Dallas Home To Some Of Texas' Most Dangerous Pedestrian Roads

DALLAS, TX — Whether Dallasites are bar-hopping through Deep Ellum, shopping in West End or having brunch on West Northwest Highway, what few realize is that they're in a high-risk zone for pedestrian danger.

It's true — data from 1Point21 Interactive shows that Dallas is home to some of the most dangerous roads in Texas for pedestrians. The study, which was commissioned by Hill Law Group, used Texas Department of Transportation data to map the areas where pedestrians are at the highest risk of being struck, injured or killed by vehicles.

The study identified 73 areas in the state considered "high risk zones." The high-risk zones are areas where 10 or more pedestrian collisions occurred between 2012 and 2015, the latest available years for which crash data at the Texas Department of Transportation is available. According to the data, 1,088 total crashes happened in these Metroplex zones. Of those, 1,044 people were injured and 41 were killed.

According to the study, the DFW Metroplex incurred 222 crashes, 220 injuries and 9 fatalities across 180 intersections. These numbers comprise Dallas, Fort Worth and Arlington, which makes them seem higher than they are per-capita.

Dallas alone pulled in 159 crashes, 155 injuries and 7 fatalities across its 10 high-risk zones, a smaller number of incidents than occurred in San Antonio, Austin or Houston.

The second-most dangerous zone in the state is Dallas' West End, where a total of 42 pedestrian-involved crashes occurred between 2012 and 2015. A total of 39 were injured, but no deaths were reported. It trickles down from there, with West Northwest Highway in the No. 12 spot. The roadway was considered as a whole in the study, but a high-risk zone was established in the area of Denton Drive and West Northwest Highway.

All told, nine Dallas roadways and one Plano intersection were named among the state's 73-most dangerous roadways for pedestrians.

Other cities figured prominently on the list of the state's most dangerous roadways for pedestrians. In the top five, Austin, San Marcos and Laredo also were represented. In the top 25, streets in Brownsville, San Antonio, El Paso, Fort Worth, Houston and College Station were also represented.

Hill Law Group suggests pedestrians stay safe on the roadways with these following tips:

For Drivers

• Always keep an eye out for pedestrians. They may not be walking in expected areas, and younger pedestrians may abandon all traffic safety laws with no warning.
• Never pass vehicles stopped at a crosswalk. Assume that they are always stopped for a good reason. Passing these vehicles while a pedestrian is crossing unbeknownst to you is a recipe for disaster.
• Follow the speed limit in residential areas, and go lower than the speed limit in pedestrian-heavy areas. Always be prepared to stop, especially if you’re in a neighborhood densely packed in pedestrians, such as a downtown setting or school zone.
• Stay focused and be prepared in areas where children may be present. They don’t always follow conventional laws, and may absent-mindedly dart out into the street at a moment’s notice.
• Never drive under the influence of drugs or alcohol. This includes prescription medications and any other drugs which may be legal but might otherwise affect your ability to drive.

For Pedestrians

• Always walk on a sidewalk when available. If no sidewalk is available, walk on the far shoulder, facing traffic. That way you are aware of any vehicles that may veer toward you.
• Be extra-cautious during situations where visibility is affected. This includes night-time, sunsets and sunrises, and other situations where a driver may easily miss you crossing the street.
• Be a predictable pedestrian. Only cross at intersections and crosswalks, where drivers expect pedestrians.
• Be visible and wear bright clothing. Wearing dark clothing during night-time is a huge no-no.
• Avoid alcohol and drugs – or any substances which may impair judgement and reaction time on the road.

See the full study at Hill Law Firm's website.

File photo:A pedestrian crosses the intersection of 3rd Avenue and 14th Street, one of Manhattan's most dangerous crosswalks for pedestrians, on October 27, 2014 in New York City. Dallas is home to several of Texas' most dangerous intersections. (Photo by Spencer Platt/Getty Images)
Patch reporter Tony Cantu contributed to this report.