DWI deaths in Austin

"Chairman Kaga" (mike-mckinnon)
08/10/2015 at 10:59 • Filed to: None

Twice this weekend, once last night and once Saturday night, a drunk driver killed a motorcyclist in Downtown Austin.

In 2015 we already have more traffic fatalities than in ALL of 2014, but only 50% are the result of intoxication, lower than last year.

This is horrible.

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DISCUSSION (15)

Sam > Chairman Kaga
08/10/2015 at 11:05

I honestly think that the penalty isn’t severe enough for DUI. If there isn’t a fatality, they can usually plea bargain for a few months in jail (where they’ll probably get early release) and some community service.

ttyymmnn > Chairman Kaga
08/10/2015 at 11:20

Is that counting pedestrian deaths? Because we sure seem to have a lot of them, either idiots crossing IH-35 or people just walking home. Many of the pedestrian deaths do seem to have happened around 2 am, though.

Chairman Kaga > Chairman Kaga
08/10/2015 at 11:23

Jesus. As I was posting that, THIS happened about a half mile from my home.

http://www.statesman.com/news/news/loca…

Chairman Kaga > ttyymmnn
08/10/2015 at 11:25

That’s always a part of it, although the ratio is actually lower this year. Motorcycle accidents are up, but it seems the primary culprit is multi-vehicle accidents at intersections, and mostly red light runners.

Seems as I was posting this there was a red light accident about a half mile from my house. One confirmed dead with multiple critical injuries.

Vimto > Chairman Kaga
08/10/2015 at 11:30

They were killed on SLAUGHTER Lane?

Nerd-Vol > Chairman Kaga
08/10/2015 at 11:32

Really, sad. As humans, we are really bad at driving. It pains me to say, but perhaps autonomous cars are for the greater good.

ttyymmnn > Chairman Kaga
08/10/2015 at 11:35

Slaughter and Manchaca. I was just reading about it. Scan your intersections, friends. Don't just drive through.

PatBateman > Chairman Kaga
08/10/2015 at 11:39

Is it speed? Distractions (phones, radio, etc)? Obviously it’s not ALL drunk driving. Too much of it is, though.

I might get some heat from the following comment, but I’ll make it anyway: it might be the “laid back Austin” attitude that contributes to some of it. You know you’ve seen it on the road, too. People accidentally weaving into other lanes, just not giving a damn if they do or don’t, running red lights, which HOLY SHIT Austin’s yellow lights are long...

Ash78, voting early and often > Sam
08/10/2015 at 11:42

I remember learning that in Japan, it was like a multi-year suspension, HUGE fines, maybe jail time, and adverse effects on your employability for years or even decades. That always stuck with me as something where we NEEDED to increase the penalties to make up for the difficulty of enforcement. One of the two needs to occur and I’d prefer the former to the latter (which would be very intrusive, like dashboard breathalyzers, etc)

Chairman Kaga > ttyymmnn
08/10/2015 at 11:42

Slaughter and Manchaca was last week. The one I was referring to JUST happened at Slaughter and Brodie. Either a distracted driver hit a turning garbage truck or was running the light and hit the garbage truck. COnfused reports at the moment. One confirmed dead on the scene, one with life threatening injuries at UMCB, one pedestrian with severe injuries.

Chairman Kaga > Vimto
08/10/2015 at 11:42

Ironic, huh?

Chairman Kaga > PatBateman
08/10/2015 at 11:44

Drivere here are terrible. Just awful. Distracted driving has become an epidemic. I’m fairly certain the spike is a result of phones. The traffic is horrible regardless, which prompts people to whip out their phones to pass the time. Chaos ensues.

Berang > Chairman Kaga
08/10/2015 at 19:07

I have seen several bad accidents where Slaughter and mopac intersect. I’ve not yet found any articles about them, but I’m guessing it’s people running red lights. People are always speeding down mopac in this area (the speed limit is 65, who needs to go faster here anyway?).

Chasaboo > Chairman Kaga
08/10/2015 at 23:10

Austin is like a death zone for pedestrians, bicyclists, cyclists. Too much drinking and not enough thinking.

Chairman Kaga > Berang
08/11/2015 at 10:14

I exit at Davis Lane and turn left at the 3-way stop to get home. At least once a week someone heading West on Davis blows through that intersection at 50+ mph without even slowing. I guess the stop sign is somewhat obscured by the slight curve and the overpass? I blame it almost entirely on distracted driving and good old fashioned bad driving.