D+. Most roads are too narrow for the size of the cars and trucks that drive on them. Also, the necklace of telephone poles 13" from the curb (and sometimes less) is a tragedy in the making. Now if you want to talk potholes...

The two Main roads I find are the most dangerous. You can't really stop everyone from speeding but I believe that anything - from widening the roads to install a center divider, limiting them to each one direction traffic, moire police presence or adding more stoplights - something should be done. While I know many of these 'upgrades' will have an impact on residence living on these roads, I think they may appreciate the outcome - a safer road to pull out on. That said, I'm not one of those people and really can't comment on just how much of an impact this would have good/or bad on them - I just drive both roads everyday.

It's not a Portsmouth Issue. These accidents occur on state roads throughout the Island. The roads were simply not designed to handle the current traffic volume. Since our government officials continue to divert the tax dollars to other interests (very generous social programs) etc. There is no money left to upgrade the roads and bridges. Also, speed and alcohol were likely involved in the recent accidents.

I believe it is high time that East and West Main Roads are reconfigured into one lane each way with a turning lane in the middle as has been done very successfully on the northern end of East Main Road. It will slow down traffic, yet move it at a faster pace with a much lower accident rate

East Main and West Main are awfully narrow for the speeds used on them....

Our roads are extremely dangerous. The primary roads (East and West Main) are too narrow to support the ever increasing high-speed drivers. The telephone poles are placed only inches from the curb making them death traps. There are no median dividers which contribute to head-on collisions when a driver is distratcted.Texting and telephone use has increased dramatically over the past year. The town and the state must take decisive action NOW before any further serious accidents occur.

I think the speed limits - especially on East Main Road - need to be more heavily enforced! The speed limit from the top of Quaker Hill to the Middletown line is 35, but it seems that folks are driving 50! It seems people try to get to each traffic light as quick as they can!
And the sections of East Main Road that are 25 MPH??
Let's slow down people!! That will help make the roads safer!

maybe we should put a toll booth every 1/4 mile where you have to stop and pay. This will add jobs, slow down the traffic and generate more revenues. haha

D. I hate driving across the island. East main road is just too narrow. Plain and simple. Either ban trucks or make it a 2 lane road with a middle turn lane. People like to blame speed demons for dangerous road conditions, but actually slow drivers exacerbate the situation too. When the left lane is used as a 30mph travel lane, you get a giant cluster of angry drivers weaving in and out and trying to pass on the right. I was in a situation like that just last Friday on East Main rd. A car drove side by side with a semi for about 5 miles. When this happens everyone is in a cluster, and if there's an accident, everyone is going to crash. Cars in close proximity are a hazard. When everyone can spread out, it's safer. If everyone used the left lanes for making left turns, and passing in a fast, deliberate way, and moving over when there's free space on the right, the roads would be a lot safer. There should be more crosswalks in residential areas. The school zones need to be enforced. And how about that bike path so maybe there will be less cars on the road?

How about we put the blame squarely on the shoulders of the drivers. They exceed the speed limit and get away with it. Post a sign then attach a camera to a radar and start charging the clowns a big fine. Too bad that will not work for texting or any telephone use. Folks will complain about it but so what, they are maiming other folks and Ikilling people, themselves included. It is not the roads so much as it is the stupid operators.

The limiting factor in enforcing speed limits is money. When State Police ticket, 100% of the fines go to the State. There is currently no way for the town to enforce the payment of fines. When fines are not paid, police must go to district court, and judges have made it quite clear they do l not have the time for such matters.
There is a way to address this without requiring more money to be spent on police. Municipal Courts enable towns to enforce payment of speeding fines, and any other fines that are already on the books, such as fines for zoning violations. It has been proven that Municipal Courts pay for themselves – they are not an additional cost or burden on taxes.
The Charter Review Committee which completed its 2-year mission last November, heard support of a municipal court from the Town Admin., Chief of Police, Chair of Zoning Board, Town Solicitor and others. There was no evidence of any negative aspects to the proposal, and the committee recommended to the Council that an Amendment creating a Municipal Court be placed on the ballot. The now-former PCC dominated council rejected the proposal summarily, saying they just did not have time to consider the matter.
The prior council elected to do as little as possible. Let’s hope the current council will take a different approach.

I've seen drivers - speeding (some 60 mph), distracted driving (cell phones to ears, texting, etc.), no turn signals - and let's not forget the mogals on East Main Road near Cumberland Farms intersection and Water Board. The intersection at Clements still has those who "remember how it used to be" turning right from the center lane, or left as the case may be. Turning signals on to turn left and going STRAIGHT into Clements, etc. The roads are only a part of the equation> They recently made Connell Highway single lane with turning and the traffic is completely backed up now. I say widen the roads with proper break down areas and side walks or we have no choice but to go to single lane to slow people down. The result will be huge traffic backups, less tourists through Portsmouth (they will come another way) and even longer lines to turn left onto Turnpike from East Main Road North at Clement's. If roads were paved and painted on a regular basis it would go a long way...but all ofthe above needs to work in conjunction too.

I think one of the main problems is the condition of the roads itself, and how narrow they are. I don't think more traffic lights are a good idea - West Main have more than enough as it is, and the speed limit is already only 35 miles an hour. No matter what you change it to, there are always going to be people who speed. Maybe a more significant police presence is necessary, but 2 of the recent accidents were on bridges, and police can't hang out and monitor traffic on either of those bridges, so that wouldn't be much of a solution in that sense. The biggest things that will help the driving conditions of these roads are widening them, paving them regularly (and not with the cheap bondo-type stuff used to cover up a single pothole... I think that makes it worse), and painted so they are more understandable for drivers both residential, and out-of-towners. Adding more lights will cause just more frustration with tourists, as will the new one-lane system happening on Memorial and Connell. People need to start paying attention too!!

I agree with Susan walker!!

I have lived on East Main Road a quarter mile from the police/fire station for 13 years and travel to Newport everyday. I find patience when pulling out of my driveway is my only option. I agree with Susan Walker about the unspoken rules about traveling on E Main and the fact that the left lane should only be used for passing or making a left turn. It can be extremely frustrationg to be behind 2 vehicles traveling side by side for miles at 35 mph when there is a 'cluster' of traffic backed up behind.
It would be wonderful if they could widen the road and add sidewalks - that would be a monumental project and I can only imagine the cost and the inconvenience to those of us that live on or travel that road everyday.
But until- and if ever - that gets done, it is ultimately the responsibility of each driver to be present (in mind) and aware of the surrounding traffic and to use good old common sense.