What TxDOT and City Data Tell Local Drivers About FM 78 and Neighborhood Risk
If you live or work in Kirby, Texas, you already know one truth: FM 78 (Seguin Road) is the city’s spine. It’s how you get to San Antonio, Converse, and Universal City — and it’s also where a lot of the most serious close calls and crashes happen.
This post walks through the highest-risk intersections in and around Kirby, using:
- Texas Department of Transportation (TxDOT) crash statistics and project information, and
- City of Kirby planning documents and traffic code. (Texas Department of Transportation)
The goal is simple: help commuters make smarter, safer decisions on the roads they already use every day.
Why FM 78 Is So Risky for Kirby Drivers
FM 78 (Seguin Road) is a 30-mile farm-to-market route connecting San Antonio and Seguin, running straight through Kirby before re-entering San Antonio and continuing into Converse and Universal City. (Wikipedia)
That creates a perfect storm:
- Local neighborhood traffic (schools, shopping, side streets)
- Commuter traffic between San Antonio and the suburbs
- Rail crossings and turning traffic
- Ongoing and planned TxDOT improvements on connected corridors like FM 1516 and FM 1518, specifically to reduce delays and improve safety along the FM 78 corridor. (Texas Department of Transportation)
At the regional level, TxDOT’s 2024 Crashes and Injuries by Cities and Towns report shows that nearby San Antonio alone recorded tens of thousands of crashes in 2024, with thousands of suspected injury crashes. (Texas Department of Transportation) Kirby is a smaller city, but it sits directly on this busy network — which means drivers feel the impact of those traffic volumes every day.
How We’re Defining “Deadliest” Intersections
For a small city like Kirby, TxDOT’s public annual report summarizes crashes at the city level, not by each individual intersection. (Texas Department of Transportation)
To talk meaningfully about “deadliest” or highest-risk intersections, we look at:
- Where traffic is concentrated (FM 78 and its key cross streets)
- Where the City of Kirby identifies signalized intersections and planned safety improvements (a strong indicator of known conflict points) (kirbytx.org)
- Where serious incidents have been reported by TxDOT and local authorities (for example, near rail crossings on FM 78). (MySA)
This isn’t a formal ranking like “#1 most dangerous,” but a practical, data-informed list of intersections where drivers should be especially cautious.
1. FM 78 (Seguin Road) & Old Seguin Road / Woodlake Area
Why it matters to Kirby commuters
- FM 78 is the main arterial roadway through Kirby.
- Old Seguin Road and the Woodlake area in northeast Bexar County are part of the same FM 78 corridor used daily by Kirby drivers. (Wikipedia)
- TxDOT crash statistics confirm that heavily traveled urban arterials like FM 78 are major contributors to overall crash totals in the San Antonio region. (Texas Department of Transportation)
Local news coverage has documented serious crashes along Old Seguin Road near FM 78 and Woodlake Parkway, including rollover and multi-vehicle incidents in the early morning commute window. (WOAI)
Practical safety tips here
- Expect sudden stops: Commuters turning into neighborhoods and school zones frequently brake unexpectedly.
- Watch for lane changes: Drivers may weave to reach left-turn lanes at the last second.
- Be extra cautious in low light (pre-dawn and at dusk), when several serious crashes have been reported.
2. FM 78 (Seguin Road) & Gibbs Sprawl Road / Castle Cross & Rail Crossing
What the data and reports show
Kirby’s 2019 Comprehensive Plan specifically calls out signalized intersections on FM 78 at:
- Gibbs Sprawl Road,
- Old Seguin Road, and
- Summerfest.
These signals are maintained by TxDOT, underscoring how critical these junctions are for traffic management and safety. (kirbytx.org)
Recent traffic-incident reporting has also described crashes and near-misses between vehicles and trains near Gibbs Sprawl and Castle Cross Drive, with backups along FM 78 in the Kirby area. (MySA)
Why this feels “dangerous” on the ground
- Heavy cross-traffic between neighborhoods and FM 78
- A nearby railroad crossing, increasing the risk profile when drivers try to beat trains or signals
- Congestion during school and work commuting hours
How to reduce your risk
- Slow down earlier than you think when approaching the light — don’t “race the yellow.”
- Leave extra room in front of you if vehicles are stopped near the tracks.
- Avoid stopping on the tracks or too close to them; always make sure you can fully clear the crossing.
3. FM 78 (Seguin Road) & Summerfest Drive
The same Kirby planning document identifies FM 78 & Summerfest as one of only three signalized intersections within city limits. (kirbytx.org)
That tells us:
- It’s a major access point for neighborhoods south of FM 78.
- It handles significant turning traffic to and from Seguin Road.
- It’s important enough that TxDOT, not just the city, maintains and operates the signal system.
Risk factors at FM 78 & Summerfest
- High left-turn volumes across multiple lanes
- Drivers accelerating to make the light and misjudging oncoming speeds
- Limited gap acceptance when cross traffic is heavy
Safety tips
- Use the protected turn arrows where available; avoid last-second unprotected lefts.
