For quite some time, the Lone Star State has unfortunately been known as the car accident capital of America.
It’s estimated that about 3,500 people are killed on Texas roads every year. While car accidents are caused by many reasons, the main contributing factors in Texas have consistently been speeding and driving under the influence.
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*.
· A total of 40,200 people were killed in car accidents on U.S. roadways in 2016, according to the NSC.
Texas Leads Nation in Number of DWI Accidents
· 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.