According to the Texas Department of Transportation (TXDOT), November 7, 2000 was the last deathless day on Texas roadways. That is 21 years of daily deaths on our roadways with more than 75,000 lives lost to preventable, fatal crashes. More than 4,480 people were killed on Texas roads in 2021, making it the second deadliest year since TxDOT began tracking fatalities in 1940. Sadly, 1981 was the deadliest year with 4,701 fatalities.
The increase in fatalities in Texas last year reflects a deadly trend nationwide. An estimated 20,160 people died in motor vehicle crashes in the first half of 2021, up 18.4% over 2020. In Texas, traffic fatalities were up 15 percent from 2020-2021.
Changing driver behavior is one of the most important solutions. In 2020, nearly one in five crashes on Texas roads were caused by a distracted driver. In 2021, a total of 1,522 people were killed because of speed, and a total of 1,219 people were killed because they were not wearing a seat belt. These distractions and decisions could have easily been prevented and 2,741 lives could have been saved.
"Drivers are running red lights, they’re driving way too fast on roads that cannot accommodate those speeds, and drivers are distracted and not wearing seat belts,” Wells said. “Drivers need to make paying attention, buckling up, and slowing down a habit. This is something they can do every day to ensure that everyone gets home safely.”
TxDOT launched a campaign called #EndTheStreakTX in hopes that daily fatal crashes in the state will end. The campaign offers these tips to prevent distracted driving that can protect drivers on the road:
Always give driving your full attention
Pull off the road entirely and come to a complete stop before you talk or text
Put your phone away, turn it off, or adjust your settings to block texts and calls while driving
Tell friends, family, and co-workers you won't respond to texts or calls while driving
Remember that all distractions are dangerous, so pay full attention when behind the wheel
Injured in an auto accident? Call Stanley & Associates
If you have been injured in an auto accident in or around Dallas, contact Stanley & Associates for your free case consultation. Stanley & Associates has represented clients across Texas for over ten years. Our firm has successfully won thousands of cases during this time.
Image via CNN - Crash happened near Andrews, Texas on March 15, 2022
(CNN) - Nine people -- including six student athletes and their coach -- were killed in a fiery crash between a pickup truck and a van carrying members of the University of the Southwest's men's and women's golf teams, officials said Wednesday.
The crash happened around 8:17 p.m. Tuesday just outside Andrews, Texas, the Texas Department of Public Safety said."A Dodge 2500 pickup was traveling southbound on FM 1788. A Ford Transit passenger van registered to the University of the Southwest in Hobbs, NM was traveling northbound on FM 1788," the DPS said in a statement. An earlier notice from the agency misidentified the pickup as a Ford F-150.
"For unknown reasons, the Dodge pickup drove into the northbound lane and struck the Ford passenger van head on," DPS Sgt. Steven Blanco said. "Both vehicles caught fire and burned."
Six students and one faculty member aboard the university van were killed, the DPS said. The driver and a passenger in the pickup truck also died.
If you need a wrongful death attorney in Texas, call Stanley & Associates
Many times when a death of a loved one occurs due to the negligence of another, a civil lawsuit is not the first thing on your mind. However, it is very important that a tough, experienced, and compassionate attorney gets involved at the start of the case. Evidence needs to be protected and circumstances need to be figured out.
Stanley & Associates has represented clients across Texas and throughout the United States for over ten years. Our firm has successfully won thousands of cases during this time.
Our Dallas car accident attorneys are available 24/7 to assist you. We work on a contingency fee basis, which means no fee unless we win. Call Stanley Associates at 844-227-9739
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