Texas is tied with New Mexico for having the worst drivers in the entire United States, according to a new study by Car Insurance Comparison (CIC).
Analysts say that a high rate of fatal car accidents involving speeding, drunk drivers, and careless drivers means the Lone Star State, and others, have some of the worst drivers in the nation.
Why are Texas drivers dangerous?
CIC's annual report says that Texas' two biggest problems are careless driving and impaired or drunk drivers.
Careless driving includes things like distracted driving, ignoring traffic signs and signals, speeding, road rage, tailgating, weaving in and out of traffic, and other actions likely to increase the odds of a crash.
Meanwhile, of the more than 3,600 fatal car accidents in Texas, about 80 percent involved alcohol, according to the study. It is worth noting that in a little more than half of these crashes alcohol was present but below the legal 0.08 BAC limit.
Authors say that Texas could benefit from requiring more driver education and increased availability of affordable advanced vehicle safety technology.
Texas fatal crash data
The CIC study dug up statistics on fatal crash factors to support their "worst drivers" theory. Here's what they found:
- No other state has more deadly crashes involving drivers with invalid drivers' licenses than Texas. About 19 percent of fatal crashes here involve at least one operator who did not have a valid license.
- Texas has the highest rate of alcohol-related fatal car accidents among the top 10 states with the worst drivers. About 80 percent of fatal Texas car accidents involve alcohol. And as we wrote about in December 2021, drunk drivers are involved in over 40% of the fatal crashes in Texas during the holidays.
- The state's car accident death rate is 1.26 fatalities per 100 million vehicle miles traveled.
- In over 18 percent of deadly crashes, at least one vehicle occupant was not wearing a seatbelt.
- Texas has a high fatal pedestrian vs. car accident rate with 2.24 deaths per 100,000 people. The fatal crash rate involving bicyclists is 0.23 deaths.
- Speeding is a factor in almost 1 out of every 3 fatal Texas car accidents.
Athens and Henderson County car accidents
Compared to other areas of the state, Athens has a low crash rate, but accidents still happen here.
In 2020 there were more than 100 injury-causing accidents and 3 fatal crashes in the city.
In Athens, an area with plenty of crashes and close calls is SH-31 (Tyler and Corsicana streets) in the areas of Loop 7's on/off ramps.
Other risky roadways in Henderson County include Highway 175 and Highway 64.
When to hire a car accident lawyer
The CIC study points to "bad drivers," but it's important to remember that not everyone hurt in an accident is at fault. Far too often, responsible drivers with spotless records can become crash victims due to the reckless actions of others.
If you're in Henderson County or anywhere in East Texas and you've been injured in a crash that wasn't your fault, you should talk to an experienced car accident lawyer to go over your legal rights and options. Handling a car accident claim on your own can be tough, especially when you're injured. And if you're not careful, you could end up missing out on the money you need and deserve.
At Weinstein Law, our dedicated legal team can investigate your accident, calculate the total cost of all your losses, build a strong case based on fact, and aggressively advocate for the compensation you're entitled to.
To learn more about how we can help you, contact us today to schedule a free consultation with an experienced car accident attorney.