We’ve been heartened to see an increased police presence on Highway 305 at Day Road following the recent fender bender at the intersection there.

Anyone who passes through the Highway 305-High School Road intersection on a regular basis, however, also knows a visible police presence is warranted there, as well.

Last month’s decision by the Bainbridge Island Planning Commission to recommend the rejection of the proposed Visconsi retail-commercial center at the Highway 305-High School Road intersection because of traffic safety concerns has put the busy intersection back in the spotlight. Planning commissioners noted that travelers in the area exceed the speed limit in their rush through the area.

That’s not the main problem, as anyone who uses High School Road and Highway 305 can testify. The intersection has a chronic problem of drivers running red lights. Our recent observations show that it’s not solely people going to, or coming from, the ferry terminal in Winslow. We’ve watched as drivers often blow through red lights while heading west and east on High School Road.

We believe the presence of a police patrol car on occasion may help curtail such instances, and we hope that Bainbridge police will consider ramping up enforcement efforts during what appears to be the most problematic times, during the morning and early to mid-afternoons.

And regardless of the eventual outcome of the Visconsi proposal, the conversation should continue about increasing safety at one of the island’s busiest intersections.