Slip lanes encourage high speeds.
- Rami Stucky
- Apr 23
- 2 min read
37th and Rock Road: controlling slip lane access
This is 37th Street and Rock Road looking north. Shortly before 6:30 p.m. on January 4, 2026, a Chevy Malibu was headed east on 37th in the far-right lane. They made it to the slip lane to begin heading south on Rock Road. The driver stopped, looked left to assess whether there was any incoming traffic, and began to press the gas.
At the same time, a cyclist was on the south sidewalk of 37th Street headed east. They got to the crosswalk headed northeast, but according to the officer, “there was no crosswalk light at the scene.” Witnesses reported that neither the cyclist nor the driver saw each other. The cyclist’s hand got stuck other the Malibu’s tire, had a cut on the left side of his forehead, and generally was not making sense or could not remember what happened.
Slip lanes, which are lanes like this that allow drivers to turn without entering the intersection or waiting for a traffic light, are generally dangerous. As the Texas Department of Transportation reported, they encourage high speeds.
A 2017 study in Doha, Qatar found that only 15 % of drivers entering the slip lane yielded to pedestrians. In Melbourne, Australia, from 2004 to 2008, researchers found that 22 % out of 195 pedestrian crashes occurred on slip lanes, which was higher compared to exclusive left turn lanes, where pedestrian crashes occurred only 18 %.
The National Association of City Transportation Officials, a local board of planning and engineering professionals, proposes the elimination of slip lanes. However, in the event that slip lanes are absolutely necessary, they recommend controlling the slip lane with a stop sign or traffic signal. Such an addition might be welcome at this particular intersection.
Check back in to hear more about slip lanes and as always, Look, See, and Save.
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