Texas roads are among the busiest and most dangerous in the nation. With an expansive highway system spanning urban, suburban, and rural areas, the state consistently reports high numbers of traffic crashes, injuries, and fatalities. The 2024 Texas Motor Vehicle Traffic Crash Facts report provides critical insights into just how deadly the state’s roads are.
In 2024, Texas recorded 4,150 motor vehicle traffic fatalities. Even with improvements, Texas continues to face a major public safety issue regarding roadway deaths. The fatality rate for 2024 stood at 1.35 deaths per 100 million vehicle miles traveled.
Serious Injury Crashes on Texas Roads
Beyond Texas traffic fatalities, serious injuries on the state roads remain a major concern. In 2024, there were 14,905 serious injury crashes, resulting in 18,218 individuals sustaining serious injuries. Several major cities rank among the deadliest places to drive in Texas.
In total, 251,977 people were injured in traffic crashes across the state throughout the year. These numbers highlight the immense human cost associated with roadway incidents, which can lead to lasting disabilities, economic hardship, and emotional trauma for victims and their families.
Fatalities in Rural vs. Urban Areas in Texas
Rural roads continue to account for a disproportionate share of Texas traffic fatalities. In 2024, rural traffic crashes accounted for 50.12% of all fatalities statewide, totaling 2,080 deaths. Rural roadways present unique Texas road dangers, including higher travel speeds, limited lighting, fewer barriers, and delayed emergency response times. These factors increase the severity of crashes occurring in less populated regions of the state.
Common Crash Types Leading to Fatalities
Several crash types are particularly prevalent in Texas roadway fatalities:
Single Vehicle Run-Off-the-Road Crashes
In 2024, single-vehicle, run-off-the-road crashes accounted for 1,353 fatalities, approximately 32.6% of all traffic deaths in the state. These accidents typically involve vehicles veering off the road due to factors like speeding, distraction, or impairment.
Intersection-Related Crashes
A total of 1,050 fatalities were recorded in crashes occurring in or related to intersections in 2024. Intersections remain high-risk locations for serious crashes due to complex vehicle interactions and frequent violations of traffic control devices.
Head-On Collisions
Head-on collisions claimed 617 lives across Texas in 2024. These types of crashes are particularly deadly due to the force of impact, often occurring on two-lane rural highways with no physical median barriers.
Frequency of Motor Vehicle Crashes in Texas
Texas roads remained consistently dangerous throughout 2024, with no recorded deathless days on state highways and streets. Key time-related statistics from the year include:
- One person is killed every 2 hours and 7 minutes
- One person is injured every 2 minutes and 5 seconds
- One reportable crash every 57 seconds
These figures emphasize the constant risk present on Texas roadways at all hours.
Risk Factors in Fatal and Injury Crashes
Several contributing factors compromise road safety in Texas:
Impaired Driving
Driving under the influence of alcohol continues to be a leading cause of roadway fatalities. In 2024, 1,053 people were killed in crashes involving alcohol-impaired drivers, accounting for 25.37% of all traffic deaths statewide. Alcohol-related crashes were most frequent between 2:00 a.m. and 2:59 a.m., with Sundays registering the highest number of these incidents.
Distracted Driving
Distracted driving led to 380 fatalities in 2024, representing a 5.71% decrease from the previous year. While this reduction is encouraging, distracted driving remains a persistent and preventable cause of death on Texas roads.
Motorcyclist Fatalities
Motorcyclists face disproportionate risks, with 585 fatalities recorded in 2024. Of those killed, 37% were not wearing helmets at the time of the crash, demonstrating the heightened vulnerability of motorcyclists.
Pedestrian and Pedalcyclist Fatalities
Pedestrian fatalities totaled 768 for the year, a 5.19% decrease from 2023. Pedalcyclist (bicyclist) deaths decreased as well, with 78 fatalities; down 26.42% from the previous year. Despite these improvements, non-motorist safety remains a key concern.
Multi-Fatality Incidents
Texas also recorded several particularly severe crashes in 2024. Three incidents resulted in six or more fatalities, highlighting the devastating potential of high-speed, multi-vehicle collisions.
Our Texas Auto Accident Lawyers Will Fight for Maximum Compensation
At Amanda Demanda Injury Lawyers, our founding attorney Amanda Demanda has earned a strong reputation for her aggressive legal representation and her formidable record of recovering over $500 million in settlements and verdicts. Our firm, recognized as the Best Personal Injury Law Firm, has become a trusted name across Texas and nationwide. To schedule your free consultation, call us 24/7 at 1-844-DEMANDA or contact us online.
Back to Blog
