Texas has 77 stretches of highway that cross the state that consist of 675,580 lane miles of highway in the state. It experienced one fatality per square mile in a three-year period. Additionally, 10% of the total number of car accidents in 2015 occurred in Texas with 62% of these accidents happening on the state’s highways and interstates. Below, the stretches of highway in Texas that involve the most accidents are described along with factors that contribute to this ranking.
I-69C in Edinburg
The deadliest stretch of Texas highway is the roughly 1.5 miles of I-69C between FM 2812 and monte Cristo Road near the University of Texas Rio Grande Valley. Between 2013 and 2015, there were 12 traffic fatalities in 7 collisions, resulting in a rate of 8.05 fatalities per miles.
State Highway 130 between San Antonio and Austin
A stretch of this highway has a speed limit of 85 mph, which many people take advantage of. When drivers are traveling at higher speeds, they are more likely to lose control of their vehicle and wind up in serious accidents than when they are traveling at lower speeds.
I-45 in Harris County
I-45 in Harris County is considered one of the most dangerous highways in the United States and the deadliest highway in Texas. This road connects Galveston to Houston and heads up to Dallas. Between 1994 to 2008, the U.S. Department of Transportation recorded 320 fatalities from 288 crashes on this highway. It is one of the busiest roads in one of the most populous areas in the state.
The 11-mile stretch from Tidwell Road to the I-610 Loop experienced 50 fatalities in 46 crashes between 2013 and 2015. State officials list traffic and congestion as the main contributing factor to collisions on this road. The known dangers of this road led to the Texas Department of Transportation to recently ask for $3 million in funds to provide safety improvements to this road.
I-10 in Harris County
I-10, which stretches through Texas was ranked as the fifth most dangerous road in the entire country, according to a recent ValuePenguin survey that evaluated 50 notably dangerous highways based on data from the Fatality Analysis Reporting System prepared by the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration. Based on this data, I-10 in Harris County faced 676 fatalities in 585 fatal collisions between 2010 and 2016. 44% of crashes on I-10 involved a drunk driver.
I-410/I-35 in San Antonio on the Northwest Side of the Loop
From the north to the south end of I-35 on the 14-mile stretch, there were 50 fatalities and 46 crashes. This is only one stretch of I-35 that is on the list of the most dangerous roads in the state.
I-35
I-35 stretches 400 miles across the state. From 2010 to 2014, this road experienced 290 fatalities. The stretch of I-35 through Dallas alone was responsible for 63 fatalities in 2012. Other areas of I-35 that are particularly dangerous include the northern stretch in Fort Worth and the southern stretch at Cotulla. Alcohol is a contributing factor in accidents along this road with 39.5% of accidents involving a drunk driver. Additionally, road construction projects are frequently occurring on this road. When drivers are not paying attention in construction zones, they may quickly cause accidents and pileups.
I-20
I-20 is associated with various stretches of dangerous highways, including three separate patches in Odessa. In Odessa alone, there were 100 fatalities in 81 collisions in six stretches of highway during the three-year span between 2013 and 2015. Common contributing factors to collisions in Odessa include:
- Drug impairment
- Alcohol impairment
- Distracted driving
- Inexperienced drivers who haul tankers for oil and gas companies
I-20 is considered one of the most dangerous roads in the United States, based on the ValuePenguin survey. The Dallas County stretch experienced 594 fatalities stemming from 490 collisions between 2010 and 2016. 44.5% of the collisions on I-20 involve drunk drivers.
I-40
I-40 is associated with more drunk driving accidents than most other roadways in Texas with more than 50.9% of accidents on this road involving a drunk driver. Another contributing factor to the number of deaths that occur on I-40 each year is that the average wait time for emergency assistance is 28 minutes for this road.
I-410
I-410 loops arounds San Antonio and also connects to I-35. In 2012, 300 crashes were recorded on this road.
Texas State Highway Loop 1604
The most cited reason for accidents on this highway that circles around San Antonio is that there is a stop immediately at the end of the expressway where drivers suddenly stop. 232 crashes were recorded on this road in 2011 alone.
U.S. Highway 83
The Houston Chronicle ranks this road as one of the most dangerous. It travels through McAllen and the Rio Grande Valley. 135 traffic fatalities occurred on this dangerous roadway from 2010 to 2014. 55.6% of crashes on this road involve drunk drivers.
Route 285
Route 285 of the Permian Basin that runs between Pecos, Texas and Carlsbad, New Mexico is commonly used to carry supplies back and forth between oilfields in West Texas. In 2017, 93 people died in Texas in accidents that occurred on this stretch, a 43% increase from the number in 2012. The number of traffic fatalities on this section of road seems to correspond to the price of gas. When the price of gas is higher, there are more collisions. When the price of gas is lower, there are fewer deadly collisions. This may be because when gas prices are higher, more truckers are needed to haul supplies to the oilfields. Truck drivers may be more likely to cause accidents in this area if they are:
- Speeding
- Fatigued
- Inexperienced
Another potential problem is that the roads may not be built well enough to handle the large loads and the number of vehicles that use them. The Texas Department of Public Safety has attempted to rectify this problem by lowering speed limits and having more state troopers monitor the road, but the number of accidents on the road still continues to climb. Additionally, oilfield trucks are not always well maintained, making them more likely to be involved in accidents.
Contributing Factors on Dangerous Roadways in Texas
Additional factors that make some Texas roads more dangerous than others include:
- Dangerous road conditions, such as poor surface condition, improper design, inadequate guardrails, or lack of adequate signs
- Many construction projects occurring on the road
- Road damage caused by heavy truck traffic, such as that experienced in areas near Texas oilfields
- Presence of hazards on the roadway, such as shoulder drop-offs, potholes, uneven surfaces, debris on the roadway or poor drainage
- Poor traffic control in work zones
- Inattentive drivers in work zones
- Speeding that is not monitored
- Inadequate lighting to illuminate signage
- Inadequate or improperly located signage
Help for Texas Motor Vehicle Accident Victims
When a person is injured on a Texas highway, he or she has a right to pursue compensation for the full extent of their damages caused by a negligent party. All drivers are legally required to act in a reasonably prudent manner while driving, including obeying traffic laws and paying attention at all times. Negligent drivers can make highways needlessly dangerous. Our experienced auto accident lawyers will thoroughly investigate your accident to determine all parties who are responsible for your injuries. We use our extensive knowledge of Texas vehicle laws to help our clients receive maximum compensation for their claims.
