A recent study has proven what many of us already suspect: Central Expressway is hazardous to our health.
Our City’s main artery also is our neighborhood’s main crash site, according to the Greater Dallas Injury Prevention Center Coalition, which has identified the most dangerous Dallas streets and intersections.
The neighborhood locations singled out by the study all provide access to Central: Central and Southwestern, Central and Lovers, Central and Caruth Haven, and Central and Fitzhugh. At these locations, more than 100 people were injured in automobile accidents from 1992-1995.
“Sheer volume” may be a reason Central has so many accidents, says Allen Bolton, director of the Injury Prevention Center.
At least five injury resulting crashes had to occur at a location in any one year from 1992-1995 for the location to qualify as dangerous in the study. Accidents with no personal injuries were not considered. Statistics were supplied by the Dallas Police Department’s Traffic Division.
“Motor vehicle-related injuries are the number one cause of injuries in Dallas,” Bolton says.
Central Expressway traditionally has been the greatest cause of accidents in our neighborhood, says Cpl. Johnnie Harris with the police’s traffic division.
“I think it’s just a hazardous road,” Harris says.
The study found that the majority of accidents along our service roads occur on dry pavement during evening hours under fair weather conditions. The majority of accidents in other parts of the City occur during the day.
The number of accidents on Central’s service roads is increasing because more traffic is being routed to them due to construction, Harris says. He says Central will be safer after construction is finished.
Central and Fitzhugh experienced the worst problems in our neighborhood during the years studied, with 19 crashes resulting in nearly 40 injuries and one fatality. Thirty-six percent of these accidents were alcohol-related, the study states.
Failure to yield in a turn and disregard of stop and go signals are chief causes for crashes that occur in intersections, according to the study. Following too closely and unsafe lane changes are contributing factors to accidents that occur outside of intersections. Speeding, alcohol, and driver inattention due to distraction and fatigue also are common causes for crashes.
“If there are going to be people who don’t follow the rules, and there clearly are, we need to take more precautions ourselves,” Bolton says. “We can take precautions to make sure we’re not the victim of the poor driving of the other guy.
“You have to buckle up. If everyone buckled up, we could significantly reduce the number of serious injuries.”
Harris says construction contributes to accidents, but its effects can be minimized if drivers are careful.
The Injury Prevention Center is a program of Parkland Memorial Hospital, UT Southwestern Medical Center, Children’s Medical Center of Dallas, and Baylor and Presbyterian hospitals. The center’s mission is to reduce the frequency and severity of injuries in Dallas.
