Dallas, August 20, 2025
News Summary
City officials in Dallas are responding swiftly to a recent fatal crash that claimed the lives of two children and one adult on Clarendon Drive. This tragic event, part of a worrying trend of dangerous driving in the area, has prompted calls for increased traffic patrols, speed limit reviews, and other safety measures. Community advocates are also pushing for expeditious improvements as a comprehensive study of the corridor is conducted. Meanwhile, significant safety investments are in progress for Loop 12, the city’s deadliest roadway, as officials work to combat traffic-related casualties.
Dallas — City officials and community advocates are moving quickly to address a recent fatal crash and a pattern of dangerous driving on Clarendon Drive and to accelerate safety improvements on Loop 12, the city’s deadliest roadway.
What happened and immediate response
A multi-vehicle crash last Wednesday on Clarendon Drive resulted in the deaths of two children and one adult. The collision is the latest in a series of serious crashes along Clarendon, with residents reporting more than a dozen collisions on the corridor over the past year. In response, a Dallas city councilmember has called for stepped-up traffic patrols, review of speed limits and other immediate safety actions while the city conducts a full corridor review.
Council and city measures under consideration
Dallas City Councilman Maxie Johnson is leading efforts to seek near-term fixes for Clarendon Drive, asking for increased enforcement and adjustments to posted speeds where appropriate. City staff have launched a comprehensive review of the entire Clarendon corridor to identify engineering, enforcement and education measures that can reduce crashes. Officials note this work is being undertaken in the context of a broader citywide traffic death reduction plan that has been in place since 2022.
Community concerns and advocacy
Local residents and safety advocates say certain intersections and stretches of Clarendon contain blind spots and other design features that contribute to risk. Residents report repeated complaints to city agencies and neighborhood groups about speeding and perceived neglect of problem locations. Activist groups and neighbors are pressing for more rapid action while the formal corridor review proceeds.
Traffic calming tools being used and debated
One tool the city is deploying in neighborhoods is speed cushions, raised pavement features designed to slow passenger vehicles while allowing smoother passage for wider emergency vehicles. Officials have installed or scheduled 79 sets of speed cushions across Dallas in response to neighborhood requests. Some neighborhoods have encountered challenges securing the level of property-owner support required to place cushions on local streets. Results reported by residents are mixed: some neighborhoods cite improved behavior and slower speeds, while others continue to see dangerous speeding.
Broader context: Loop 12 safety investments
Separately, the Dallas City Council approved additional safety improvements for Loop 12, which has been identified as the city’s most deadly road. The Texas Department of Transportation is committing $9.9 million to install new traffic signals at 16 locations along Loop 12. Over the past five years, Loop 12 has recorded more than 500 accidents that resulted in serious injuries and 105 fatalities. In 2024 alone, Loop 12 suffered at least 24 fatalities, the highest traffic death toll of any roadway in the city that year. Improvements to signals, crosswalks and related infrastructure are being added following public safety investigations and community calls for action.
Trends and enforcement
Citywide, Dallas reports a decrease of 33 traffic deaths so far this year, and a decline in fatalities on Loop 12 compared with prior counts. In addition to roadway engineering changes and state-funded signal work, enforcement efforts are expanding: Dallas Independent School District police have launched a dedicated traffic enforcement unit to monitor school zones during peak hours, focusing on speeding, distracted driving, seat-belt compliance and pedestrian safety near schools with heavy traffic.
Regional comparison and demand for calming measures
Neighboring Fort Worth’s experience offers context for Dallas. Since launching a Traffic Calming Program in 2022, Fort Worth has received more than 2,000 applications for calming measures, and reported an 82% increase in applications between 2023 and 2024. That high demand reflects growing public interest in neighborhood-level traffic control. Dallas officials point to such regional trends as informing local policy and prioritization of projects.
Next steps and timelines
The city’s corridor review for Clarendon is ongoing; officials have signaled that results and recommended actions will be delivered to the council after the review is completed. Immediate actions under consideration include stepped-up traffic patrols, adjusted speed limits, additional signage and targeted installation of speed cushions where community support and engineering reviews permit. For Loop 12, the state-funded signal projects are being programmed and scheduled for implementation, with agencies coordinating on site selection and construction timing.
What residents can do
- Report recurring safety concerns to local council offices and city traffic teams.
- Participate in neighborhood meetings and formal traffic calming requests where required.
- Support school-zone enforcement by following posted limits and educating drivers about pedestrian risks near schools.
Frequently Asked Questions
What caused the recent crash on Clarendon Drive?
Investigations into the crash that killed two children and one adult are ongoing. City and law enforcement agencies are reviewing roadway conditions, witness reports and other evidence as part of their inquiry.
What immediate actions are being taken on Clarendon Drive?
City leaders have called for increased traffic patrols, a review of posted speed limits and a comprehensive corridor study to identify engineering and enforcement measures to improve safety.
How many speed cushions has Dallas installed?
Dallas has installed or scheduled 79 sets of speed cushions in response to neighborhood requests. Installation requires community input and in some cases property-owner support.
Why is Loop 12 considered especially dangerous?
Over the last five years Loop 12 has seen more than 500 serious-injury crashes and 105 fatalities, including at least 24 deaths in 2024. High traffic volumes, roadway design and crossing locations have contributed to recurring safety problems.
What funding is available for Loop 12 improvements?
The Texas Department of Transportation is investing $9.9 million to add new traffic signals at 16 locations along Loop 12; additional local and state coordination is ongoing for complementary improvements.
How can residents request traffic calming?
Residents can submit formal traffic-calming requests through city processes, attend neighborhood meetings and provide documented concerns and petitions when required by program rules.
Feature | Value | Visual |
---|---|---|
Recent Clarendon crash fatalities | 3 (2 children, 1 adult) |
|
Clarendon collisions (past year) | More than 12 |
|
Speed cushion sets installed/scheduled | 79 sets |
|
Loop 12 serious-injury crashes (5 years) | 500+ |
|
Loop 12 fatalities (5 years) | 105 |
|
TxDOT investment for Loop 12 signals | $9.9 million |
|
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Additional Resources
- NBC DFW: Fort Worth Traffic Safety
- Wikipedia: Traffic Safety
- Roads & Bridges: Dallas Approves More Safety Measures
- Google Search: Traffic Safety Measures
- NBC DFW: Loop 12 Dallas Deadliest Road Safety
- Google Scholar: Road Safety Improvements
- Dallas Express: Dallas ISD Traffic Safety Unit
- Encyclopedia Britannica: Traffic
- KVUE: Driving Conditions in Dallas
- Google News: Dallas Traffic Accidents

Author: STAFF HERE DALLAS WRITER
DALLAS STAFF WRITER The DALLAS STAFF WRITER represents the experienced team at HEREDallas.com, your go-to source for actionable local news and information in Dallas, Dallas County, and beyond. Specializing in "news you can use," we cover essential topics like product reviews for personal and business needs, local business directories, politics, real estate trends, neighborhood insights, and state news affecting the area—with deep expertise drawn from years of dedicated reporting and strong community input, including local press releases and business updates. We deliver top reporting on high-value events such as the State Fair of Texas, Deep Ellum Arts Festival, and Dallas International Film Festival. Our coverage extends to key organizations like the Dallas Regional Chamber and United Way of Metropolitan Dallas, plus leading businesses in telecommunications, aviation, and semiconductors that power the local economy such as AT&T, Southwest Airlines, and Texas Instruments. As part of the broader HERE network, including HEREAustinTX.com, HERECollegeStation.com, HEREHouston.com, and HERESanAntonio.com, we provide comprehensive, credible insights into Texas's dynamic landscape.