Man Dead, Woman Hospitalized in High-Speed Accident

According to a KSAT News report, a man is dead, and a woman is in the hospital following a single-vehicle accident last week.

Police reported the incident occurred at around 9:15 p.m. on Thursday in the 940 block of Frost Bank Center Drive, close to Interstate 35 and Gembler Road. For unknown reasons, the driver lost control of his vehicle and jumped a curb. He was traveling at such a high speed that he then hit a utility pole head-on. He was pronounced dead at the scene, and his passenger was taken to the hospital in stable condition. Police noted they were traveling at a high rate of speed when the accident occurred, though they did not say with certainty what caused the accident.

Did You Know?

Speeding contributed to 29% of all traffic fatalities in 2021.

The Speed Limit — Who Decides It and the Factors that Affect It

The holidays are busy with preparation, anticipation, and no small amount of stress. This time of year sees a lot more accidents, almost one-third of which caused by rushed, stressed-out drivers breaking the speed limit.

This article will cover where the speed limit comes from, how the speed limit is set for each road, and the factors that affect the chosen speed limit.

Who Decides the Speed Limits in Texas?

The TxDOT sets the speed limits for all state highways, and the cities have jurisdiction over their respective streets. The Federal government sets speed limits for interstate highways. Texas also defines a “statutory” speed limit that applies when one is not posted.

How Are Speed Limits Determined?

The state has a maximum speed limit of 70 mph unless the Texas Transportation Commission designs a road where 75, 80, or 85 mph is determined safe by a traffic or engineering study.

Speed limits in Texas are determined using the 85th percentile system. Here’s how it works:

• Driver’s speeds are observed — Driver’s speed patterns are recorded and then calculated to find the 85th percentile speed. This is the speed at which most drivers will travel.
• The 85th Percentile Speed is Calculated — The speed ending in 5 or 0 nearest to the 85th percentile speed is usually chosen as the new posted speed limit.

Factors that Affect the Speed Limit

Not all roads follow the 85th percentile speed. This speed is reduced by 10 mph or more if some of the following conditions are present:

• Hidden driveways and other developments
• Roadway pavement width of 20 feet or less
• Curves and hills
• Rural residential or developed area
• High number of driveways
• Crash history (reduced by 12 mph)
• Lack of striped, improved shoulders

Even though the speed limits are chosen carefully and safely, you can still be driving too fast if you follow them. Icy, rainy, or low visibility conditions all affect how fast you should be driving.

Consequences of Speeding

Speeding not only results in a hefty ticket but also has far-ranging consequences like:

• Vehicle equipment is less effective,
• Greater stopping distances are needed,
• and Crash severity is increased. 

These accidents frequently result in serious injuries and death. If a speeding driver hurts you or your family, call Carabin Shaw auto accident attorneys ASAP.

Carabin Shaw Auto Accident Attorneys

Carabin Shaw auto accident attorneys have been representing those injured by speeding drivers in San Antonio for 30 years, and we put our clients first. Contact the attorneys who care today at 800-862-1260 and get your case evaluated for free. We look forward to serving you.

Contacting a Carabin Shaw attorney is free and does not obligate you to work with the firm.

¹KSAT News Report

²TxDOT Website