NNSA Los Alamos Field Office Manager Ted Wyka at the Sept. 24 Los Alamos County Council meeting discusses the field office and LANL efforts to ensure safe driving. Screenshot/LAC

BY KIRSTEN LASKEY
Los Alamos Daily Post
kirsten@ladailypost.com

During a presentation to Los Alamos County Council Sept. 24, NNSA Los Alamos Field Office (NA-LA) Manager Ted Wyka reported that in 2025, Los Alamos National Laboratory (LANL) is projected to hired 1,400 people.

This, of course, means more people in town, which means more cars on the roads, which could spur bad driving, and in the worst case, traffic accidents.

Los Alamos Police Chief Dino Sgambellone told the Los Alamos Daily Post that since 2016, there have been more than 1,300 accidents in the County. He explained that of these accidents, 925 caused more than $500 worth of damage and 110 resulted in damage that was less than $500. Accidents that caused injuries totaled 263 since 2016 and six had fatalities.

Sgambellone added that since 2019 police officers have written 5,940 speeding citations or about 1,200 per year. This is in addition to the thousands of warning citations that are issued; he said in 2023 officers distributed 1,500.

As to why traffic accidents occur or citations are issued, Sgambellone said that is difficult to identify. For example, he said citations for speeding, following too closely or failing to maintain a lane could all be related to distracted/careless driving. Likewise, if a driver hits a car in front of them, it might be because they lacked a clear distance, or they were on their phone.

Another question with a complex answer is how to deter bad driving and decrease traffic accidents.

There are programs to educate the public on good driving, Sgambellone said.

“The Los Alamos Police Department (LAPD) has long recognized that enforcement alone cannot adequately address traffic behaviors of the motoring public,” he said. “To that end, LAPD has engaged in numerous preventative initiatives to include Safety Town, partnering with the Los Alamos Public Schools on driver’s education training, partnering with and providing information and feedback to the Los Alamos Transportation Board, the New Mexico Department of Transportation, and Los Alamos County Traffic Division, and partnering with the Los Alamos Municipal Court for Teen Court.”

Sgambellone noted that the police department proactively engages the public to inform them about hazardous road conditions, issues timely reports on patterns and trends, pedestrian and bicycle safety, road rage, school zone and bus stop safety, and driving under the influence. Plus, he said, “Los Alamos County Senior Management also works as a team with Public Works to identify and offer solutions to traffic related concerns including paid consultants on traffic engineering matters, the placement of mobile and fixed signage (including speed signage), planning, traffic data analysis, defensive driver’s training, and emergency management regarding inclement weather conditions (in partnership with LANL and LAPS).”
During his Sept. 24 presentation to council, Wyka described some of NA-LA’s and LANL’s efforts to curb bad driving behaviors.

“The NNSA Field Office is working with LANL to spear head an initiative to deter aggressive driving … the initiative is in response to several complaints, near misses, accidents, injuries and unfortunately, fatalities that have been recently reported,” he said.

Specifically, Wyka said speed cameras are installed, and traffic data is collected and used to enforce rules like speed limits. He added that poor driving onsite and off-site will have consequences for laboratory employees.

Wyka told the Los Alamos Daily Post Wednesday that LANL and NA-LA are implementing their own initiatives to increase driver safety. If traffic safety issues are identified with respect to LANL employees’ driving, the responsible line managers will take appropriate action to correct the offense. While the exact discipline may vary depending on the traffic violation, the objective is the same – to fundamentally change driver behavior. Whether this is achieved through counseling or requiring a driver safety course, or revoking driving privileges as it pertains to a government-owned vehicle, the employee is reminded that failure to follow traffic regulations is akin to failing to follow a mandatory safety procedure or requirement. If this is not corrected, LANL reserves the right to implement its progressive form of discipline which may ultimately result in the employee’s termination/removal.

The NA-LA employees are under the same scrutiny. NA-LA leadership are considering appropriate consequences for unsafe driving. Factors being considered include driving a personally owned or government vehicle, the nature of the offense and whether the employee is a repeat offender. Once the policy is approved, the nature of the penalty may range from notifying the employee or sending them a letter of warning to issuing a letter of reprimand that remains in the employee’s personnel file for a designated period of time or notifying the employee’s first and second line supervisor and verbal counseling. In extreme cases, the NA-LA manager could speak to the employee. If the offense involves a government-owned vehicle, the employee may lose driving privileges for up to a year. If these disciplinary actions are not effective, the employee may be subject to further discipline to include suspension without pay (one to 14 days) and if the behavior is still not corrected, the agency may take appropriate action to remove the employee from Federal service.

Wyka explained offenders would be identified through the speed cameras that have been installed. The traffic cameras have an automated camera program with laser technology to detect speeding violations. The cameras will capture the license plate, and the data will undergo internal review through the Field Office’s Safety and Security group to evaluate the severity of the case and what consequences are in order. Also, LANL employees and federal staff are encouraged to report incidents, which can be done anonymously via emails to safety@lanl.gov. Wyka said the field office and laboratory’s jurisdiction is limited but they are partnering with law enforcement to form concrete solutions for reducing car crashes and poor driving behavior.

When asked about the partnership, Sgambellone said he couldn’t go into specifics because nothing was finalized but, “I can say LAPD has been meeting with LANL staff regarding traffic safety strategies and initiatives.”