If you have sat at a stoplight and looked around recently, you probably have witnessed some accident-inducing behaviors from your partners on the road. Someone with a cell phone in hand or a fast-food bag in the passenger seat, or maybe a cigarette out the window. Distractions such as these on the roadway can lead to accidents.

The intersection of U.S. Highway 36 and South Belt Highway is the most accident-prone location in St. Joseph, based on the number of calls placed to the St. Joseph Police Department communications center.

Officer Wayne Byrom says inattention, speed and failure to obey traffic signals are three of the major causes of accidents.

The Police Department is in the planning stages of a program called Travel Safe Zones, said Officer Richard Bradley. The purpose of the program is to raise driver awareness and reduce the number of crashes at certain locations.

The program would involve signs that designate intersections or portions of roadway a Travel Safe Zone. Anyone found in violation of traffic ordinance violations in those zones could face doubled fines. The city of St. Louis currently uses the program, he said.

The exact locations of the Travel Safe Zones haven't been determined yet. The department hopes to have the program up and running by the end of the summer.

According to the Police Department's annual report, the number of traffic accidents was up 12 percent from 2006 to 2007.

Officer Eric Powell's district includes part of the Belt Highway. He patrols four out of the top 10 accident locations in the city.

"People get comfortable driving, and that's when people get in wrecks," Mr. Powell said.

The most recent accident he was called to at one of those locations involved a driver who ran a red light.

Mr. Powell said most accidents occur between 4 and 7 p.m. Drivers often may see him doing some extra patrolling during that time in hopes of decreasing the number of accidents.

Frederick Boulevard and North Woodbine Road, the second-most accident-prone location, is situated among several different businesses.

Holly Rudolph, an employee for Hazel's Coffee Company, located on the northeast corner of the intersection, says she's getting used to seeing the flashing lights of police cars.

"If people just paid attention, it would really help," Ms. Rudolph said. "We're right off a highway, so people are usually in a hurry or used to going 70 mph or don't even know where they are."

Ms. Rudolph often finds herself in a close call while driving to work. She also says she witnesses about four to five wrecks or fender benders a month.

"It gets ridiculous," Ms. Rudolph said of the number of accidents that occur.

Another business on that same intersection benefits in a way from all the fender benders that occur. A spokeswoman for Speedy's Convenience Store said business goes up while the police cars are outside. She said people often buy items while they wait for the accident to be cleared up.

While many of the top 10 locations include the Belt Highway, Frederick Boulevard is another accident-prone location.

Mr. Byrom says those streets are the two major routes leading to the majority of the shopping and dining centers in St. Joseph. Extra traffic leads to extra accidents.

"People get comfortable with a route and don't realize there are alternate ways to get where they are going," Mr. Byrom said.

In some cases, during an accident, police officers directing traffic also have to act as guides, giving those who know no other routes directions to where they are going.

Megan Tilk can be reached at megantilk@npgco.com.