Based on an analysis of 10,125 fatal crashes from 2018 to 2020, MoneyGeek identified Texas' deadliest roads. In particular, we looked at 4,563 roads from Texas’ 683,533 miles of road.

As part of our study, we also examined how drunk driving, speeding, distracted driving and the time of year contributed to fatal crashes in the state. Additionally, we summarized data for each county in the state and identified the deadliest road in each.

Key Findings

  • 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, making it the highest contributing factor in fatal accidents in Texas.
  • 24.3% of fatal accidents — 2,456 total crashes — were related to drunk driving, the second highest contributing factor in deadly crashes. Distracted driving was the third highest contributing factor, involved in 9.9% of accidents, or 1,001 accidents, in the state.
  • October had the most fatal accidents (941) between 2018 and 2020. This month was followed by November (912) and December (909).
  • Harris County had the most deadly crashes of any county. I-45 was the stretch of road with the highest number of fatal accidents (45).

10 Deadliest Road Stretches in Texas


  • DEADLIEST ROAD IN TEXAS
    I-10 from Exit 855A to Exit 849
    Beaumont
    I-10 from Exit 855A to Exit 849
    • Fatal Accidents:17
    • fatalities:17
    • Crashes Per Mile:4.2
    • distance:4.0
  • I-35 from Exit 238B to Exit 244
    Austin
    I-35 from Exit 238B to Exit 244
    • Fatal Accidents:16
    • fatalities:18
    • Crashes Per Mile:3.3
    • distance:4.9
  • I-35 from Exit 235B to Exit 229
    Austin
    I-35 from Exit 235B to Exit 229
    • Fatal Accidents:15
    • fatalities:15
    • Crashes Per Mile:3.1
    • distance:4.8
  • I-20 from Exit 443 to Exit 439
    Forest Hill | Arlington | Fort Worth
    I-20 from Exit 443 to Exit 439
    • Fatal Accidents:13
    • fatalities:14
    • Crashes Per Mile:2.7
    • distance:4.8
  • Fm 1093/Westheimer Road from Westerland Drive to W Loop S
    Houston
    Fm 1093/Westheimer Road from Westerland Drive to W Loop S
    • Fatal Accidents:13
    • fatalities:13
    • Crashes Per Mile:3.0
    • distance:4.4
  • I-30 from Exit 52A to 56C
    Dallas | Mesquite
    I-30 from Exit 52A to 56C
    • Fatal Accidents:12
    • fatalities:12
    • Crashes Per Mile:2.4
    • distance:4.9
  • I-45 from Exit 63 to Exit 59
    Houston
    I-45 from Exit 63 to Exit 59
    • Fatal Accidents:11
    • fatalities:12
    • Crashes Per Mile:2.4
    • distance:4.6
  • I-10 from Exit 16 to Exit 21
    El Paso
    I-10 from Exit 16 to Exit 21
    • Fatal Accidents:11
    • fatalities:11
    • Crashes Per Mile:2.3
    • distance:4.7
  • Fm 1960 from Westfield PI Drive to Midway Plaza Drive
    Harris County
    Fm 1960 from Westfield PI Drive to Midway Plaza Drive
    • Fatal Accidents:10
    • fatalities:12
    • Crashes Per Mile:2.1
    • distance:4.7
  • I-820 from Exit 33C to 30A
    Fort Worth
    I-820 from Exit 33C to 30A
    • Fatal Accidents:10
    • fatalities:11
    • Crashes Per Mile:2.5
    • distance:4.0

Drunk Driving Involved in 24.3% of Fatal Accidents

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.

The dangers associated with alcohol-impaired driving are obvious. Apart from potentially injuring yourself, you may also injure those around you or cause property damage. Even a little bit of alcohol poses a danger to you and others. Texas' laws deem a blood alcohol concentration (BAC) of 0.8% as illegal, but even a BAC of 0.02% can cause obvious impairment, making driving difficult.

Even when no accident occurs, drunk driving has serious consequences. It is possible to lose your driving privileges, have your license suspended and even go to jail for such an offense. On top of this, a DUI conviction can make finding affordable car insurance in Texas challenging, as getting Texas SR-22 insurance may be required and can result in substantial premium increases.

Speeding Is a Factor in 31.3% of Fatal Crashes

Speeding is the highest contributing factor in fatal crashes in Texas. Between 2018 and 2020, speeding was linked to 3,168 fatal accidents — or 31.3% of all fatal accidents within the state and time period.

When you drive at high speeds, you put yourself and others at risk. Whether you’re driving through the suburbs or racing along a highway, navigating the roads at high speeds can make it difficult to stop quickly when necessary. This added challenge can cause you to swerve or fail to stop entirely, increasing your risk of injury and property damage — which can put a dent in your finances and a mark on your driving history.

Distracted Driving Contributed to 9.9% of Fatal Accidents

Distracted driving, where you are unable to pay full attention behind the wheel, was linked to 9.9% of fatal accidents in Texas, or 1,001 accidents out of 10,125. On a national level, the Lone Star State ranks as the 13th worst state for distracted driving but is still better than 25% of other states.

