Do San Antonio’s Roads Encourage Dangerous Driving?

Yes, San Antonio roads encourage dangerous driving. For example, there is constant construction and road work everywhere, merging and yielding seems almost impossible, the traffic signs are continuously changing, and the city thrives on very confusing feeder roads.

Whether a long-term resident or visitor to the San Antonio area, it is important that you remain focused and alert at all times; ensure that you are ready for any obstacle or emergency you might face while navigating our complex roadways.

Construction and road work

During your daily commutes, you are likely familiar with the constant construction and road work being carried out in San Antonio (and the car accidents that accompany them). There is always some portion of a highway or roadway undergoing construction. In 2021, the Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration (FMCSA) estimated more than 3,000 active construction zones on roadways across Texas, and there are likely the same number of (or more!) construction zones today.

As a result of the construction and road work, many drivers are cramped into high-traffic areas all across San Antonio. In these areas, taking your eyes off the road for even one second could result in a traumatic or fatal crash. Here are some of the issues that drivers face when navigating the never-ending construction and road work:

• Narrow and cramped lanes
• High traffic volume
• Constant stopping and going
• Detours
• Uneven and damaged roads
• Objects and debris in roadway
• Reduced lane availability
• Visibility problems

In San Antonio, you must have patience and adaptability to navigate the construction and work zones. However, even the most patient drivers can still become frustrated by the delays and detours, which can lead to tailgating, aggressive driving, road rage, speeding, and more.

Merging and yielding

According to KSAT.com, yielding and merging in San Antonio are two of the top frustrations among drivers. The city is filled with many interchanges, making it beyond confusing and intimidating for even experienced drivers. Some San Antonio residents in the report pointed out that the highways across the region have yield signs located on the on-ramps, which can create chaos for merging and ongoing traffic alike.

When drivers see the yield signs on highways and interstates, many will act as if they are stop signs. This can cause traffic delays due to vehicles constantly stopping instead of merging in the correct manner. The Texas Department of Transportation explains that Texas requires “access or feeder road (frontage road) traffic to yield the right of way to traffic entering an on-ramp or leaving an off-ramp on controlled access highways. However, YIELD signs are not necessary and are not recommended where a free lane is available to off-ramp traffic and neither traffic needs to yield.” One of the most common examples of this is also one of the most dangerous areas to drive in the city: the Loop 1604 and I-10 interchange.

Traffic signs

Another problem across Alamo City roads is traffic signs. With the ongoing construction and work zones popping up throughout the city, drivers are noticing that traffic signage is continuously changing. A sign that you may have seen during your commute yesterday may be different today, which can cause confusion if you are not paying close attention.

It is the construction company’s responsibility to ensure that drivers have the proper warnings and guidance when it comes to navigating work zones. However, it is not uncommon for traffic signage to be poorly placed, not visible to drivers, or even completely missing from the roadway. As a result, many drivers must make assumptions about what to do, when to slow down, and when to change lanes. This can lead to devastating and deadly accidents with other vehicles, road barriers, and even construction workers.

Feeder roads

Feeder roads, also known as frontage roads, are a big part of San Antonio highways. These are local roads that run parallel to the highways. Drivers usually drive on the highway when they are going long distances and want to drive faster, while feeder roads are used to easily access businesses, restaurants, shopping centers, and residential areas. To reach a certain place on the side of the highway, all you have to do is take an exit onto the feeder road.

Although feeder roads may sound simple to understand, they can actually be quite complicated and cause confusion for drivers. One of the first inconveniences is that if you miss your exit to take a feeder road, you could end up driving for another 15 minutes before you are able to take the next turn to go the opposite direction. Another issue is that the entrance and exit ramps for these feeder roads are often located too close to one another, which can cause accidents between vehicles trying to enter and exit.

While you may think that your GPS navigation apps can help you successfully navigate feeder roads and highways, they are also known to frequently instruct drivers to make very dangerous maneuvers, such as leaving the feeder road and entering the highway to bypass a stop light. The GPS apps will then ask you to get back on the feeder road, which can lead to a crash when trying to get by traffic to quickly exit the highway again.

It is also worth mentioning that many roads around feeder roads encourage drivers to “sweep” or “slide” to get to their destination. This means turning into a lane that is not the actual lane t you should turn into; if you do not do this, however, you will likely miss your turn and need to turn around to try again.

Were you recently involved in a wreck in San Antonio? If so, car accident lawyer Pat Maloney, Jr. is here to help. His legal team has decades of experience helping San Antonio car accident victims  pursue legal action for medical expenses, property damage, lost wages, pain and suffering, and more. Please call Pat Maloney: Accident & Injury Attorney or submit our contact form to schedule your free, no-obligation case evaluation today.