Texas Car Accident Statistics
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: Teen drivers often lack experience and skill behind the wheel, sometimes taking risks more often than older motorists. 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.
Texas Truck Traffic Also Contributes to Injury and Death
On top of the large number of passenger automobiles traveling across the state and in Houston, our highways are a vital means for moving goods from the Port of Houston to the rest of the country. Heavy commercial trucks and other vehicles pose a high risk of harm to other motorists due to their weight, size, and low maneuverability.
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. Coming in third, with 322 deaths, was Florida.
Houston Accident Statistics
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 decrased 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.
Houston’s Highways and Intersections Are Some of the Nation’s Most Dangerous
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
Even 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.
Houston’s Vision Zero Hopes to Reduce Car Accidents
In November 2020, the City of Houston released its ambitious Vision Zero program. The main focus is to reduce risk for all citizens and visitors to Houston by enacting key provisions on traffic and climate initiatives. By coordinating with various committees and agencies in the city, Vision Zero intends to make Houston cleaner, safer, and more walkable.
Vision Zero is committed to reaching zero deaths on Houston streets. The program involves improving pedestrian access and extending public transit options. It has a goal date of 2030 to complete 13 priority actions for revamping Houston transportation, which are:
- Communication:
- Report efforts and effectiveness to the public with an annual report card.
- Launch a citywide communication campaign highlighting different transportation modes.
- Educate city employees about how to discuss crashes with the public and media outlets.
- Safe systems:
- Transition citywide standards and transportation planning tools to new service methods and prioritize Vision Zero goals.
- Examine road reconstruction projects for opportunities to match the new service methods and goals.
- Determine ways to redesign high-risk roadway features and reuse templates for future projects.
- Safe speeds:
- Base vehicle speed limits that are safe for everyone using the streets, from drivers to pedestrians, designing streets that support those needs.
- Use properly designed streets to enforce the right-of-way for pedestrians at intersections.
- Time signals to maximize safety and accessibility for other modes of transportation (pedestrians, bicyclists, scooter riders) instead of focusing on maximum vehicle throughout.
- Programming:
- Every two years, redesign 10 locations in the High-Injury Network and begin reconstruction in the following fiscal year.
- Build 50+ miles of new sidewalks every year of the program.
- Build a minimum of 25 miles of high-comfort bike avenues every year.
- Prioritize improving streets in a ½ mile radius of transit centers to increase disability access and safety.
Learn More About Car Accidents and How You Can Seek Compensation
When you’ve been injured in a car crash in the Houston area or anywhere across Texas, you need experienced legal guidance. Houston car accident attorney Steve Lee stands ready to discuss your case during a free initial consultation and explain your options. To find out more about whether you are eligible for compensation, contact us and schedule a meeting today.