October Had More Fatal Accidents Than Any Other Month

More fatal accidents occurred in October than any other month, making it the deadliest month for Texas drivers. A total of 941 deadly crashes happened in October from 2018 to 2020. That accounts for 9.3% of all fatal accidents.

November had the second-highest number of fatal accidents, at 912, while December was third, at 909. That indicates that the months leading up to winter carry the highest risk of fatal car crashes for Texas drivers.

Average Fatal Accidents by Month
Month
Fatal Accidents
Drunk Driving Related
Distracted Driving Related
Winter Conditions
Speeding Related
% of Total

January

814

195

87

3

257

8.0%

February

762

211

72

3

236

7.5%

March

778

172

83

0

239

7.7%

April

764

190

85

1

224

7.5%

May

858

227

90

0

261

8.5%

June

858

198

82

0

271

8.5%

July

873

218

83

0

260

8.6%

August

856

222

84

0

264

8.5%

September

800

171

74

0

265

7.9%

October

941

200

98

5

303

9.3%

November

912

224

81

1

296

9.0%

December

909

228

82

2

292

9.0%

Driving Safely Protects You, Others and Your Wallet

Safe driving can benefit you in more ways than one. Aside from keeping you and others around you safe, it can also help you save money over time by avoiding costly medical bills. However, accidents may happen when you least expect it, so it’s important to still get car insurance coverage. In particular, a cheap full coverage auto insurance policy can help you cover your expenses if you get into an accident.

The average cost of auto insurance in Texas is $1,316 annually, but this can vary by county and city. Case in point, we found that auto insurance in Houston costs an average of $1,560, while car insurance in Lubbock averages $1,096 per year — a difference of $464.

Note that MoneyGeek’s data are simply averages — which means your costs can change based on a range of factors, such as your age, location, driving record, type of car driven and more. To get the most affordable auto insurance, get quotes from several providers and choose the best and cheapest offer for your needs.

Fatal Accidents and Most Dangerous Roads: County Breakdown

The top five counties in the Lone State had 3,453 fatal accidents combined, which accounted for 34% of all fatal accidents between 2018 and 2020.

Harris County had the most fatal accidents at 1,221, with I-45 (45) being the deadliest road in the area. Drunk driving (353) and speeding (346) were two of the highest contributing factors to fatal accidents in Harris County.

Fatal Accidents and Contributing Factors By County
County
Fatal Accidents
Drunk Driving Related
Distracted Driving Related
Speeding Related
Most Deadly Road (Fatal Accidents)

Harris

1221

353

49

346

I-45 (45)

Dallas

847

224

66

329

I-30 (36)

Bexar

533

146

119

155

I-410 (32)

Tarrant

493

105

43

176

I-20 (32)

Travis

359

73

44

99

I-35 (50)

El Paso

228

60

32

64

I-10 (31)

Montgomery

150

42

9

57

I-45 (20)

Denton

148

31

25

59

I-35 (12)

Ector

147

51

15

54

I-20 (23)

Collin

142

38

11

46

US-75 (12)

Smith

134

22

9

43

I-20 (12)

Hidalgo

128

38

14

34

I-2 (10)

Jefferson

122

20

9

28

I-10 (25)

Lubbock

120

39

10

32

US-84 (16)

Bell

116

31

4

35

I-14 (18)

Brazoria

115

31

12

31

SR-35 (14)

Nueces

114

27

9

40

I-37 (12)

Galveston

112

40

14

38

I-45 (14)

Williamson

111

26

4

43

SR-29 (10)

Midland

110

31

6

30

SR-158 (12)

Mclennan

98

14

11

26

I-35 (20)

Fort Bend

94

28

5

24

SR-36 (5)

Ellis

82

21

15

31

I-45 (12)

Bastrop

78

28

6

29

SR-21 (16)

Kaufman

78

16

7

28

US-175 (14)

Hays

77

19

6

39

I-35 (17)

Cameron

73

12

2

19

I-69 (3)

Johnson

72

11

3

21

I-35W (10)

Gregg

72

12

11

25

I-20 (10)

Parker

69

12

6

23

I-20 (14)

Harrison

66

23

9

28

I-20 (12)

Orange

66

11

3

13

I-10 (18)

Hunt

65

21

6

13

I-30 (14)

Webb

65

12

3

27

I-35 (13)

Potter

64

15

7

20

I-40 (6)

Liberty

61

10

8

13

US-90 (11)

Grayson

60

11

5

17

US-75 (10)

Victoria

52

13

2

15

US-59 (14)

Henderson

51

16

5

18

SR-31 (9)

Taylor

50

10

3

18

I-20 (12)

Comal

50

14

5

16

I-35 (9)

Guadalupe

47

12

5

12

I-10 (11)

Reeves

46

8

7

13

US-285 (16)

Rusk

46

9

4

14

US-259 (7)

