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Dallas steers to top of list as Texas’ most dangerous city for drivers

Dallas, Interstate 75, traffic, traffic jam, congestion

Gotta be careful out there.

When it comes to traffic safety, you might call North Texas a two-way street. The region is home to both the most dangerous place and the safest place for drivers among Texas’ 40 biggest cities.

An analysis of 2018 data from the U.S. Census Bureau and Texas Department of Transportation published by Austin-based Aceable, a provider of online driving courses, puts Dallas at No. 1 among the 20 most dangerous cities.

Yet the suburb of Allen comes in at No. 1 among the 20 safest cities.

According to data presented in October to the Dallas City Council, Dallas is saddled with the fifth highest rate of fatal traffic accidents among the 25 largest U.S. cities. Dallas is working on a plan to reduce the number of traffic fatalities; the plan would include education initiatives and improvements in roadway design.

“We cannot afford to have another person injured or killed,” Michael Rogers, director of the Dallas Department of Transportation, told council members.

Aceable ranked the 40 cities for danger or safety based on the number of fatal traffic accidents per 100,000 residents. In the danger zone, Dallas sits at No. 1, with 14.42 fatal traffic accidents per 100,000 residents.

Meanwhile, Allen recorded no fatal traffic accidents, tying it with the Houston suburb of The Woodlands for the title of Texas’ safest large city for drivers.

“From distracted driving to drunk and drugged driving to drowsy driving to outdated laws and infrastructure, there are many factors that play a role in road safety — and the reality is most accidents are actually largely preventable,” Laura Adams, driving safety and education analyst at Aceable, says in a February 19 release. “We hope this report encourages drivers, local leaders, and legislators across the state to take action to make the roads safer.”

Most dangerous cities
Here are the other North Texas cities that show up on the list of the most dangerous cities for drivers:

4. Fort Worth, 10.61 fatal traffic accidents per 100,000 residents
7. Denton, 9.38 fatal traffic accidents per 100,000 residents
16. Mesquite, 7.70 fatal traffic accidents per 100,000 residents
17. Lewisville, 7.51 fatal traffic accidents per 100,000 residents
19. Carrollton, 6.63 fatal traffic accidents per 100,000 residents

Other Texas cities on the most-dangerous list include San Antonio, No. 11, with 8.81 fatal traffic accidents per 100,000 residents; Houston, tied for No. 14, with 8.13 fatal traffic accidents per 100,000 residents; and Austin, No. 18, with 6.84 fatal traffic accidents per 100,000 residents.

Safest cities
Aside from Allen, North Texas cities on the safer side of the road are:

3. Frisco, 1.59 fatal traffic accidents per 100,000 residents
7. Plano, 2.78 fatal traffic accidents per 100,000 residents
8. Irving, 2.89 fatal traffic accidents per 100,000 residents
10. McKinney, 3.65 fatal traffic accidents per 100,000 residents
12. Richardson, 4.13 fatal traffic accidents per 100,000 residents
14. Grand Prairie, 5.65 fatal traffic accidents per 100,000 residents
15. Garland, 5.77 fatal traffic accidents per 100,000 residents
19. Arlington, 6.53 fatal traffic accidents per 100,000 residents

Elsewhere in Texas, Pearland ranks fourth on the safest-cities list, 1.64 fatal traffic accidents per 100,000 residents; Sugar Land ranks fifth, 1.69 fatal traffic accidents per 100,000 residents; Round Rock, ranks ninth, 3.11 fatal traffic accidents per 100,000 residents; Pasadena ranks 11th, 3.92 fatal traffic accidents per 100,000 residents; and League City ranks 20th, 6.59 fatal traffic accidents per 100,000 residents.

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RIP Pete

Dallas businessman and former Schepps Dairy owner Pete Schenkel dies

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Pete Schenkel

Dallas businessman Pete Schenkel, a philanthropist and former owner of Dallas-based Schepps Dairy, passed away at his Highland Park home on November 27 while in hospice care.

Born and raised in South Dallas where he worked on his father's dairy farm, Schenkel worked his way up from a Schepps Dairy deliverer to become an owner of the company in 1987. He went on to serve as President and owner of Southern Foods, which later sold to Suiza Foods and became Dean Foods, for which he also served as president and board member.

A statement from the city of Dallas says that Schenkel "leaves a legacy where he will be remembered for sharing his success with others and for his steadfast commitment to serve with pride and humility. Pete was unwavering in his dedication to making Dallas one of the safest large cities in the United States and was instrumental in promoting our economic growth and social vibrancy. We will strive to carry on his legacy by continuing to make Dallas a better place for all."

Founded by Harmon "Hymie" Schepps in 1942, Schepps Dairy traded hands and emerged from a bankruptcy under the primary ownership of Schenkel, who was Schepps' business partner. In 2000, the company was acquired by Suiza Foods Co., which then merged with Dallas-based Dean Foods the following year.

Schenkel was also involved in Dallas politics from the '80s to the '00s, both with sought-after endorsements as well as working on campaigns for mayoral candidates such as Jack Evans and Ron Natinsky.

In 2017, he was honored with an award from the NFF Gridiron Club for his role in helping bring football back to the Cotton Bowl on New Year's Day. He fought to keep the annual Texas-Oklahoma rivalry game at Cotton Bowl Stadium and has been the key negotiator in keeping the game there ever since.

Schenkel served on many influential boards that helped shape Dallas and North Texas, including chairing the Dallas/Fort Worth International Airport Board of Directors and the Methodist Health Care Foundation. After retiringm he remained active in nonprofit circles, helping direct a charitable fund with his wife, the Pat and Pete Schenkel Charitable Trust. He also served on the board of the Dallas Blue Foundation, which provides financial assistance to families of Dallas police officers killed or wounded in action.

His multiple awards and commendations including receiving the 82nd annual Linz Award for civic service in Dallas in 2011, as well as a Russell H. Perry Award from Dallas Baptist University, which lauded Schenkel for adhering to the highest ethical standards and being loyal to and respectful of friends and customers, as well as his modesty, shying away from the spotlight and shining it on others instead.

He's survived by his wife Pat, three children and seven grandchildren.

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