For quite some time, the Lone Star State has unfortunately been known as the car accident capital of America.
Today, we’ll look at the numbers and try to highlight the most-interesting and revealing statistical information regarding car accidents in the state of Texas*. If you have questions or wish to add anything, please leave a comment below.
- According to information from the Texas Department of Transportation, there were at least 3,720 people killed on Texas roadways in 2017.
- The Insurance Council of Texas reports that since 2010, traffic deaths in Texas have increased by a staggering 34 percent.
- TxDOT reports that there were 3,773 motor vehicle traffic fatalities in Texas alone in 2016 (an increase of 5.45% from 2015).
- TxDOT also reported at least 265,076 car accident injuries in Texas in 2016.
- In 2016, there were at least 678 auto-pedestrian fatalities on Texas roads.
- At least 496 motorcyclists (operators and passengers) were killed in Texas in 2016, and 53% of these victims were not reportedly wearing a helmet.
- In 2016, there were at least 987 people killed in Texas motor vehicle accidents involving drunk drivers. This accounted for 26% of all traffic accident fatalities in the state.
- At least 455 people were killed in distracted driving accidents in our state; a drop of about 5% from 2015.
- 814 people were killed in Texas auto accidents occurring in intersections, and another 638 people were killed in head-on collisions.
- When it comes to national numbers, a total of 37,461 people were killed in car accidents on U.S. roadways in 2016 according to the NHTSA. Numbers provided by the NSC are a bit higher, at 40,200 fatalities.
- The number of people killed in accidents involving large trucks increased by 5 percent in 2016 to 4,317 people killed.
- NHTSA also reports that nationally, 10,497 people were killed in alcohol-impaired motor vehicle collisions in 2016, accounting for 28% of all traffic fatalities that year.
- A total of 518,577 car accidents were reported in Texas in 2015.
- While the number of fatal car accidents in the U.S. rose by 7.7% in 2015 to 35,200 (the highest death toll since 2008), numbers in Texas actually decreased by 1%.
- Out of these accidents, 246,335 people were injured (17,011 suffering serious injuries), and 3,531 were killed.
- Statistically, one car accident occurs every 61 seconds in Texas. One person is injured in a car accident every two minutes and eight seconds, and one person was killed in a car crash every 2 hours and 29 minutes.
- As many as 40.3% of people killed in car crashes in 2015 were reportedly not wearing seat belts.
- 459 motorcycles riders (and passengers) were killed in 2015. Over half of those killed in motorcycle accidents were not wearing a helmet.
- Texas’ fatal accident rate of 1.43 deaths per 100 million miles traversed far exceeds the national rate of 1.28 deaths per 100 million miles traveled.
- The deadliest month of the year with regard to auto accidents is October, with 356 people killed in 2015.
- Car accidents involving drunk drivers have been shown to occur mostly at night, and occur between 2:00-3:00 a.m. more than any other hour in the day.
- 27% of all fatal car accidents in Texas (960 deaths in 2015) involved at least one driver who was under the influence of alcohol.
- At least 807 Texas traffic fatalities occurred at intersections in 2015.
- Approximately 29% of motorcyclists involved in fatal crashes were found to be impaired by alcohol, and alcohol use was a leading factor in 17% of fatal recreational boating accidents in 2015.
- 35.54% of all motor vehicle deaths in Texas were caused by single-vehicle run-off-the-road crashes, which resulted in 1,255 deaths last year alone.
- 128,057 car accidents occurred in rural areas, leading to 1,925 fatalities.
- 390,520 car accidents occurred in urban areas, leading to 1,606 fatalities.
- Incident frequency rates in urban areas are nearly three times higher than in rural areas of Texas, based on miles traveled.
- In 2015, fatal accidents caused by distracted driving dipped by just 1% compared to 2014 (476 total deaths and ~15% of all traffic fatalities).
- Fatal auto-pedestrian accidents shot up by an incredible 12.7% from the previous year, resulting in 550 deaths in 2015.
- 807 people lost their lives in automobile wrecks which occurred at intersections.
- 581 people were killed in head-on crashes.
- 51 bicyclists (pedalcyclists) were killed in accidents involving motor vehicles.
- There have been ZERO “deathless” days on Texas roads in over 15 years. The last day without a fatal accident in Texas occurred on November 7th, 2000.
* Information based off of car accidents in Texas which were reported to and documented by TxDOT in 2015.