Texas Road Safety 2020 in Review

Every year, the Texas Department of Transportation releases a collection of data detailing all of the vehicle and pedestrian accidents that occurred in the state during the year prior. By looking at where and why these car accidents happen, drivers can educate themselves on the best ways to avoid those situations.

However, if you have the misfortune of being involved in a Texas accident, no amount of statistics are likely to tell you what you need to do. Today, your candid Houston car accident attorneys at Lapeze & Johns, PLLC , will provide an overview of Texas road safety statistics from 2020.

Was 2020 Safer Than 2019?

Despite pandemic restrictions, the actual number of miles driven on Texas roadways increased by a small amount (2%) last year to 293.352 billion miles traveled. The total number of accidents saw a significant decrease from 562,163 to 474,549, contrary to expert expectations.

However, despite the number of Texas accidents dropping in 2020, the death tolls of those accidents increased.

In 2020, an average of 1.33 deaths were recorded for every hundred million miles traveled on Texas roads. According to TxDOT, this represents a nearly 6% increase over the year prior. Total fatalities in Texas accidents increased in 2020 by roughly 8%, resulting in 3,896 lives lost.

Multiple types of accidents saw increases in the past year, including pedestrian accidents, single-vehicle run-off the road accidents, intersection accidents, accidents resulting in 6 or more deaths, motorcyclist crashes, and drunk driving deaths.

Where Do Texas Accidents Happen?

One of the most informative ways to look at Texas car accident data is by dividing the numbers associated with rural and urban accidents . The severity, frequency, and circumstances of these accidents vary widely, meaning that different approaches should be taken to roadway safety efforts in rural vs. urban areas.

The key relationship between rural and urban accidents is that, while there were roughly three times more urban accidents compared to rural ones, the rural accidents were about three times more likely to result in at least one fatality. In fact, while there were nearly three times as many urban than rural Texas accidents last year, those accidents resulted in almost the exact same number of deaths.

There are many factors that influence this relationship, including the relative speed limits, traffic, traffic pattern complexity, roadway construction, a tourist presence, and the presence of law enforcement.

What Caused 2020 Texas Accidents?

Perhaps the most useful way to analyze Texas car accidents is to figure out why they happen so that you can avoid those dangerous behaviors. Below, you can read about the most common causes of Texas accidents from most to least common, so that you can stay safe in 2021.

①  Uncontrolled Speed
②  Inattention
③ Driving in Multiple Lanes
④ Unsafe Lane Changes
⑤ Failure to Yield While Turning Left

Surviving the Aftermath of Texas Car Accidents With Houston Attorneys

The final moments of a Texas car crash are just the beginning of the road to recovery for car accident victims. While, ideally, victims should be able to focus their energy on treatment and healing following a crash, the unfortunate truth is that seeking payment for that treatment is often even more stressful than the accident itself.

The good news is that if you’ve been injured in a Texas car or truck accident, you don’t have to face an insurance company or a court of law on your own. The compassionate Houston car and truck accident attorneys at Lapeze & Johns, PLLC, would be proud to represent you.

If you’ve been injured in a Texas car or truck accident, contact the Houston car accident attorneys at Lapeze & Johns for help making your case or claim.

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