When we think of San Antonio, we often imagine a great city rich with culture and history; our focus is on the city as a destination. However, for the last 15 years, this south central Texas hub has been the site for some of the most dangerous roads in America.
The problem is currently being addressed by the Texas Department of Transportation via their #EndTheStreak campaign. This campaign alerts the public about dangerous driving habits and areas where accidents are highly concentrated. The campaign posted a public service announcement stating that since November of 2000 there have been deaths on Texas roads each and every day. Many of these fatalities were due to preventable causes (like alcohol use, not wearing seatbelts, or speeding), and these accidents have led to 50,000 deaths over 15 years.
Bexar County: 3rd Most Dangerous Roads in All of Texas
This campaign is a poignant reminder to San Antonio, as data from 2014 revealed that Bexar County has the 3rd deadliest roads in all of Texas. Between January of 2013 to December of 2015 more than 28% of fatal accidents were caused by alcohol across Texas; however, over 32% of fatal car crashes in Bexar County were caused by alcohol, which is almost 16% higher than the state average. Though it may be tempting to assume these accidents primarily occurred on interstate 10 or interstate 35, many of the accidents have actually happened on roads in San Antonio.
Some of the most active streets for car accidents are Blanco Road, Culebra Road, and Military Drive. According to KSAT news and their Fatality Analysis Reporting System (FARS), between 2012 and 2014 Culebra Road was the deadliest in San Antonio. Next was Military Drive. The highest concentration of accidents in that timeframe occurred just outside the center of the city, primarily in northwestern San Antonio.
Stay Safe: Ways to Prevent Car Accidents
The #EndTheStreak campaign has made headway by informing drivers and pedestrians throughout the state and in San Antonio about ways to prevent fatal car accidents:
- Drivers and passengers must always remember to buckle up. Seatbelts prevent horrible bodily injury and save lives, even in seemingly minor traffic accidents.
- Never under any circumstances should a driver get behind the wheel after drinking. As stated above, drunk drivers have caused more than a quarter of fatal accidents throughout the state and nearly a third of fatal accidents in Bexar County.
- Avoid any forms of distracted driving at all costs. This includes using devices (like your phone) or even eating while driving.
- Please remember to follow posted speed limits. Speeding increases your risk for being in an accident and increases the damage and severity of car wrecks that do occur.
Crosley Law Firm: Helping Car Accident Victims
As you can see from the data above, even if you take precautions and drive safely, there’s no accounting for the carelessness of other drivers. If you have been injured or lost a loved one in a car crash that someone else caused, contact the attorneys at Crosley Law Firm. We aggressively pursue justice and compensation for the victims of car accidents, especially if a drunk driver is involved. Call our offices today at (210) 354-4500 or fill out our convenient online contact form so we can schedule your free consultation. We’ll listen to the details of your story and help you decide what your best course of action is.
References
#EndTheStreakTX. (2016). Texas Department of Transportation. Retrieved from https://www.txdot.gov/inside-txdot/media-center/psas/end-streak.html
Eudaily, C. (2014, December 4). The 8 deadliest roads in Bexar County. MySA. Retrieved from http://www.mysanantonio.com/news/local/article/The-eight-deadliest-roads-in-Bexar-County-5914301.php
Marquez, R. (2016, June 10). 10 deadliest stretches of road in San Antonio. KSAT. Retrieved from http://www.ksat.com/news/10-deadliest-stretches-of-road-in-san-antonio
Salinas, R. (2016, July 7). Deadliest roads in Bexar County from January 2013-December 2015. MySA. Retrieved from http://www.mysanantonio.com/news/local/article/Deadliest-roads-in-Bexar-County-2013-through-2015-8343762.php
White, T. (2015, January 7). Bexar County roads third most deadly in Texas in 2014. MySA. Retrieved from http://www.mysanantonio.com/news/local/article/Bexar-County-roadways-third-deadliest-in-state-5999814.php
White, T. (2015, November 6). Someone has died on Texas roads every day for the last 15 years, TXDoT says. MySA. Retrieved from http://www.mysanantonio.com/news/local/article/TxDOT-wants-to-end-15-year-streak-of-daily-deaths-6615056.php
