Route Summary
Park Road 4, accessible from Hwy 281 or Hwy 29, passes through deep valleys and hills. Riders can stop at Inks Lake to enjoy the scenic views of the lake and wildlife or can choose to camp for a few nights. The road also passes through Longhorn Cavern State Park, which has a smaller lake you can take in the views from two overlook points. This is a great ride for any rider wanting to experience the Texas Hill Country!
This route had fatal and incapacitating crashes between 2010 – 2022. In Texas, drivers are not assigned “at fault” in a crash, but law enforcement can assign ‘factors or conditions’ that contributed or may have contributed to a crash. Multiple ‘crash factors and conditions’ can be assigned to one, some, or all vehicles involved in a crash.
The following tables represent data extracted from the Texas Department of Transportation’s Crash Records Information System (TxDOT’s CRIS).
| Safety (2010-2022) | |
|---|---|
| Crashes | |
| Fatalities | |
| Serious Injuries | |
| Top Weather Crash Condition | |
| Top Lighting Crash Condition | |
| Top Road Crash Condition | |
Crash Narrative Summary
The following list is a summary of the crash events and conditions that have been described by officers investigating crashes along this route. The investigating officer provides his/her opinion of how the crash happened and will emphasize or explain, as necessary, any pertinent facts that are not fully explained elsewhere on the crash report. This section is meant to supplement the above data tables by providing further insight and “clues” into what factors and conditions contributed or may have contributed to crashes along this route.
- 92% of MC operators had a Class M Endorsement at the time of the crash. Sharpen up on your skills by taking an advanced course. Fate will not tap you on the shoulder and give advanced notice when these skills will be needed.
- 25% of crashes involved the motorcyclist colliding with wildlife, mostly deer. Dusk is a problematic time for riders to be out. If you’re in the country, wildlife, such as deer, starts to come out. In traffic, people’s eyes are adjusting from daylight to headlights, making it harder for drivers to see motorcycles (MSF).
- 100% of the crashes on this route were single vehicle crashes. In other words, the only unit involved in the crash was the motorcyclist.
- 75% of crashes occurred along a curve. Crashes along this route tended to involve motorcyclists who were traveling at an unsafe speed and they failed to negotiate a curve. Riders left the roadway and were thrown from their motorcycle. At times, riders struck guardrails or reflector posts.
- 56% of motorcyclist operators were not wearing a helmet. Helmets have consistently proven to significantly reduce the severity of head injuries in the event of a crash. Contrary to some beliefs, helmets do not cause neck injuries.