Dallas Traffic Deaths: High Speed Limits and Bad Road Designs Under Scrutiny
Experts and road safety advocates are questioning whether high speed limits and bad road designs contribute to the high number of traffic deaths in Dallas. They argue that Texas road design and speed limit rules encourage higher speeds and prioritize moving traffic fast over safety. The Texas Department of Transportation (TxDOT) has been criticized for designing roads to accommodate speeds higher than the posted limit, leading to a feeling of discomfort for drivers who follow the speed limit. Some safety advocates believe that the "85th percentile rule" used by TxDOT to set speed limits encourages engineers to raise the speed limit based on the fastest drivers, potentially resulting in unsafe speeds. The federal government has moved away from using this rule, and TxDOT has stated that they will incorporate other factors into determining speed limits. However, the process to change speed limits on state highways is frustrating and time-consuming, leaving dangerous roads unchanged and potentially leading to more deaths and injuries.