Around 6 a.m. on Tuesday, a Houston Metro light rail train struck a pedestrian at Main and Lamar. Reports say the victim was conscious and breathing when transported to the hospital. (khou.com, 5/6/14) Our Houston Metro accident attorneys’ wishes for a safe recovery go out to the victim.
Is this latest pedestrian crash just another example of an unnaturally high accident rate for the Houston Metro rail system? Or within the context of our traffic congestion and other traffic related numbers, are we actually experiencing a lower than average statistical risk of crashes?
Because so many political agendas could benefit from one answer or the other, we suspect a true answer might be hard to come by. The numbers our Houston Metro accident attorneys usually see indicate that Houston’s light rail project does pose a higher accident risk than comparable rail projects elsewhere in the nation. But we also seem to have a substantially higher ridership rate and a greater urban growth rate in Houston. All of these numbers are intimately related.
During the beginning period of our Houston Metro rail system’s operations, the train line, concentrated at that time in the downtown center, averaged 11 crashes per track mile per year in contrast to an average of 0.55 crashes per track mile per year for comparable rail systems nationwide. And in its first two years, Houston Metro rail experienced a crash nearly once in every 12 days. Indeed, the start of 2009 saw the 245th collision since the rail line began operating in 2004. That set an annual record of 69 train crashes with cars.
And that was even though the city had responded to the high number of crashes by altering the timing of traffic signals in favor of the trains. But cars continue to drive in front of trains. Even Metro buses disregard the trains and drive into them. Pedestrians too cross in front of trains or walk too near them. They don’t actually have much choice as there isn’t a great deal of separation between the rail tracks and other traffic thoroughfares.
Houston Metro rail officials and police have consistently blamed these crashes on driver error and pedestrians getting too close to the trains. The Houston Metro accident attorneys at Denena Points, PC note that this is understandable as a strategy to try and avoid City financial liability for collision injuries and deaths. But the truth may not be so clear-cut. Many critics have pointed to poor signage and unclear signal layouts as a cause of the high crash rate. And in fact a new signal and signage system decreased the accident rate by 75% by 2005.
Another problem is that the rail system is at-grade, similar to the light rail system in use in downtown Dallas. This means that all traffic is on the same level, competing for right-of-way priority particularly at intersections and turns.
But the fact remains that Houston traffic of all types is unusually congested and is getting more so as the city continues to grow and lure new businesses and residents. In turn, the high accident rate contributes to expansion of the medical facilities downtown, which might fuel additional accidents, and so on. Houston’s premier position as the fastest-growing U.S. urban area and center of the largest U.S. shipping hub come with a price. Part of that price is greater traffic with greater accident risks.
The bottom line is that if you live in Houston, you need to be prepared to deal with serious accidents and their aftermath. Download your free guide to learn the steps to take to protect your rights and build a strong and successful accident claim.