- Keep an eye out for pedestrians crossing to bus stops or nearby businesses.
- Maintain a safe following distance: rear-end crashes are common in signalized corridors.
4. FM 78 (Seguin Road) & Local Neighborhood Streets (Unsignalized Intersections)
Kirby’s Comprehensive Plan notes that most of the other intersections in the city are controlled by stop or yield signs, not traffic lights. (kirbytx.org)
That means many side streets intersect FM 78 at:
- Two-way stop signs, where only the side street stops
- Turn-only restrictions or tricky sight lines as vehicles enter a fast-moving arterial
These minor intersections may not show up in headlines, but they are classic spots for serious T-bone crashes when:
- A driver on a side street misjudges the speed of traffic on FM 78
- A vehicle tries to dart across both directions of traffic to avoid waiting
- Wet weather or nighttime visibility reduces reaction time
What you can do
- Treat any unsignalized crossing of FM 78 as a high-risk maneuver.
- If you don’t have a clear, generous gap in both directions, wait for the next one.
- Consider using a signalized intersection (Gibbs Sprawl, Old Seguin, or Summerfest) even if it adds a couple of minutes to your trip.
5. Ackerman Road & Binz-Engleman Road (Just Outside the FM 78 Spine)
In the same city planning materials, Kirby identifies Ackerman Road and Binz-Engleman Road as a location where a future traffic signal was under discussion. (kirbytx.org)
When a city talks about adding a signal, it’s typically because:
- Traffic volumes are increasing,
- The intersection is handling more turning movements than it was designed for, or
- Crash patterns or near-miss complaints have drawn attention.
Even before a light is installed, that kind of intersection often functions as a serious crash risk due to:
- Higher travel speeds on one leg
- Limited sight distance over hills or around curves
- Drivers turning across oncoming lanes without a protected phase
If you regularly use Ackerman or Binz-Engleman to get between Kirby and other parts of northeast Bexar County, it’s smart to treat this intersection as “elevated risk” and drive accordingly.
What TxDOT Crash Data Can’t Show — and How to Fill the Gaps
TxDOT’s public annual summary reports give an excellent big-picture view:
- Total annual crashes and injury categories by city and county
- Regional snapshots that confirm just how intense traffic is in places like San Antonio and surrounding communities. (Texas Department of Transportation)
However, those summaries don’t break down every individual Kirby intersection. For more precise mapping of collisions by location, TxDOT uses its Crash Records Information System (CRIS), which is typically accessed by agencies, researchers, and, in some cases, law firms and insurers. (Texas Department of Transportation)
If you’ve been in a crash at or near one of these intersections, your legal team can:
- Pull official TxDOT crash reports for your specific collision, and
- Compare them with broader crash patterns along FM 78 and in Bexar County.
That kind of analysis helps tell the story of why a crash happened — whether it’s speeding, signal timing, poor visibility, turning patterns, or a combination of factors.
How Kirby Drivers Can Use This Information Today
Here are concrete ways Kirby commuters can put all of this to work:
- Plan routes around your risk tolerance
- If possible, favor signalized crossings of FM 78 over unsignalized ones.
- Give yourself extra time when your commute includes rail crossings or known congestion points.
- Adjust your driving habits on FM 78
- Stay out of aggressive lane-changing patterns near intersections.
- Keep your speed appropriate for traffic and weather, not just the posted limit.
- Avoid distractions entirely as you approach signals and side streets.
- Document everything after a collision
- Take photos of the intersection, traffic controls, skid marks, and vehicle positions.
- Get contact information for witnesses and all drivers involved.
- Note the exact intersection (for example, “FM 78 & Gibbs Sprawl” or “FM 78 near Summerfest”) so it lines up clearly with TxDOT crash data later.
When to Talk to a Personal Injury Lawyer
After a serious crash at one of Kirby’s higher-risk intersections, you may suddenly be dealing with:
- Hospital and follow-up medical bills
- Time off work and lost income
- Pain, limitations, or long-term recovery
- Confusing or conflicting insurance adjuster calls
An experienced personal-injury attorney can:
- Review your TxDOT crash report and any available scene evidence
- Help you understand fault, insurance coverage, and potential claims
- Communicate with insurance companies on your behalf
- Explain your options so you can decide what makes sense for you and your family
If your crash happened at or near FM 78 in Kirby, you can learn more on our internal pages about:
- Car accidents in Texas
- Intersection and distracted-driving collisions
- What to do immediately after a crash
(Your web team can link those phrases to the appropriate practice-area and FAQ pages.)
Talk With Ryan Orsatti Law
If you were hurt at a dangerous intersection in Kirby or along FM 78, and you want to understand your legal options, you can contact:
Ryan Orsatti Law
4634 De Zavala Rd
San Antonio, TX 78249
Phone: 210-525-1200
Disclaimer:
This blog is for informational purposes only, not legal advice. Reading it does not create an attorney-client relationship. Past results do not guarantee future results.