Houston, Texas is a large and ever-expanding commercial center with a growing population. Consequently, it has an extensive network of highways and roads designed to accommodate a heavy flow of vehicles of all types, from the many passenger cars to the large number of commercial vehicles.
Among those commercial vehicles, the semi-truck plays an essential role in transporting all kinds of goods to and through the state and indeed, to and through much of the country. At the same time, semis can and often do pose a potent danger to the traveling public. And when they collide with passenger vehicles, the results are many times, disastrous.
And what role do Houston’s infrastructural features play in these incidents? All of these things will be explored in today’s article. Read here: Why Do 75% of Houston Semi-Truck Accidents Result in Catastrophic Injuries?
Key Factors Contributing to Semi-Truck Accident Severity
Houston’s infrastructure includes several factors that make semi-truck accidents more likely and more severe when they do occur. These factors involve the design of the roads and the semi-trucks themselves, the volume and speed of traffic, maintenance issues, weather conditions, and the existence of vulnerable infrastructure features.
Among the most problematical are tight curves, steep grades, and roads that are too narrow for the amount of traffic that uses them.
A Snapshot of Houston’s Roadway Infrastructure
Houston’s infrastructure includes a vast web of highways such as Interstate 10 (I-10), Interstate 45 (I-45), Interstate 59/69 (I-59/I-69), and the Sam Houston Tollway, among even more. These major highways often experience high traffic volumes because of Houston’s position as an economic hub, its proximity to the Gulf Coast, and its massive population. The roadways are designed to serve both light passenger vehicles and heavy-duty trucks.
However, some of the city’s roads, especially those built in the mid-20th century, were not designed to handle the current numbers and sizes of trucks that now use them. The roadways of Houston are massively clogged with traffic, especially in the downtown area but also in the suburbs. The construction is virtually constant and seems to increase all the time as more and more funds are being directed towards more work on the roads, interchanges, and other parts of the infrastructure.
The layouts of many of these interchanges, such as the one where I-45 and I-10 converge, tend to work against rather than with the flow of traffic. The ever-growing number of trucks on the road and the inadequate infrastructure both contribute to nearly double the national average of large truck-related fatalities in Houston. Read here: Why Do 75% of Houston Semi-Truck Accidents Result in Catastrophic Injuries?
Road Design and Geometry
Houston’s interchanges and highways may be a big factor in how bad these truck accidents end up being. Older interchanges and roads, for instance, often have lanes that are too narrow or curves that are too sharp. They simply are not suitable for big rigs with their long wheelbases and large turning radius.
On the whole, it amounts to an accident waiting to happen, especially in those places where the big trucks have to change lanes and/or slow down suddenly. Other issues include:
- Traffic volume and congestion
- Road maintenance and condition
- Weather conditions
- Interchange and exit ramp design
Addressing the Issue: Potential Solutions
To lessen the frequency and intensity of semi-truck crashes in Houston, the city can consider making changes to its infrastructure and operational practices. Possible changes include the following:
- Road design upgrades
- Enhanced road maintenance
- Advanced signage and warning systems
- Weather-responsive infrastructure
- Public awareness and training programs
Read here: Why Do 75% of Houston Semi-Truck Accidents Result in Catastrophic Injuries?
Houston’s infrastructure significantly affects how bad semi-truck accidents can be when they occur. Design problems, such as a lack of appropriate turning lanes for big rigs, can make an accident a lot worse when it does happen. Poor maintenance (the city has recently come under fire for not filling potholes) can lead to poor road conditions that can be dangerous for any driver.
Add in traffic congestion, an unfortunate reality in most big cities, and you have a recipe for disaster. Either way, fixing the problems that these conditions create (or avoiding them in the first place) equals saving lives.
