By Kyle Peveto, Page Editor
Streets surrounding ACU did not make the city’s list of dangerous intersections, but some streets students often travel did.
The intersection in Abilene where the most wrecks occurred in 2001, which is the last year data is readily available for, was Buffalo Gap Road and Danville Drive.
According to the office of traffic engineering, 41 wrecks occurred in ’01 at that intersection.
The closest intersection to ACU to make the list at No. 25 was East Highway 80 and Judge Ely Boulevard
“We don’t really have many (intersections) that are causing a problem at this time,” said Kelly Beard, executive secretary of traffic engineering.
In 1999 East North 10th St. and Judge Ely Boulevard was No. 13 on the list of dangerous intersections, but it failed to make the list since then.
“It kind of depends on the year,” Beard said. “Why we had more that year, who knows?”
One of the most dangerous areas for driving was the Buffalo Gap Road area near the Mall of Abilene. The intersection at Buffalo Gap Road and Danville Drive was No. 1, while the intersection on the other side of Loop 377 at Clack Drive was No. 9 with 20 accidents.
In 2002, 3,889 accidents occurred on city streets in Abilene, according to Officer Gary Heslep of the Abilene Police Department.
“There are usually between 3,000 and 4,000 accidents each year,” Heslep said.
Most accidents happen in periods of inclement weather.
“You have factors that some months cause the numbers to be higher,” Heslep said. “Winter time really runs the gamut around here.”
More accidents often happen during icy winter days than there are officers to tend to them.
10 most dangerous intersections in Abilene:
* Buffalo Gap Road and Danville Drive
*South First Street and Sayles Boulevard
* U.S. 277 and Danville Drive
*South 11th Street and Treadaway Boulevard
*South 14th Street and Clack Drive
*South First Street and Leggett Drive
*South 27th Street and Buffalo Gap Road
*South First Street and Willis
*Buffalo Gap Road and Clack Drive
*South 14th Street and Sayles Boulevard
Source: City office of traffic engineering
