trees extend to the road.

-If a collision with a deer is unavoidable, slow your speed to reduce the impact. Never swerve left!

Beware! Farm Machinery Crossing

The National Safety Council reports there are about 30,000 collisions each year between vehicles and farm machines. Farm machines are usually big and pon­derous. Mishaps can be avoided if drivers show restraint and patience.

-Slow down when you approach farm implements. Be prepared to stop if necessary.

-Stay calm. Your chance to pass will come eventually. Don't risk your life to save a minute or two.

-Be wary. These implements need more room to maneuver than you do. Tractors will veer to their right before they make left turns. Don't mistake this to mean the tractor is moving aside to let you pass.

Fall driving presents a variety of obstacles, and more drivers die from September through November than during the winter months of December through February. Slick roads, foggy mornings, and roaming wildlife are just some of the increased hazards. You must also contend with less daylight and morning and evening sun glare.

Driving In The Dark

Everyone sees less well at night. In fact, you are three times as likely to be involved in a fatal crash at night as during daylight hours. Keep these tips in mind as the seasons change.

- Less light means slow down Drive below the speed limit and increase your following distance.

- Take curves slower, and never overdrive your headlights. Be sure you can stop if something suddenly appears in the roadway.

- Use high beams as much as possible on highways and unlighted streets. Remember, though, low beams are mandatory if you're within 500 feet of another vehicle or in fog. Note: Low beams lose their efficiency at speeds above 40 mph.

- One of the greatest dangers of night driving is sudden light from street lights, neon signs, wet pavements and approaching cars. Try to look away from glare. Use the lines or edge of the pavement on your right side to help guide you.

- Don't try to "out-glare" a vehicle that does not switch to low beams. Be the first to be courteous. Retaliation for bad manners only results in two blinded drivers.

- Take special care on poorly lit, rural roads.

Preventive Maintenance

- Clean and check your headlights regularly. Headlight dirt or misalignment can reduce the distance a driver can detect objects at night by about thirty percent.

- Get your headlights aligned during a regular maintenance stop. If you can't get to a technician, the National Safety Council suggests the following steps:

- You need 35-40 feet of flat or constantly sloped driveway.

- Shine your low beams on a garage door two to three feet away.

- Outline the bright spots with a soft pencil or tape.

- Back the car about 25 feet from the door. The top of the low beams should shine no higher than the top of the marks on the door or lower than the center of the marked circle. If you have two headlights, the high beams are also aimed.

- If you have four headlights, aim the low beams first. Adjust the high beams until the center of the high is at the top of the low beam.

Seasonal Hazards

- To minimize the glare problems at sunrise and sunset, use your visor, and wear sunglasses if necessary. Never wear sunglasses or tinted glasses at night. Also:

- Be wary of drivers who are driving into a glare at your back. Give yourself plenty of room to come to a controlled stop.

- Turn on your headlights whenever you wonder if it's dark enough to use headlights. It will help you see and be seen.

- Clean your windshield inside and out, especially if you are a smoker. Smoke can cloud your windows and diffuse light.

- Keep paper towels or a rag handy in the interior of your car.

- Keep your wipers clean and new. Streaks make glare worse. Check the washing fluid often.

- To avoid skids in rainy weather, slow down. If you do skid, steer in the direction you want the front of the car to go.

- As soon as temperatures start diving into the 30s, slow down before crossing a bridge.

- Deer and other wildlife are active in the fall. If a collision is unavoidable, slow down to reduce the impact. Stay under control.