Holiday Traffic in Dallas: How to Stay Safe and Avoid a Car Accident

December 13, 2015 by

This holiday season, whether you’re searching for the perfect present at NorthPark Center or just trying to get together with family and friends, you’ll want to do your best to avoid Dallas’ notorious traffic and avoid getting in a collision.

Where is the Worst Dallas Traffic?

According to the U.S. Department of Transportation, the average Dallas-Fort Worth commuter experiences 45 hours of delay every year on the road. As we’ve mentioned before, traffic increases around the holidays: 54% around Thanksgiving and 23% around Christmas and New Year’s.

During the holidays and people’s day-to-day commute, some of the worst traffic in Dallas occurs on I-35 and I-635—both of which are among the top 10 worst roads for traffic in all of Texas.

Other Dallas thoroughfares also make the list of the 100 most congested roads. Below are a few that made it into the top 25:

  • US-75
  • I-30
  • Woodall Rodgers Freeway
  • I-345

While it would be prudent to avoid these traffic-heavy routes whenever possible, traffic is likely less of a concern than the effect that traffic often has: more vehicle collisions.

What are the Most Dangerous Dallas Roads?

With more people on Dallas’ already-busy roads around the holidays, crashes are essentially a certainty. In 2014, 238 people died in fatal vehicle collisions—in Dallas County alone. Across Texas, over 3,500 people died in fatal car accidents in 2014.

So, above and beyond following basic, common-sense safety precautions while driving—like avoiding distractions and driving defensively—how can you stay safe in and around Dallas as you travel? One of the ways you can avoid becoming involved in a car accident is to avoid the most dangerous roadways in Dallas County. Below is a list of three dangerous Dallas roads (the ones that had the most accidents on average) starting with the most dangerous:

  • Woodall Rodgers Freeway
  • LBJ Freeway
  • I-45

Car Accidents and Personal Injury: Hossley & Embry

While being a safe driver and avoiding the most dangerous roads whenever possible are sensible precautions to take—especially around the holidays when traffic is at its peak—we can’t account for the actions of other drivers. Should the worst happen and you are injured in a car accident, you deserve to receive justice and compensation if you are not at fault.

While we all want to spread some cheer around the holidays, the simple truth is that, unfortunately, it won’t help you pay your medical bills or help your injuries heal faster after you’ve been hurt. To discuss your car accident situation with a qualified and experienced attorney, call Hossley & Embry at (866) 522-9265 to schedule a free consultation and get honest, candid advice about what your best course of action is. And stay safe this holiday season!

References:

100 congested roadways. (2015, October 29). Texas Department of Transportation. Retrieved from http://www.txdot.gov/content/txdot/en/inside-txdot/projects/100-congested-roadways.html/?CFC__target=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.dot.state.tx.us%2Fapps-cg%2Ftop_100%2Flist.htm%3Fitem%3D3

Bureau of Transportation Statistics. (2013). Table 1-69: Annual person-hours of highway traffic delay per auto commuter. United States Department of Transportation. Retrieved from http://www.rita.dot.gov/bts/sites/rita.dot.gov.bts/files/publications/national_transportation_statistics/html/table_01_69.html

Bureau of Transportation Statistics. (2003). U.S. holiday travel. United States Department of Transportation. Retrieved from http://www.rita.dot.gov/bts/sites/rita.dot.gov.bts/files/publications/america_on_the_go/us_holiday_travel/html/entire.html

Comparison of motor vehicle traffic deaths, vehicle miles, death rates, and economic loss 2003-2014. (2015). Texas Department of Transportation. Retrieved from http://ftp.dot.state.tx.us/pub/txdot/trf/crash-statistics/2014/a.pdf

Fatal crashes and fatalities by county and road type. (2015). Texas Department of Transportation. Retrieved from http://ftp.dot.state.tx.us/pub/txdot/trf/crash-statistics/2014/11.pdf

Nicholson, E. (2015, November 2). 10 most dangerous DFW highways. Dallas Observer. Retrieved from http://www.dallasobserver.com/news/10-most-dangerous-dfw-highways-7735535

Categories: Driving Safety
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