Maintaining road safety in Texas is a collective effort of the entire community. All road users must play a role in ensuring safer streets in their community. Unfortunately, Texas has one of the highest numbers of traffic accidents. This is partly because of the state’s large size, but also due to factors like heavy traffic in cities and poor road conditions in some areas.
For residents in Texas looking to keep Texas roads safer, understanding the legal landscape and knowing how to effectively push for safer streets is key. It will help ensure that the necessary changes are made to reduce accidents, save lives, and build a safer environment for all road users.
Factors Contributing to Higher Accident Rates in Texas
Before we dig into how to advocate for safety streets in your community in Texas, let us understand what causes the state to have such a higher accident rate. Failure to control speed was the top cause of car accidents in Texas in 2023. Overspeeding drivers are at an increased risk of suffering accidents. Even a slight increase in speed can dramatically reduce the ability of a driver to control their vehicle. Another factor in high accident rates in Texas is driver distraction, such as using a cell phone behind the vehicle. Anything that takes away the driver’s attention from the road is a distraction. A few seconds of inattention can result in a life-altering accident.
Drivers are required by law to yield the right of way. However, drivers are often guilty of not adhering to this law. This can lead to dangerous collisions with road users who have the right of way. For example, if you don’t bring your vehicle to a full stop at a stop sign and check for other road users before proceeding, you are at higher risk of suffering a collision. Driving under the influence of drugs or alcohol is another common cause of accidents in Texas. Intoxicants can reduce the ability of a driver to react to emergencies on the road, make poor judgments, and impair coordination.
Texas Traffic Laws and Safety Regulations
The state of Texas provides a broad framework for traffic safety. This includes laws for DUI, speed limits, child seats, and more. The Texas Transportation Code serves as the foundation for these laws. It offers clear guidelines for how the road should be used and how vehicles should operate. Additionally, it outlines the behaviors that are prohibited to ensure safe driving practices and reduce the risk of accidents.
The Department of Transportation is responsible for overseeing road safety initiatives, and ensuring the state highways meet minimum safety standards. The local governments also play a role by encouraging and implementing safety measures that address community-specific concerns. For example, local governments have the authority to lower speed limits in certain areas or install additional signage to warn road users of safety hazards.
How to Advocate for Safer Streets in Texas?
While the state and local officials remain committed to promoting road safety, there is a lot more that can be done by individuals and communities. As a starting point, you can identify the specific areas in your community that need attention. This could be local roads, intersections, and other areas that need attention in your community.
You can also check with local authorities to figure out which areas have the highest rates of accidents, severe injuries, and fatalities. For some areas, you may be able to use data from the Texas Department of Transportation or the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA). Another effective way to identify these high-risk areas is to ask your fellow community members. You can even organize a survey to get input from your community.
Once you have identified the high-risk areas, you can start raising awareness. If there are already some road safety advocacy groups in your community, you can partner with them to highlight the risks to the areas you have identified. You can also create a new group or coalition with other community members who share your goal of improving road safety.
Another key step is to get the local government involved in your goal. Try to meet with authorities to propose changes. For example, you can advocate for better road conditions, crosswalks, traffic signals, and other improvements to maximize road safety.
At an individual level, you can raise awareness by organizing events and conducting workshops that highlight the risks and offer solutions. If any of the high-risk areas are near school zones, you can engage the school authorities to help you introduce road safety education for kids and their parents.
Don’t forget about social media in your mission to improve road safety. Online platforms can play a key role in spreading awareness. It can help you reach a wider audience in much less time. If you are a local newspaper or other types of press, consider contacting them to check if they are interested in highlighting traffic safety concerns in their media.
Role of Legal Advocacy in Making Road Safer in Your Community
Legal advocacy can also play a role in helping you make roads safer in your community. You can consult with an attorney to determine if pursuing a systemic change through legal routes can help improve road safety in your area. The attorney can help you draft petitions and formal complaints to improve the road infrastructure, call for stricter penalties for violations of the Texas Traffic Code, and other legal options to make the roads safer. If you need help after a collision while crossing the road, the attorney can guide you on all legal matters related to your case.
Leveraging legal channels can also hold authorities accountable for neglecting public safety. This can make them prioritize road safety in their policies and budgets. You can also make your community members more aware of their rights, and highlight how engaging in collective advocacy can lead to meaningful change. Supporting initiatives like better signage, improved road design, and traffic calming measures can also make a difference. However, someone has to take the initiative, and it might be you who has to take the first step.
-In collaboration with Chelsey Fox
