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Pedestrian Safety: A Cost-Benefit Analysis and Report |
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The need for a traffic control signal shall be considered if an engineering study finds that the following criteria are met:
- Adequate trial of alternatives with satisfactory observance and enforcement has failed to reduce the crash frequency; AND
- Five or more reported crashes, of types susceptible to correction by a traffic control signal, have occurred within a 12-month period, each crash involving personal injury or property damage apparently exceeding the applicable requirements for a reportable crash.
Accident reports for Manchaca and Prather, past twelve months:
Accident Report #1 (6/27, 4:40 p.m.): An elderly man leaving the Senior Activity Center attempted to cross the street from east to west at the crosswalk. A city bus in the right-hand northbound lane of Manchaca stopped to allow him to cross. As the pedestrian was crossing in front of the bus, a passenger vehicle passed the bus in the left-hand northbound lane, striking and severely injuring the victim in the crosswalk. The driver of the passenger vehicle was issued a citation for failing to yield to a pedestrian.
Accident Report #2 (9/30, 7:50 a.m.): Several children walking to the junior high school attempted to cross Manchaca at the crosswalk from east to west. Southbound traffic was forced to stop abruptly and two cars were struck from behind, causing over $200 of damage to each vehicle. A citation was issued to the driver of one vehicle for following too closely.
Accident Report #3 (5:10, 4/15): A vehicle attempting to turn left onto Prather Road from the left-hand northbound lane of Manchaca was rear-ended by a vehicle in the same lane exceeding the speed limit. The first vehicle was pushed into oncoming traffic and hit by a vehicle headed southbound on Manchaca. A second southbound vehicle swerved to avoid the accident and ran onto the sidewalk on the west side of Manchaca, narrowly missing several pedestrians waiting at the bus stop. The driver of the first vehicle was seriously injured and his vehicle totaled. The other two vehicles involved were heavily damaged.
Accident Report # 4 (5/2, 5:30 p.m.): A vehicle attempting to turn left from the preschool parking lot on Manchaca, just south of the intersection, was hit broadside by a vehicle traveling northbound on Manchaca. Both vehicles were heavily damaged; the occupants of both vehicles (two adults and one child) suffered minor injuries. The driver attempting the left turn was issued a citation for failing to yield.
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