Auto Accidents by Age
In the most recent annual report from the Texas Department of Transportation (TxDOT) regarding crashes by age, person type, and gender, we see the following trends:
- Drivers 16-19 years old: They represent 9.29% of all accidents during 2023 in Texas.
- Drivers 20-29 years old: Young adult drivers are involved in the highest percentage of accidents in Texas, making up 27.5% of collisions. They are more likely to drive and speed, especially after becoming inebriated.
- Drivers 30-39 years old: Middle-aged adults account for 20.3%, dropping from the risks of the 20s but still higher than older populations. This demographic is often at higher risk of distracted or drowsy driving.
- Drivers 40-49 years old: Accident risks drop after age 40 to only 15.8% for this group, possibly because of more experience and maturity while driving.
- Drivers 50+ years old: Those between 50 and 59 were involved in accidents in Texas only 13.1% of the time. The numbers continue to fall after that age, dropping to 7.92% for those between 60 and 69 years of age.
Those drivers 70 and older represent only 6.13% of Texas accidents.
Men vs Women Drivers in Texas
In regards to gender, men are more likely to be involved in an accident due to more frequent risk-taking behaviors and more time spent behind the wheel.
Out of a total of 22,263 accidents in Texas in 2023, men represented 65.4% (14,580).
Their accidents tended to have more serious injuries and more property damage. Women were involved in only 34.5% (7,683) of these accidents, and their outcomes were usually less severe.
Most Dangerous Houston Highways
When we focus on Houston, the numbers are still sobering. The Vision Zero’s annual report, the City of Houston found that serious and fatal crashes occurred less frequently in 2022.
Some key statistics include:
- Traffic fatalities deceased in 2022 by 2.4%, slowly dropping after an increase of 20% between 2020 and 2021.
- Serious injuries dropped 1.7% in 2022.
- Pedestrian and motorcycle deaths increased by 8.5% and 9%, respectively.
In total, Houston reported 323 fatal car accidents and 1,592 involved serious injuries in 2022. This equals almost one death and almost five serious injuries everyday on city streets and highways.
In 2023, the Texas Department of Transportation (TxDOT) recorded 65,931 accidents in the Houston area. Many of these occurred at intersections both near highways and in the downtown area. The most dangerous intersections include:
- 610 Loop and North McCarty Drive
- Aldine Bender Road and John F. Kennedy Boulevard
- Beechnut Street and Sam Houston Parkway
- Bissonnet Street and Sam Houston Parkway
- East Freeway Frontage Road and Gellhorn Drive
- Highway 225 between Shaver and Scarborough Lane
- I-45 and the feeder road at Chartres Street
- I-45 and Greens Road
- Main Street and Sam Houston Parkway
- Main Street and South Loop
Sadly, our city is also home to three of the most dangerous roads in the country, as noted in the NHTSA’s report, The Most Dangerous Highways in the US. These roads are:
- I-10: Ranked number 5
- US-59: Ranked number 23
- US-290: Ranked number 35
Houston Neighborhoods Aren’t Safe From Car Accidents
Harris County experiences up to one-third of its car accidents in neighborhoods, putting pedestrians, children, and others at risk.
Much like the larger highway car accident statistics, a University of Houston study demonstrates that intersections are dangerous locations, especially the following ones:
- Bissonnet St. and Winchester Ave.
- FM 1960 and W. Lake Houston Parkway
- Main and Montrose: Mecom Fountain Roundabout
- Pease St. and Fannin St.
- S. Gessner Rd. and Westpark Dr.
These intersections comprise the five most likely places to suffer a car accident in Harris County and include shopping and school centers.
Fatal Texas Truck Accidents
Texas consistently ranks in the top three states for the most fatal truck accidents each year. According to the most recent data from the Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration (FMCSA), the Lone Star State recorded 568 deaths, nearly twice as many as the next state, California.