New counts are in from the N.C. Department of Motor Vehicles and the number of traffic accidents in Sylva is on the decline — marginally. The town has fallen from 13th last year to 14th for the number of accidents in cities its size, but still ranks higher than any neighboring towns.

Sylva Police Chief Jeff Jamison reported the new statistic to town board members during their meeting Thursday night (April 7), saying that the most of the accidents occur on N.C. 107, the main artery through town.

“We all know that the problem on 107 is a lot of traffic, narrow lanes, commercial businesses,” Jamison said.

“All the curb cuts,” interjected town planner and building inspector Jim Aust.

Jamison also said that speeding and following to closely played a large part in creating accidents. The worst spot for accidents is at the turn in for Kentucky Fried Chicken, near the intersection of N.C. 107 and U.S. 23 business, Jamison said.

Traffic backs up at the intersection’s traffic light, and motorists traveling north on N.C. 107 into town try to give access to motorists looking to turn left into KFC. The problem is that those turning left cannot see if traffic is coming in the in the far northbound lane, which is a yield only onto U.S. 23, meaning drivers often do not slow down.

“There’s an accident there daily,” Jamison said.