According to the Texas Department of Transportation (TxDOT), the vast majority of fatal car accidents in Texas are preventable. Driver behavior is the single most significant contributing factor in traffic deaths in the Lone Star State. Here are the leading causes of traffic fatalities in Texas based on the most recent TxDOT crash data.
Nearly half of all people who died in Texas traffic crashes in 2022 were not wearing a seatbelt. Seatbelt non-use is the single most preventable factor in fatal crash outcomes in Texas. Texas law requires all occupants to wear seatbelts.
Alcohol-impaired driving caused 1,163 deaths in Texas in 2022 — accounting for 26% of all traffic fatalities. Texas ranks among the worst states in the nation for drunk driving fatalities. Drunk driving crashes are most common between 2 and 3 AM and are more frequent on Saturdays.
TxDOT reports that speed is responsible for approximately one out of every three traffic fatalities in Texas. In 2021 speeding factored into more than 163,000 car accidents and resulted in approximately 1,532 fatalities. Speeding reduces reaction time and dramatically increases impact forces in a crash.
Single-vehicle run-off-road crashes accounted for 32.83% of all motor vehicle traffic deaths in Texas in 2022 — 1,471 fatalities. These crashes typically involve a driver losing control due to distraction, speed, or impairment and striking a fixed object.
Distracted driving caused 487 fatalities in Texas in 2022 — an 11.01% increase from the previous year. In 2023 there were 89,529 distracted driving crashes statewide. Texas imposes fines on drivers caught texting while driving.
Crashes occurring at intersections or intersection-related locations claimed 1,030 lives in Texas in 2022. In 2023 this figure rose to 1,121 intersection-related deaths. These crashes often involve red light running, failure to yield, or misjudging traffic gaps.