Texas has more wrong-way drivers than any other State.
Woman Intentionally Hits Two Vehicles While Driving the Wrong Way on I-10
According to a KSAT News report, a woman was arrested on suspicion of a DWI after intentionally hitting two vehicles while driving the wrong way on I-10.
Police reported the wrong-way driver at around 10 p.m. on I-10 near the Loop 410 interchange on the Northwest Side. They signaled her to pull over, but she instead hit the patrol car and another vehicle on purpose before fleeing. Police used a spike trap and a pit maneuver to stop and arrest the woman on suspicion of a DWI. No injuries have been reported, and the woman was not identified.
Did You Know?
Wrong-way crash fatalities increased by 15% from 2020 to 2021 nationwide.
Wrong-Way Crashes in San Antonio: What You Need to Know
No one expects to see a car driving straight at them on the interstate. Wrong-way drivers are comparatively rare — though Texas leads the nation in these kinds of accidents, they still only make up roughly 1% of fatal crashes each year. Let’s take a look at the AAA Foundation for Traffic Safety’s data to determine why these accidents happen so often in Texas.
What Is a Wrong-Way Accident?
Anytime a driver directs their vehicle against the flow of traffic, they are a wrong-way driver. Wrong-way accidents occur when a vehicle collides (usually head-on) with another vehicle moving with the flow of traffic. These kinds of accidents almost always happen at night.
Wrong-way accidents frequently end in fatality. Direct impact from an object moving against a vehicle has a catastrophic impact and is comparatively rare.
What Factors Contribute to Wrong-Way Accidents in San Antonio?
The AAA Foundation for Traffic Safety released a study analyzing wrong-way crash data gathered between 2010 and 2018. They found that Texas had more wrong-way crashes than any other state during that period. While sheer population density and size contribute significantly to these numbers, there are a few other factors that make San Antonio more prone to wrong-way crashes.
- Impaired Drivers — Roughly 24% of fatal wrong-way accidents involve a drunk driver. Alcohol affects a person’s ability to reason and comprehend their surroundings, making them prone to these mistakes. San Antonio deals with many drunk drivers on its roads, making it no surprise that these accidents happen more frequently in this city.
- Advanced Age — Elderly drivers are overrepresented in wrong-way fatalities despite consisting of few drivers sharing the road. Adults 70 years and older consist of roughly 12.8% of San Antonio’s population.
- Driving Alone — Drivers with no passengers are far more likely to drive the wrong way. Almost 87% of wrong-way drivers were driving alone at the time of the crash.
Texas has been implementing more strict safety devices to better alert impaired and older drivers to turn around. But these kinds of accidents are still on a steady rise in San Antonio and across Texas.
If you were injured or lost a loved one because of a wrong-way driver, you need an attorney to ensure you aren’t cheated out of your full compensation value.
Hire Carabin Shaw Auto Accident Attorneys in San Antonio
It only takes one wrong-way driver to ruin your life or steal a loved one from you. If you were unjustly injured or bereaved by a wrong-way driver in San Antonio, we can help. Contact Carabin Shaw Auto Accident Attorneys today at 800-862-1260 to schedule your complimentary case evaluation with no obligation. We put our clients first because we care. We look forward to serving you.
³San Antonio Population Statistics