Texas’ Deadliest Roads and Fatal Accident Statistics

Based on an analysis of 10,125 fatal crashes from 2018 to 2020, MoneyGeek identified Texas' deadliest roads, reviewing 4,563 roads across the state's 683,533-mile road network.

The study also examined how drunk driving, speeding, distracted driving and time of year contributed to fatal crashes, and identified the deadliest road in each county.

• I-10 from Exit 855A to Exit 849 is the deadliest stretch of road in Texas. Between 2018 and 2020, 17 fatal accidents occurred here.
• Speeding contributed to 31.3% of accidents, or 3,168 fatal accidents, between 2018 and 2020. It was the top contributing factor in Texas fatal crashes.
• Drunk driving was linked to 24.3% of fatal accidents (2,456 total crashes), the second-highest contributing factor in deadly crashes. Distracted driving ranked third, linked to 9.9% of fatal crashes (1,001 total).
• October had the most fatal accidents (941) between 2018 and 2020, followed by November (912) and December (909).
• Harris County had the most deadly crashes of any county. I-45 logged the most fatal accidents in the county (45).

Texas recorded 10,125 fatal accidents between 2018 and 2020, with 2,456 involving drunk driving. Driving under the influence is the second-leading contributing factor in fatal car accidents in Texas.

Alcohol impairs reaction time, judgment and coordination at even low concentrations. Texas law sets the legal BAC limit at 0.08%, but research shows impairment begins at 0.02%.

Even without a crash, a DUI arrest carries serious legal consequences. Drivers can lose their license, serve a suspension or go to jail. A conviction also affects insurance rates; SR-22 filing requirements often result in sharp premium increases for affected drivers.

Speeding is the highest contributing factor in fatal crashes in Texas. Between 2018 and 2020, speeding was linked to 3,168 fatal accidents (31.3% of all fatal accidents in that period).

High-speed driving shortens reaction time and extends stopping distances. Both factors raise the risk of fatal crashes on highways and surface roads. When drivers cannot stop or adjust course in time, collisions often prove fatal.

Distracted driving, in which a driver's attention is diverted from the road, was linked to 9.9% of fatal accidents in Texas (1,001 of 10,125). Nationally, Texas ranks 13th worst for distracted driving, worse than roughly three-quarters of states.

October recorded more fatal accidents than any other month between 2018 and 2020. The 941 deadly crashes that month represent 9.3% of all fatal accidents on Texas roads.

November ranked second at 912 fatal accidents, with December third at 909. October, November and December together accounted for 27.3% of all fatal accidents in the study period.

Speeding, drunk driving and distracted driving together accounted for more than 65% of fatal crashes in Texas between 2018 and 2020, making them the three leading contributors to road fatalities in the state.

Texas requires all drivers to carry minimum coverage; the average cost of auto insurance in Texas is $1,316 a year; rates vary by county and city. MoneyGeek found that coverage in Houston averages $1,560 a year, compared to $1,096 a year in Lubbock, a $464 gap between the two markets' cheapest rates.

MoneyGeek's figures are averages based on full coverage policies. Individual rates vary based on age, location, driving record and vehicle type.

The top five counties in the Lone Star State recorded 3,453 fatal accidents combined, 34% of all fatal accidents between 2018 and 2020.

Harris County had the most fatal accidents at 1,221. I-45 was the deadliest road in the county (45 fatal accidents). Drunk driving (353) and speeding (346) were the top contributing factors.

MoneyGeek drew from the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration's Fatal Accident Reporting System (FARS), using records from 2018, 2019 and 2020.