I've lived here for 1.5 years and was in 2 major car accidents both the fault of the asleep at the wheel other drivers. Once with my children where I was squashed between a twitter texter and a redneck who turned on his blinker at the moment he was turning left. I hadn't ever been in an accident in 30 plus years driving around the world and in Manhattan.

OK so what to do. Here's my checklist of suggestions for the City of Austin's Transporation Dept.

1. Lower speed limits everywhere. On major roads, crossroads throughout Austin that are artery roads 35 mph. On highways entering and existing exits not higher than 35mph. Even if the exit is onto the frontage road!

2. Install more traffic lights everywhere. You can hardly get into a lane during rush hour on roads like 2222, 360 or 45th Street. 

3. Sync the traffic signals. They are ridiculously out of sync. Wait time is crazy long and in some instances the moment a light turns green it takes literally 4 seconds for it to go red. There's no logic whatsoever to the system.

4. Install STOP signs in many many more places. Road humps are not a deterrent to anyone. STOP signs would be though. At crossroads everywhere it would purposely slow down the crazies who insist on doing 50mph in a residental area 

5. FINE for crossing a double yellow line. That's how my car was totalled. Some jerk on Red River St. near 7th decided he'd turn left, crossing the double yellow line and he bashed into me on the driver's side. Also people randomly everywhere cross double yellow lines to get to an entrance on the other side of the road.

6. Install roundabouts to eliminate the crossing of double yellow lines OR create entrances on roads to shopping centers so drivers wouldn't have to cross the double yellow line AND at those entrances install either traffic lights or STOP signs.

7. Redesign road exits that merge to 2 to 3 lanes as Rollingwood exit. It's impossible to cross over to get to the right most turn onto Bee Caves Road without getting killed. It's a total crapshoot everytime you need to drive horizontally across the lanes. People do NOT stop for you. Make exits like in the north east. One exit to one road. Period.

8. The road to the ariport from Airport Blvd. where it merges before the bridge is treacherous. There is no way to see the oncoming traffic at the yield sign. Potential crash each and every time.