TRANSPORTATION TxDOT declares 2021 second-deadliest year for Texas roadways; tra c deaths up 15%over 2020
BY MIKAH BOYD
decisions made by people that could have potentially saved 2,741 lives.” Art Markman, a psychology professor at The University of Texas, informed TxDOT leaders and trans- portation stakeholders at the annual Texas Transportation Forum in February about coronavirus-related pressures that have had a negative impact on Texas roadways. “We have to start considering everyone as part of our community,” Markman said. “If we don’t do that, there are going to be all sorts of nega- tive consequences, and those are going to include negative consequences on the road.” The release provided information on initiatives TxDOT is researching to aid in roadway safety. Initiatives include tra c safety campaigns and law enforcement funding grants as well as proven life-saving roadway designs. TxDOT is also reviewing crash data to identify areas where drivers are more likely to crash and will use its ndings to focus initiatives on those areas.
TRAFFIC TRAGEDIES While most tra c crashes did not result in injuries, thousands of Texans died
Roadways are becoming increas- ingly deadly, according to a news release from the Texas Department of Transportation that detailed ndings that are part of a larger issue nation- wide. TxDOT reported more than 4,480 deaths on Texas roads in 2021, only a little behind 1981, the deadliest year to date with over 4,701 deaths. Roadway deaths are rising nation- wide. O cials reported an estimated 20,160 people died from vehicular crashes in the rst half of 2021, 18.4% higher than in 2020. Texas saw an increase of almost 15% from 2020-21. “Driver behavior is one of the causes but also one of the most important solutions,” Transportation Commis- sioner Laura Ryan said in a release. “We all have a role. TxDOT can do more, and we accept that responsibil- ity. The driving public can do more. ... In 2021, a total of 1,522 people were killed because of speed, and a total of 1,219 were killed because they were not wearing a seat belt. These were
or faced serious injuries on the roads in 2021. Reported vehicle crashes in Texas in 2021
Noninjuries
1.07M
137.4K Possible injuries 100.4K Unknown injuries
“WEMUST DOBETTER FOR OURSELVES, OUR LOVED ONES ANDOUR LARGER COMMUNITYOF TEXANS.” LAURA RYAN, TRANSPORTATION COMMISSIONER
82.5K Suspected minor injuries 19.4K Suspected serious injuries
4.5K Fatalities
SOURCE: TEXAS PEACE OFFICER’S CRASH REPORTS COMMUNITY IMPACT NEWSPAPER
O cials within the agency believe the implementation of the above initiatives and focusing on engineering and enforcement will greatly reduce the number of deaths on Texas roads. “This is an urgent call to action for
all of us behind the wheel,” Ryan said. “We can do better. We should do bet- ter. We must do better—for ourselves, our loved ones and our larger commu- nity of Texans. Not a single death on our roadways is acceptable.”
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KATY EDITION • MAY 2022
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