(KYTX) TYLER -- A few weeks ago Tyler police released crime stats about felony crimes like murders and aggravated assaults. Thursday it released data on traffic crashes and misdemeanor crimes, like DWI's and disorderly conduct. CBS 19's Michele Reese sorted through the data.
There are not a lot of drivers in Tyler who like medians.
"It seems hard to justify how it's safe because it's like pulling out here I need to go that way but it's going to be a pain in the neck to go around and turn," Tyler driver Greg Malone said.
But Tyler police say since the medians went in the roads are safer. Tyler police data shows there were 800 fewer accidents in 2011 than in 2008.
"We don't have people getting out there in the middle of the road making left turns in front of people and we really believe that's a cause and effect for having our accidents go down," Officer Don Martin said.
Other numbers are also down. Arrests for public intoxications and driving while intoxicated were at five-year-lows.
"When numbers are going down, hopefully that's a sign people are listening to us and not drinking and driving, but the number also reflects the number of people we have actually arrested," Martin said.
There were also fewer arrests for forgery, embezzlement, criminal mischief, prostitution and sexual offenses.
"Those are the numbers we want to go down because those are the numbers that people are calling less in for," Martin said. "We have a lot more identity theft going through computers. People are able to access bank accounts and there are so many phishing schemes out there right now."
As for crash data, while accident numbers were down, the amount of fatal crashes increased. Police say at least four of the 13 fatal crashes last year were alcohol related.
Crime Statistics for 2010 and 2011
2010 2011
Simple Assault 1178 1273
Forgery 248 185
Fraud 675 829
Embezzlement 95 90
Criminal Mischief 1207 1035
Weapon Law Violation 44 46
Prostitution 8 3
Sexual Offenses 61 58
Drug Violations 856 1018
Family Offenses 62 67
DUI 443 412
Liquor Law Violation 33 42
Public Intoxication 325 318
Disorderly Conduct 5331 5445
