Why Are Car and Truck Accidents on the Rise in San Antonio?

Getting into your car or truck each day is something most people don’t give a second thought to. It’s how you get to and from work, and for those who drive a truck, it’s their “office” and they spend large amounts of time on the road yearly. And while it’s true that an accident could occur, it’s not something that tends to concern people too much – until it affects them. So, that’s why it’s important to get the message out that car and truck accidents are on the rise in San Antonio.

Spreading awareness means people have the opportunity to change their driving habits and potentially avoid being in an accident. Part of awareness is understanding the root of the cause. Why are car-truck accidents on the rise in San Antonio? There could be a few factors at play, so let’s take a look.

Traffic Is Back to Pre-Pandemic Levels

The most obvious reason for the rise in car-truck accidents in San Antonio is that traffic is now back to pre-pandemic levels. During the start of the pandemic, traffic dropped sharply as many people stayed home thanks to work and even school closures. As San Antonio reopened and people got back to their regular schedule, traffic started to bounce back to what it was. So, while it feels like accidents are on the rise, in many cases, the numbers have just returned to where they were, before the pandemic began, mirroring traffic patterns.

Semis and 18 Wheelers Are on the Roads at All Times of Day/Night

Anyone who has traveled along the highways in San Antonio will notice the large volume of commercial traffic, in particular semis and 18-wheelers. And unlike with typical car-based traffic, there is no rush hour for truckers. Instead, they are on the highways at all times of day/night so it’s hard for drivers to plan a time when they won’t encounter them.

Truckers deal with all sorts of issues when behind the wheel that can cause a crash.  For example, their load can sometimes shift causing the truck to become unbalanced and result in an accident, or they may have a tire blowout. Losing control of their truck, even due to a minor cause, can be catastrophic to every vehicle around them. Other drivers on the road need to be hyper-aware of their surroundings at all times, leave plenty of space between them and the commercial vehicles, and be prepared to switch into defensive driving mode if need be.

It also means that people driving cars need to expect to see trucks on the road. There is a certain level of comfort and confidence they need to build so they can drive next to or around a large truck.

Trucking Companies May Sometimes Cut Safety Corners

While it’s true there are regulations and laws in place to help ensure that trucks are road-safe, the fact is that some of these safety regulations can be overlooked. Even something as simple as regular maintenance or loading over the weight limit can occur, and that increases the odds of the truck being in an accident or causing an accident.

The Population of San Antonio Is Rising

Another factor contributing to the increase in car-truck accidents is the growing population. Any time a population grows, you can expect that to show up everywhere, including more cars on the roads. More cars mean more congestion and more opportunities for accidents to happen. From 2021 through 2022 San Antonio was the fastest growing city in the country.  The population of San Antonio Metro Area has grown to over 2.4 million people.

And it’s not just big by Texas standards; San Antonio currently ranks 7th in the country for the most populous city. As you start to imagine how that increasing population spills out into the roads and highways, it’s only natural that there would also be a rise in accidents. It’s basic math.

When population growth is spread out, it can help limit the effects on the roads, but most of this growth has been and is predicted to continue showing up in the metro area of the city. That’s a whole lot of people moving to a relatively small area. Even if they don’t all have cars, many will and they will add to the traffic in that area.

Keep in mind that the population also sees a significant bump thanks to the volume of tourists. Back in 2017, San Antonio welcomed 37 million visitors, and while it’s still recovering from the pandemic, it is expected that by 2023 Q4 or 2024 Q1 it will have fully rebounded. Tourists entering the city by car or renting a car may not be as familiar with the layout of the city, which can lead to accidents.

Some Intersections are Known to be Risky

Then there are a handful of intersections in San Antonio that are known for being riskier. It could be due to traffic volume, construction, a busy tourist area with lots of foot traffic or even dangerous roads and conditions. All of these factors can lead to an intersection being classified as risky, and that means any time you travel through it, you too are at higher risk of an incident.

Drunk Driving Very Much Plays a Role

Unfortunately, San Antonio also holds the title for the highest rate of drunk driving accidents in Texas per capita – as of 2021. We could delve deeper into the causes and potential fixes, but the fact remains that drunk driving is causing many accidents on the road. And it’s not just car and truck accidents, but accidents in general.

Distracted Driving Is Always a Factor

Finally, there is distracted driving. Unfortunately, this is always a factor in accidents on the road, no matter which vehicles are involved. All it takes is for the driver to be distracted for a split second and then an accident can occur.

As you can see, there are many issues at play in the rising number of car-truck accidents. The key for any motorist, regardless of the vehicle, is to be aware at all times.

Call us today at 1-800-4-THE-WIN (1-800-484-3946) to schedule your free consultation and let us fight for the justice you deserve.