MONTGOMERY COUNTY -- You probably drive all the time on some of the deadliest roads in the Miami Valley. Alex Bell and Mad River Roads are two of the busiest in Montgomery County. They're also two of the most dangerous.
"It's very narrow and hilly, up and down. I think it would be safer if it were widened," said Wilma School of Centerville.
The roads weren't built to handle a lot of traffic. The area used to be rural.
"A lot of our problems with crashes are caused by too many driveways too close together in high traffic areas," Montgomery Co. Engineer Paul Gruner said.
Gruner says a wider shoulder on Mad River may have prevented a 2011 accident that killed two University of Dayton students. They ran off the road and into a tree.
Gruner says the county is considering putting a stoplight at the intersection of Mad River and Alex Bell, but he adds that's the only feasible safety improvement. What they really need to do is widen the roads, but he says that would just cost too much money.
"There's only so much we can do and we don't have enough money to make major improvements everywhere," Gruner said.
The county has improved some of the most dangerous roads like North Dixie by widening it to five lanes, which has reduced accidents. Needmore, Lyons, and Salem Avenue are also high on the dangerous road list, but right now there are no plans or money to make improvements.
"I don't think you can put a price tag on it if it's going to save people's lives," said Noah Walkup of Troy.
Walkup knows all too well about dangerous roads. His dad was killed in a crash at the intersection of S.R. 235 and S.R. 41 last summer. It's the most deadly intersection in Clark County. ODOT wants to build a $1.5 million roundabout at the intersection to make it safer. But some say that's too much money.
"Whether it's a million dollars, $5 million or $10 million, if it's going to save people's lives it's very important to spend the money," Walkup said.
ODOT already has the money for the roundabout. Not the case with Montgomery County. Officials there are hopeful they can find the money to eventually make some improvements in the problem areas.
While most accidents occur on interstates and roads with high traffic volumes, police say more than half of all fatal crashes occur on rural roads, because they tend to be narrower and curvier yet still allow high speed limits.
"It's very narrow and hilly, up and down. I think it would be safer if it were widened," said Wilma School of Centerville.
The roads weren't built to handle a lot of traffic. The area used to be rural.
"A lot of our problems with crashes are caused by too many driveways too close together in high traffic areas," Montgomery Co. Engineer Paul Gruner said.
Gruner says a wider shoulder on Mad River may have prevented a 2011 accident that killed two University of Dayton students. They ran off the road and into a tree.
Gruner says the county is considering putting a stoplight at the intersection of Mad River and Alex Bell, but he adds that's the only feasible safety improvement. What they really need to do is widen the roads, but he says that would just cost too much money.
"There's only so much we can do and we don't have enough money to make major improvements everywhere," Gruner said.
The county has improved some of the most dangerous roads like North Dixie by widening it to five lanes, which has reduced accidents. Needmore, Lyons, and Salem Avenue are also high on the dangerous road list, but right now there are no plans or money to make improvements.
"I don't think you can put a price tag on it if it's going to save people's lives," said Noah Walkup of Troy.
Walkup knows all too well about dangerous roads. His dad was killed in a crash at the intersection of S.R. 235 and S.R. 41 last summer. It's the most deadly intersection in Clark County. ODOT wants to build a $1.5 million roundabout at the intersection to make it safer. But some say that's too much money.
"Whether it's a million dollars, $5 million or $10 million, if it's going to save people's lives it's very important to spend the money," Walkup said.
ODOT already has the money for the roundabout. Not the case with Montgomery County. Officials there are hopeful they can find the money to eventually make some improvements in the problem areas.
While most accidents occur on interstates and roads with high traffic volumes, police say more than half of all fatal crashes occur on rural roads, because they tend to be narrower and curvier yet still allow high speed limits.