Accident Statistics in Texas
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According to the FARS encyclopaedia (http://www-fars.nhtsa.dot.gov/States/StatesCrashesAndAllVictims.aspx), Texas, after California, is the most dangerous state for road users in the US. In 2009, 3071 fatalities occurred in Texas as a result of traffic accidents. A large majority of road fatalities in the state have been of vehicle occupants, with a smaller proportion of motorcyclists and pedestrians killed in accidents. Statistics also show that a disproportionate amount of fatalities involve male victims, with 2157 men killed in traffic collisions. Drivers' alcohol consumption is also an important factor in traffic accidents, with 40 per cent of all fatal accidents in the state involving an intoxicated driver.

Harris County has been the county most affected by fatal accidents with 339 deaths in a year. This is unsurprising as it is also the most densely populated county in Texas, counting 747 cities and towns, including large cities such as Houston and Pasadena (http://texas.hometownlocator.com/tx/harris/. Even so, a higher number of crashes appear to occur in rural areas than in urban places.

Out of 2776 fatal accidents in 2009, 1448 did not take place in a town or city. Montgomery County, an area with low population density, was host to a fatal accident on the 3rd of September, taking the life of 17 year old John Tyler Bennett. The crash involved two cars, a Holden Perlude, driven by the victim, and a Doge SUV driven by Jose Jimenez Hernandez, who fled the scene but reported back to officers a few days later. (http://www.brookingsregister.com/v2_news_articles.php?heading=0&page=76&story_id=12093)

45.05 per cent of accidents in Texas occur in areas with a speed limit of over 60mph. A high-speed fatal accident took place in Angelina County on the eighth of September on highway 103. Roger Elmer Brown's vehicle swerved into oncoming traffic, colliding with another car, driven by Joshua Ryan Wile. Brown was pronounced dead at the scene (http://lufkindailynews.com/news/local/article_c159ef60-d9bf-11e0-bce8-001cc4c002e0.html). With new laws to be enforced allowing speeds of 75mph on some Texas roads, a rise in number of accidents may yet be seen throughout the state (http://itemonline.com/local/x975857715/New-law-increases-speed-limit-to-75-mph.)