What Is a Stroad and Why Are They So Dangerous?
Car accidents in Houston, TX, are a serious problem and lead to thousands of injuries and hundreds of deaths every year. Likewise, truck accidents in Katy leave many with life changing injuries.
At Reed & Terry, LLP, our car accident attorneys serve Sugar Land, TX, Katy, TX, and Richmond, TX, and are available to review your accident claim and help you recover compensation for your injuries.
One of the contributing factors to the severity of accidents in Houston are the prevalence of stroads. They are extremely dangerous to motorists, pedestrians, and bicyclists and play a significant factor in traffic-related deaths every year. Let’s take a closer look at what stroads are and why they are so dangerous.
What Is a Stroad?
A stroad is a combination of a road and street. To better understand what a stroad is, it’s important to know the distinction between a road and street.
A road is designed for fast travel between one place to another. Roads have wide lanes and long stretches to facilitate fast movement.
A street is more people friendly with narrower streets and wider sidewalks. Streets are lined with businesses and may have parking. Traffic is slower, allowing for safer travel for pedestrians, bicyclists, and motorists.
A stroad meshes roads and streets together in an attempt to both move traffic quickly and create wealth for businesses along the stroad. This results in wide, multi-lane thoroughfares with traffic signals and crosswalks spaced far apart.
Why Are Stroads Dangerous?
Stroads are extremely dangerous. Houston Landing reports that on one of the most dangerous stroads in Houston (a 4-mile stretch of Westheimer Road between Frondren Road and the 610 Loop) there have been 26 pedestrian deaths, three cyclist deaths, and nine motorists deaths in a five-year period.
Speeding Traffic
It is common for people to speed on stroads, even when speed limits are 35 miles per hour. The wide lanes, and long thoroughfares may give people the sense that they’re not going as fast as they are or that it’s acceptable to drive faster.
When motorists speed, they increase the risk of accidents. Speeding makes it harder to brake before hitting a hazard, pedestrian, bicyclist, or other vehicle.
Traffic Signals Spaced Far Apart
Traffic signals are often far apart on stroads. This can encourage motorists to speed in order to beat getting stopped at a red light. As a result, drivers are more likely to run a red light at high speeds and cause an accident.
This is particularly dangerous if a pedestrian or cyclist is crossing at the intersection when someone speeds through a red light.
Jaywalking
When traffic signals are far apart, pedestrian crosswalks are too. This can lead to jaywalking, or crossing outside of designated crosswalks.
Jaywalking across a stroad is particularly dangerous due to many of them having multiple lanes. The long distance and speeding drivers are a dangerous combination.
Recovering Compensation in a Stroad Accident
Those who have been injured in a stroad accident may be entitled to compensation for their injuries. Through a personal injury lawsuit, a car accident attorney can help recover compensation for:
- Medical expenses
- Physical therapy and rehabilitation
- Lost wages
- Physical pain
- Mental anguish
Schedule a Consultation
If you have been injured in a car accident, our attorneys can review your claim and explain your legal options. Schedule a consultation at Reed & Terry, LLP today.