A car accident can happen anywhere – but some roads are more dangerous than others. Now, there’s a way for drivers in San Antonio to quickly check accident information for roads in different areas of the county.
An online tool gives drivers a quick look at local crash data
A searchable map from the San Antonio Express-News shows residents the riskiest roads in Bexar County. The map uses data from the Texas Department of Transportation (TxDOT) about vehicle crashes and miles traveled for 2018-2022. The Express-News then divided the county into sections of equal size to determine which areas are the most crash-heavy.
Some of the highest crash rates in the county were seen west of downtown San Antonio, such as parts of Guadalupe Street, Commerce Street, and Culebra Road. The Express-News has previously identified Culebra Road as “the deadliest road in San Antonio.”
The good news is that crashes throughout the county hit their lowest level in a decade in 2023, aside from 2020, when the pandemic drastically changed traffic patterns.
Crash rates provide a more accurate comparison
Though they are still below pre-pandemic levels, the number of crashes has been steadily increasing since then. One factor is population growth.
“A crash is a function of the number of vehicles using the road… when there’s more traffic, there will be more crashes,” said Randy Machemehl, professor of transportation engineering at the University of Texas at Austin.
Crash rates are considered a more effective way of comparing the safety of roads with different characteristics. That’s why TxDOT calculates crash rates for roads in urban and rural areas separately.
Machemehl noted that farm-to-market roadways (FMs) in the state have higher crash rates because they were not built to handle the number of vehicles now using them. There are 162 miles of these roads in Bexar County on the outskirts of San Antonio.
These roads were planned and constructed in the late 1940s as two-lane roads with grassy shoulders to move agricultural products, and they were not designed for higher speeds.
Common causes of car accidents in San Antonio
Most car accidents happen because of negligence, such as:
- Distracted driving: This includes any activity that diverts attention from driving, such as talking or texting on your phone, eating and drinking, talking to people in your vehicle, and adjusting an entertainment or navigation system.
- Speeding: Exceeding the speed limit or driving too fast for conditions reduces a driver's ability to steer safely around curves or objects in the roadway and extends the distance necessary to stop a vehicle.
- Driving under the influence: Operating a vehicle under the influence of alcohol or drugs significantly impairs thinking, reasoning, and muscle coordination, all of which are essential to operating a vehicle safely.
- Driving aggressively: Behaviors like road rage, changing lanes too quickly, tailgating, running red lights, failing to yield the right of way, or acting hostilely towards other drivers can lead to dangerous interactions and crashes.
Our attorneys can help you demand justice and accountability
If you were hurt in an accident caused by a negligent driver, you deserve financial compensation. However, the claims process can be complicated, and insurance companies are not on your side. That’s why you need an experienced San Antonio car accident lawyer to protect your rights and aggressively advocate for your best interests.
The Herrera Law Firm can help. We’ve been fighting for the injured in the San Antonio area for decades. Contact us to schedule a free consultation. We can review the details of what happened, discuss your legal options, and answer any questions you have.
