eyes on the road

Dallas is the 8th most dangerous U.S. city for pedestrians, study says

Pedestrian safety should be a priority in a place like Dallas.

Photo courtesy of Uptown Dallas, Inc.

Dallas drivers need to pay better attention to their surroundings, as the city was just named the No. 8 most dangerous city for pedestrians nationwide.

The unfortunate ranking was concluded in a new study conducted by North Texas personal injury lawyer Matthew E. Aulsbrook, also known as "The Texas Law Dog." The report analyzed the top 10 most dangerous U.S. cities based on pedestrian fatality rates, walkability scores, and the percentage of dedicated parks and recreational areas in each city.

The study revealed there have been 72 accidents involving pedestrians in Dallas, and 5.54 pedestrian fatalities occur for every 100,000 residents. Only 10 percent of the city has dedicated park and recreational spaces.

Dallas earned a 46 walkability score, designating the city as a "Car-Dependent" place where most errands would require a vehicle to be accomplished, according to WalkScore.com. "Car-Dependent" scores range from 25-49, so while Dallas landed on the high end of the category, it's still not enough to be considered "Somewhat Walkable."

This isn't the first time Dallas has made headlines for its lack of driver awareness and safety. Earlier in 2024, Dallas was put under the microscope for having the 6th worst drivers in the nation.

Elsewhere across North Texas, Fort Worth is far more dangerous for pedestrians than Dallas is, ranking four spots higher as the No. 4 most dangerous U.S. city. There have been 32 accidents involving pedestrians in Fort Worth, and the city has a 3.24 pedestrian fatality rate per 100,000 residents. Fort Worth earned a 35 walkability score, which also puts it in the "Car-Dependent" category.

"Fort Worth has minimal public transportation and does not have many bike lanes," WalkScore.com said.

In order to improve pedestrian safety, a spokesperson from The Texas Law Dog suggested a "multi-faceted approach" that brings together the local community and public officials.

"Urban planners and policymakers must consider not only the physical layout of a city but also implement comprehensive safety programs that include public education, law enforcement, and community engagement," the spokesperson said.

Meanwhile, Memphis, Tennessee leads the nation as the most dangerous city for pedestrians, with the highest fatality rate in the U.S. Over 13 pedestrian fatalities occur per 100,000 city residents in Memphis, and only six percent of the city's area is dedicated to parks and recreational spaces.

Besides Dallas and Fort Worth, the only other Texas city to earn a spot in the report was San Antonio (No. 7). San Antonio has a pedestrian fatality rate of 4.48 per 100,000 city residents, and a lackluster walkability score of 37. Only 10 percent of the city is dedicated to park and recreational spaces, according to the report.

The top 10 most dangerous cities for pedestrians are:

No. 1 – Memphis, Tennessee
No. 2 – Oklahoma City, Oklahoma
No. 3 – Charlotte, North Carolina
No. 4 – Fort Worth, Texas
No. 5 – Detroit, Michigan
No. 6 – Louisville, Kentucky
No. 7 – San Antonio, Texas
No. 8 – Dallas, Texas
No. 9 – Phoenix, Arizona
No. 10 – Columbus, Ohio

fort worth reports rankings driving dallas san antonio

Legislative news

Texas governor intercedes with last-minute save on sales of THC

The THC limit in medical cannabis products is also increasing.

Photo courtesy of TOCC

The Texas cannabis industry is safe.

Texas Gov. Greg Abbott vetoed a bill Sunday to ban all THC consumables, allowing the booming market flush with THC-infused vapes, gummies and other products to continue to be sold across the state.

Abbott, a Republican, waited until the final moment to veto the bill in what would have been one of the most restrictive THC bans in the country and a significant blow to the state’s billion-dollar industry.

The law would have made it a misdemeanor to own, manufacture, or sell consumable THC, or tetrahydrocannabinol, products and was the latest push by states to regulate THC after a 2018 federal law allowed states to regulate hemp, a similar plant to marijuana that can be synthetically processed to produce THC, the compound giving marijuana its psychoactive properties.

Loopholes in existing law have allowed many THC-infused goods to enter the market across the country, including states with strict marijuana laws.

Texas has some of the strictest marijuana laws in the country, prohibiting all recreational use and providing a limited medical marijuana program. The consumables market has allowed residents to legally access goods giving a similar high to marijuana.

Republican lawmakers have criticized the products as dangerous due to a lack of federal oversight in how the goods are manufactured. Texas’ ban is one of the more far-reaching among states that have taken similar steps. Several states, including California, have imposed age limits and restrictions on the potency of THC products.

Critics of the Texas bill say it allows people who cannot access marijuana through the state’s medical marijuana program to acquire goods that can provide a similar relief. Many retailers across the state also pointed to the thousands of jobs and millions in revenue the industry brings each year.

Last year, Florida Republican Gov. Ron DeSantis vetoed a bill that would have put age restrictions on THC consumables, claiming it would hurt small businesses.

cannabis politics