For 17 years, Texas hasn’t gone a day without a traffic fatality
TxDOT says that Texas has had at least one traffic fatality every day for the past 17 years.
The Texas Department of Transportation (TxDOT) recently marked a grim milestone on the state’s roads and highways. For the past 17 years, according to KFDM News, not a single day has gone by when the state hasn’t witnessed a traffic fatality. In all, since 2000 more than 59,000 people have died in motor vehicle accidents in the Lone Star State. Even worse, almost every fatal accident was completely avoidable, having often been the result of poor or reckless decisions such as drunk or distracted driving.
Thousands die every year
Statistics released by TxDOT show just how deadly the roads and highways in Texas can be. As stated above, since November 7, 2000 more than 59,000 people have been killed in traffic accidents in Texas and every year the state averages about 3,500 traffic fatalities. Furthermore, in those 17 years at least one person has died every day in a Texas traffic accident. That makes Texas one of the most dangerous states in the country to drive in.
TxDOT released those harrowing statistics as part of its “End the Streak” campaign, which is designed to get drivers to buckle up, put their phones down, and refrain from drinking and driving.
Almost every accident is avoidable
What is even more tragic about the death toll, however, is that it is completely unnecessary. As KTBS News reports, about 94 percent of fatal traffic accidents are caused by driver error, meaning that they are entirely preventable. Indeed, the TxDOT’s figures show just how pervasive driver error is in fatal accidents. The top three causes of fatal traffic accidents in Texas are failure to stay in one lane, drunk driving, and speeding.
Failure to stay in one lane is often indicative of distracted driving, especially those who are texting and driving and drift out of their lane either into oncoming traffic or off the road. TxDOT also points out that in 2016, about 30 percent of all fatal accidents involved alcohol. Furthermore, many traffic accidents turn fatal because drivers and/or passengers are not wearing their seatbelts.
Personal injury law
As the above article shows, almost every accident can be avoided if all drivers would simply drive sober and responsibly. Unfortunately, bad and reckless drivers are a consistent problem on the roads. T hose who have been injured in an accident, especially if the accident may have been caused by another driver’s poor judgement, should get in touch with a personal injury attorney right away. An experienced attorney can help accident victims make sense of their legal options and may be able to help them pursue whatever financial compensation they may be eligible for.