Road Warrior: Traffic fatalities in NM drop 8% in 2024, go up in Bernalillo County

Happy Monday.

February is coming to an end, which means it is time to start planning that first big road trip of the year.

But remember: be careful while traveling the interstate or two-lane road.

FATALITY NUMBERS: Traffic fatalities were down across New Mexico in 2024.

Data from the New Mexico Department of Transportation and University of New Mexico showed there were 401 traffic fatalities across the state last year. This marks about an 8% decrease from 436 fatalities in 2023.

The state has seen a decline for the third year in a row. There were 466 fatalities in 2022 and 483 fatalities in 2021.

Of the 401 traffic fatalities, 118 took place in Bernalillo County. This marks about a 3.5% increase from 114 in 2023. The next highest amount of traffic fatalities last year was 31 in Lea County and 23 in Doña Ana County, according to NMDOT and UNM.

Alcohol-related traffic fatalities dropped 40.5%, from 158 in 2023 to 94 in 2024.

January 2025 numbers have been released. In that month, there were 27 traffic fatalities across the state. Of that, eight were in Bernalillo County, according to NMDOT and UNM.

SIGNAL CHANGES: Traffic lights on the corners of Civic Plaza and around City Hall will turn from traditional red, green and yellow to flashing red lights in the coming days.

This is being done to improve pedestrian safety, city of Albuquerque Department of Municipal Development spokesperson Dan Mayfield said.

The intersections affected will be Tijeras, Marquette and Roma at Second to Fourth streets and First and Gold, according to the city.

“We’re telling people to look out for the new lights at the end of the month,” Mayfield said, “and for more changes to roll out slowly after that.”

DOWNTOWN BIKING: Russell Bell said he would not have added bicycle lanes Downtown on Central.

The city recently started adding the lanes on Central from Second to Eighth streets. Work is expected to take a couple of weeks.

“I’ve has biked about 100,000 miles around Albuquerque,” he said. “I never take Central.”

“I take Gold or Copper or some other parallel road. Central’s narrow and busy with all the businesses and cross streets. I expect motorists to be preoccupied. I wouldn’t put a bike lane on it. I think it’ll cause more hostility than help.”

‘CLOSE IT’: “There’s an easy solution to eliminate accidents on Old Route 66: Close It!,” Thomas Francl said in an email.

“When was the last time you drove that street around UNM (University of New Mexico) or Downtown? Between the ridiculous bus lane, curb design, long stop lights, and lost drivers, my last trip was on Dec. 24, 2024. That will be my last trip.

“Why not just close it to all vehicles? Buses will move faster, bicycles won’t need a special lane, and the accident rate will drop.”

I-40 and LOUISIANA: “In the summer of 2023, (Interstate) 40 was repaved through the majority of the city,” Brenda Marshall said. “However, they stopped just east of the Louisiana exit. Why did they stop there and not continue all the way to Tramway so that us eastsiders can have a nice commute to Uptown, Downtown and beyond?”

As funding becomes available, work east of the I-40/Louisiana Interchange will be scheduled, NMDOT spokesperson Kim Gallegos said.

ROAD MAINTENANCE: Two I-40 eastbound lanes from Louisiana to Juan Tabo will be closed for road maintenance from 8:30 p.m. Tuesday to 4 a.m. Wednesday.

“Motorists should anticipate potential delays and consider seeking alternative routes,” Gallegos said. “Drivers are urged to proceed with caution in the work zone and remain alert for crews and equipment.”

For updates, visit NMRoads.com or dial 511, she said.

TAKING COMMENTS: NMDOT is seeking public input on the Connect New Mexico: Statewide Public Transportation Plan.

Connect New Mexico is a long-range plan that identifies opportunities to maintain and expand existing transit services in the state and highlights transit service gaps that need to be filled, NMDOT spokesperson Kim Bustos-Mihelcic said.

People can email comments to Delilah.Garcia@dot.nm.gov. The deadline is March 3.