Yeah, there are traffic collisions, and unfortunately people die. Your "neighborhood" was built along a state highway. I'm pretty sure the state highway predates your residency. When you either grew up or moved here, the state highway was here. You could always move to an area where a state highway isn't close to your home/school/church/grocery store.

As far as Home Depot or Lowes goes. I hope they are "banned" in Santa Cruz. A capitalist such as myself doesn't like to provide anything to your municipal tax base.