Dallas Ranked Most Dangerous City for Pedestrian Crashes
DALLAS – A recent report reveals that Dallas has the highest per capita rate of deadly traffic crashes in Texas, prompting a work group to investigate the city’s street design. Despite previous efforts to achieve zero traffic-related injuries, Dallas remains the most hazardous large city in the state for pedestrians, with residents facing a 57% higher rate of fatalities and severe injuries compared to averages in Austin, El Paso, Fort Worth, Houston, and San Antonio.
Melissa Kingston, chair of the work group and Dallas City Plan Commissioner, highlights that the city’s streets are designed more like raceways than safe passageways. "It’s evident that our street design contributes significantly to the issue," she stated, noting that many drivers exceed the 35 mph speed limit on city streets.
Residents in neighborhoods like Lakewood Heights express similar concerns. Tim Walstra, a local resident, lamented that pedestrians often feel unsafe, with frequent incidents of red-light running. "It’s definitely pedestrians watching for cars, not the other way around," he remarked.
In response to the alarming statistics, Dallas City Manager Kim Tolbert is spearheading redesign efforts for 20 city streets, including notorious Skillman Avenue, which will be modified to enhance safety. Plans involve reducing traffic lanes while introducing a center turn lane and dedicated multimodal paths for bicyclists and pedestrians.
Kingston reassures the public that these changes will not worsen traffic but may actually improve flow with dedicated turn lanes. The Dallas City Council is set to deliberate on the work group’s findings once new members take office this summer, signaling a pivotal step towards making Dallas streets safer for everyone.
Source: FOX 4, reporter Lori Brown.
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