Travis County Fire Rescue is raising the red flag after a run of serious wrecks near the intersection of U.S. 183 and FM 812 in southeast Travis County. Crews say they are seeing a troubling pattern: drivers trying to turn left from FM 812, cutting across fast-moving westbound lanes, and ending up in heavy collisions that keep stacking up week after week.
Thayer Smith, a Travis County firefighter, told KVUE he has personally responded to three crashes at the spot in the past three weeks, and said crews have noticed an uptick over the last four to five months. Smith said fire officials plan to take their front-line observations and crash reports to TxDOT and road safety engineers to look at both short-term tweaks and long-term fixes. In the meantime, they are urging drivers to slow down, stay locked in on the road, and never assume that just because one lane is stopped, the next lane is too.
TxDOT Study Targets The Corridor
The Texas Department of Transportation already has its eye on the area, with a study proposing to widen and upgrade FM 812 from U.S. 183 to SH 21. The project is billed as an effort to improve safety, cut congestion, and keep traffic moving. Those are long-term solutions, but firefighters say the recent burst of wrecks could push talks about temporary engineering changes or stepped-up enforcement. Project details are outlined on the agency's site at TxDOT.
Neighbors Say A Left Turn Feels Like A Gamble
People who drive the intersection say they often sit and wait through long gaps before they even think about making a left. Ray Leyendeck told KVUE he regularly waits several minutes before he feels safe enough to turn left into the VFW parking lot. Neighbor Gail Caffey said there is at least one accident there every weekend. Smith also told KVUE that many of the collisions involve drivers turning across westbound traffic while other vehicles are moving at roughly 50 to 60 mph.
Short-Term Safety Moves And Wider Context
Officials say basic precautions, such as easing off the gas, switching headlights on at dusk, and resisting risky left turns, can make a real difference in the odds of getting hit. Safety advocates point out that U.S. 183 and nearby corridors have seen fatal crashes in recent years, a reminder that the area needs both better engineering and more careful driving. Local crash data are available through Vision Zero ATX. For more on the agency raising the alarm, including its station directory and community resources, see Travis County Fire Rescue.
Fire rescue leaders say they will bring their findings to TxDOT and local engineers in the coming weeks. Until any changes hit the pavement, drivers using FM 812 and U.S. 183 are urged to give themselves extra time for turns, leave more space between vehicles, and consider alternate routes when they can.
