Residents of Galveston’s Avenue O and 51st Street say the sound of car crashes has become a regular part of their lives. What should be a quiet neighborhood corner has turned into a dangerous intersection, leaving locals worried for their safety.
Many believe the confusion over stop signs, mixed with speeding cars heading to the beach, is the main reason behind repeated accidents.
Frequent Accidents at the Intersection
People living near Avenue O and 51st Street say the junction is confusing for drivers. 51st Street has stop signs in both directions, but Avenue O does not.
Because of this, many drivers wrongly assume it’s a three-way stop and fail to slow down. Residents like Wendy Collins, who often walks her dog nearby, say they feel unsafe, especially at night when lighting is poor.
In just the past three years, police have been called to this spot over 75 times. Crash numbers are also rising each year:
2022: 9 crashes
2023: 10 crashes
2024: 14 crashes, including 3 deadly ones
This year alone, there have already been 4 more accidents.
Why Drivers Speed Through the Area
According to City Council member Alex Porretto, the area between 45th and 53rd Street has no traffic barriers. By the time drivers reach Avenue O, many are rushing to beat the next signal. That stretch often turns into a speeding zone, creating the perfect setup for wrecks.
Safety Efforts Already Tried
The city did try to make the intersection safer. A few years back, lighted stop signs and reflectors were installed. However, despite these changes, crashes continued to happen. The problem seems to be less about visibility and more about driver behavior.
What Solutions Are Being Considered
Installing a traffic light is one option, but Porretto says it may cause parking problems for nearby residents. Still, he admits that the council cannot ignore the rising danger. Some ideas being discussed now include:
Increasing police presence and traffic enforcement
Setting up speed traps to catch reckless drivers
Adding brighter street lighting to improve night visibility
The Need for Action
Residents are tired of hearing screeching brakes and crunching metal outside their homes. With multiple deadly accidents in recent years, locals believe it’s time for the city to take stronger action. Whether it’s stricter enforcement or new safety designs, everyone agrees that something needs to change before more lives are lost.
