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While it is at least disheartening to realize that one of the responsibilities of a government organization is to maintain fatality statistics related to highway deaths, that is one of the reasons for the existence of the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration. NHTSA keeps statistics on all truck accidents that happen in Texas. The numbers show the problem that Texas has with commercial vehicle accidents.
The average Texan believes that a truck accident would never strike their families. But one look at the numbers and it becomes immediately apparent that safety on Texas highways is often not much more than a crapshoot.
It is not a secret that Texas has more fatal accidents involving commercial vehicles than any other state. The high number of fatal crashes is a result of several factors, the main one being the sheer number of big rigs that cross Texas every day. Many truck accidents occur on Interstate 45, or I-10, outside of Houston.
Let us consider the truck accident data for Texas for the last several years. According to the NHTSA, the number of 18-wheeler fatal accidents has shown an annual decline from a high of 3700 to the most recent figure of slightly less than 3500. This drop represents an increase in saved lives due to a combination of factors and is a step in the right direction.
However, not long ago, the number of big rigs on the highways increased at a steady rate, and the number of fatal crashes also followed the trend. More freight means more big rigs on the road and an increased chance of an accident.
NHTSA data also reveal that Texas rates well above average in alcohol-related highway deaths and drunk driving accidents. In 2024, for all vehicles in Texas, 25.37% of the fatal accidents involved a drinking driver.
In addition, Texas ranks well above the national average in fatalities where the front seat passenger was using a seatbelt, which may be attributed to higher speed driving. Each of these areas needs focus, from all of us, from the Texas legislature on down.
Finally, one of the focal points of this blog is anything related to semi-trucks, including safety, accidents, and deaths. The NHTSA data confirms that deaths from semi-truck accidents in Texas hover around two percent of the annual total fatality figures.
To my way of thinking, highway safety is a collective concern, and we all need to understand that with the blink of an eye, an 18-wheeler accident can devastate a family.
For those wanting to be safer drivers on the highway around big rigs, here is an article about avoiding blind spots.
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If you have been injured in an accident in Houston, TX, and need help, contact our Houston truck accident lawyers (Top-Rated) by calling (281) 893-0760.
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