Source:
2012 APD Crash
Fatality Data, data.austintexas.gov
Although Austin’s traffic congestion has recently been found to be worse than
that of New York City, data from the Austin Police Department shows that fatal traffic accidents are not a significant contributor to the problem.
According to a recent study by the National Traffic Scoreboard, drivers in Austin spent an average of 41
hours in traffic in 2013, which is an increase of 3 hours from 2012. Austin was
ranked fourth in the nation for traffic congestion, surpassed only by Los
Angeles, Honolulu and San Francisco. IH-35 and Mopac Expressway were cited as
the two worst traffic corridors in the city.
Several factors contribute to Austin’s
traffic woes, some of which are by-products of the city’s recent prosperity. A
rapidly growing population and a healthy economy where people need to travel to
work puts more cars on the road. However, a lack of robust public
transportation infrastructure puts excess pressure on the roads to accommodate the
increasing number of drivers. Austin also faces universal problems such as distracted
drivers and traffic accidents.
Fortunately, data compiled by the Austin
Police Department suggests that traffic fatalities are probably not a
significant contributor to Austin’s traffic congestion problem, at least on the
city’s two most troubled corridors. APD’s 2012 Crash Fatality Data Report shows
that fewer fatal accidents occur on Austin’s major roadways than on surface
streets.
Less than 16% of Austin’s 78 traffic
fatalities occurred on IH-35. Less than 25% occurred on high-speed roadways
other than IH-35. Almost 60% of 2012’s traffic fatalities occurred on local
streets.
It may seem counterintuitive that fewer
fatal crashes happen on high-speed roadways than on slower surface streets,
because higher speeds would seem to imply higher danger.
However, Darren McDaniel, a speed zone engineer for TxDOT, said most crashes happen not simply because of high speeds, but because of a high differential in the speeds of cars on a roadway. When some cars are traveling much faster or slower than others, the potential for dangerous collisions increases.
“The safest speed to drive is the same speed everybody else is driving,” McDaniel said.
While most people know and obey the speed limit on the highways, surface street speed limits can be more ambiguous and more often ignored. It is not common to encounter someone traveling 45 mph on IH-35 where everyone else is going 65 mph. It is much more common to encounter a situation where one driver is going 65 mph on a 45 mph stretch of surface street. Both situations are equally dangerous, but these differentials are somewhat less likely to occur on a high-speed roadway like Mopac or IH-35, where drivers are traveling at consistent and similar speeds.
Intersections and turns are also less of an issue on high-speed roadways, which makes them relatively safer to drive on.
However, Darren McDaniel, a speed zone engineer for TxDOT, said most crashes happen not simply because of high speeds, but because of a high differential in the speeds of cars on a roadway. When some cars are traveling much faster or slower than others, the potential for dangerous collisions increases.
“The safest speed to drive is the same speed everybody else is driving,” McDaniel said.
While most people know and obey the speed limit on the highways, surface street speed limits can be more ambiguous and more often ignored. It is not common to encounter someone traveling 45 mph on IH-35 where everyone else is going 65 mph. It is much more common to encounter a situation where one driver is going 65 mph on a 45 mph stretch of surface street. Both situations are equally dangerous, but these differentials are somewhat less likely to occur on a high-speed roadway like Mopac or IH-35, where drivers are traveling at consistent and similar speeds.
Intersections and turns are also less of an issue on high-speed roadways, which makes them relatively safer to drive on.
It must also be noted that there are many
more roads designated as local streets than there are high-speed roadways in
Austin, which undoubtedly plays a significant role in the higher percentage of
fatal accidents.
Currently, city leaders are focusing on public
transportation as a viable weapon against Austin’s traffic congestion. Mayor
Lee Leffingwell advocated for the creation of more transportation options, including
an urban rail system, during his 2014 State of the City Address.
However, Dr. Randy Machemehl, Professor of Transportation Engineering at The University of Texas and former Director of the Center for Transportation Research,
said he doesn’t believe this particular plan will have a very significant
impact on traffic congestion. He argues that more widespread changes such as
improved highway design and more flexible work schedules are necessary to
significantly increase the efficiency of local roadways.
“Austin has been plagued by a divisive
view of transportation and the result has often been that we do nothing while
demand increases,” Machemehl said. “We can’t build our way out of congestion
with highways, rail or anything else. We have to attack it from all sides if
we’re going to be successful.”
