AUSTIN, Texas – The state of Texas is lamenting the fact that every day for the past 25 years, there has been a fatal crash somewhere in the state.
And state agencies are trying to do something about it.
“Every single day for the past quarter century, a mother, father, son or daughter has died in a crash in Texas,” the Texas Department of Transportation (TxDOT) stated in a recent release. “There are many wonderful things Texas is known for, but the 25-year streak of daily deaths is one thing we need to change – and we can’t do it alone.”
According to its release, Nov. 7, 2000, was the last deathless day on Texas roads, and since then the state has lost more than 91,000 people in traffic crashes.
Last week, on that tragic anniversary, TxDOT began asking everyone to help #EndTheStreakTX of daily deaths.
“It’s devastating thinking of all the families and communities that have lost loved ones in the last 25 years,” TxDOT Executive Director Marc Williams said. “It’s time to end this deadly streak, but it’ll take all of us to do it. We can engineer improvements. Law enforcement can patrol roads. And everyone needs to drive like a Texan: kind, courteous and safe, to prevent crashes.”
Law enforcement partnership
TxDOT and the Texas Department of Public Safety (DPS) announced a joint endeavor to share safe driving messages. During traffic stops for the next two weeks which began Nov. 7, DPS troopers will hand out a tip card listing safe driving behaviors that reflect the top causes of crashes.
“Through engineering and collaboration with law enforcement, we’re working to improve safety,” Texas Transportation Commission acting chair Alvin New said. “Education and innovation can help, but it’s the everyday choices people make—driving safely and buckling up—that will truly end the streak.”
Engineering safety
To show that afety is truly TxDOT’s top priority. it currently has $60 billion worth of active construction projects across the state and every single one has a safety componen, accordingto its release..
TxDOT is also using technology to improve safety which it says includes building innovative intersections, implementing new safe design strategies and harnessing artificial intelligence to prevent crashes.
Help from the public
“Ending the streak will require every single driver to consistently make safe decisions every time they get behind the wheel,” the release stated.
Driver tips include:
Drive safe speeds
Buckle up
Get a sober ride
Avoid distractions
Move over or slow down for vehicles with flashing lights on the side of the road
“We all want to get to our destination safely,” TxDOT stated. “If everyone remembers who they are as Texans behind the wheel and drive kind, courteous and safe, then we can save lives.”
Bruce Guthrie is an award-winning journalist who has lived in three states including Arkansas, Missouri and Georgia. During his nearly 20-year career, Bruce has served as managing editor and sports editor for numerous publications. He and his wife, Dana, who is also a journalist, are based in Carrollton, Georgia.
Just went thru Dallas a few times this year,unbelievable.I’ve driven every city in every state and the danger of Dallas drivers is incomparable by multiples of ten .excessive constant cutting off and lane changing of multiple vehicles at speed doesn’t begin to describe the constant death defying spectacle of Dallas drivers ,unseen in other states.
they just blame the truck driver because your a professional. The cops are to lazy to investigations to a accident.I hardly see someone stop for speeding anymore.Cars can do whatever they want in front of a truck and come out with money because of lawsuits against the trucking company.