Elizabeth Larson

<p style="margin-bottom: 0in;">Hartmann Road – an entry point into the Hidden Valley Lake gated community – intersects with a wide, sweeping curve of Highway 29. In appearance, it's an unremarkable stretch of roadway. But the statistics showed that something had to be done.</p>

<p style="margin-bottom: 0in;">The automobile is a fixture of American life, and in rural areas like Lake County’s it’s critical to getting to and from school, work and other commitments. But for drivers in Lake County, the roadways can be dangerous places.</p>

<p>The safety of Lake County’s roadways is a matter of great concern not just for drivers but for officials and agencies across a broad spectrum – from health to planning, public works to law enforcement.</p>

<p>Lake County's roads, combined with drivers under the influence, have led to an increasingly deadly situation on the county's roadways.</p>

<p>Sweeping vistas, clear blue skies, colorful countryside – all define the geography of California's Lake County's. For motorists, however, the roads are both beautiful and harrowing, with the number of vehicle crashes in recent years showing a marked increase.</p><p>&nbsp;</p>