Brazos

46

8

11

16

SR-6 (6)

Van Zandt

41

7

5

9

SR-198 (6)

Polk

40

11

2

12

US-59 (12)

Nacogdoches

40

11

2

10

US-59 (7)

Wichita

40

11

3

14

US-287 (8)

Bowie

39

6

1

10

I-30 (5)

Cherokee

39

11

2

15

US-69 (10)

Wise

39

8

5

11

US-81 (9)

Wharton

38

2

3

8

US-59 (18)

Lamar

38

6

2

10

US-82 (7)

Angelina

37

9

2

12

US-69 (7)

Upshur

37

4

3

12

SR-300 (8)

Waller

37

8

3

12

I-10 (7)

Walker

37

7

3

14

I-45 (11)

Randall

36

5

9

13

I-27 (5)

Erath

35

9

4

8

US-67 (8)

San Patricio

35

9

3

13

SR-361 (4)

Grimes

34

8

6

16

SR-105 (7)

Hill

34

7

7

12

Fm 933 (6)

Fayette

33

2

6

9

I-10 (11)

Milam

33

8

5

7

US-79 (7)

Hardin

33

4

1

7

US-96 (6)

Ward

33

7

3

10

I-20 (9)

Howard

32

6

3

9

I-20 (8)

Fannin

31

7

8

12

SR-121 (4)

Tom Green

31

15

2

12

US-67 (7)

Chambers

30

8

2

7

I-10 (10)

Leon

30

7

3

7

I-45 (10)

Medina

29

9

2

8

SR-173 (6)

Caldwell

29

6

7

11

US-183 (4)

Freestone

29

2

3

4

I-45 (11)

Anderson

28

4

3

9

US-287 (5)

Panola

28

6

2

13

SR-315 (6)

Wood

27

7

4

11

SR-37 (4)

Winkler

27

9

2

6

SR-302 (12)

Wilson

27

7

0

12

US-87 (6)

Kerr

26

8

4

7

I-10 (7)

Atascosa

26

7

1

5

I-37 (10)

Coryell

26

6

11

10

SR-36 (4)

Matagorda

25

4

2

7

SR-60 (5)

Colorado

25

3

3

6

I-10 (14)

Eastland

24

8

3

6

I-20 (12)

Hudspeth

24

4

3

9

I-10 (15)

Burnet

24

6

3

11

US-183 (5)

Hood

24

4

0

4

US-377 (5)

San Jacinto

24

8

2

9

US-59 (9)

Cooke

23

8

5

8

I-35 (5)

Jasper

23

7

1

9

US-96 (7)

Andrews

23

5

0

4

SR-115 (5)

Hopkins

23

5

1

6

I-30 (9)

Palo Pinto

23

7

3

9

US-281 (10)

Cass

22

3

4

4

US-59 (8)

Shelby

22

6

1

6

US-96 (5)

Nolan

22

7

1

8

I-20 (9)

Robertson

21

2

2

6

US-190 (6)

Martin

21

3

3

6

SR-349 (6)

Gaines

21

2

0

5

US-62 (6)

Pecos

21

1

4

5

I-10 (6)

Callahan

20

2

1

10

I-20 (9)

Jim Wells

20

3

1

3

US-281 (4)

Titus

20

4

3

5

US-271 (6)

Navarro

20

3

4

11

I-45 (8)

Tyler

19

3

1

4

US-190 (5)

Frio

19

2

3

2

I-35 (5)

Austin

19

4

1

6

I-10 (7)

Bandera

18

6

2

7

SR-16 (8)

Falls

18

8

3

5

SR-7 (5)

Madison

18

2

2

5

I-45 (5)

Kimble

18

0

4

5

I-10 (13)

Houston

18

5

0

4

SR-7 (4)

Gillespie

18

7

2

3

US-290 (6)

Montague

18

4

2

5

US-287 (3)

Gonzales

18

4

0

3

I-10 (4)

Lee

17

6

0

6

US-290 (6)

Jackson

17

4

3

5

US-59 (5)

Rockwall

17

7

1

6

SR-276 (2)

Hale

17

2

2

7

I-27 (7)

Scurry

17

3

2

4

US-84 (5)

Kendall

17

4

4

6

I-10 (6)

Washington

16

4

2

6

SR-105 (4)

Limestone

15

2

2

4

SR-164 (3)

Moore

15

5

1

2

US-287 (7)

Burleson

15

7

1

4

SR-36 (3)

Crockett

15

2

2

7

I-10 (5)

Lampasas

15

1

2

6

US-190 (7)

Maverick

14

2

1

4

US-277 (3)

Newton

14

4

1

6

SR-87 (6)

Jones

14

4

2

2

US-83 (6)

Mitchell

13

1

1

1

I-20 (12)

Dimmit

13

1

6

4

US-83 (4)

De Witt

13

2

3

3

SR-72 (3)

Blanco

13

4

2

4

US-281 (9)

Bosque

13

2

2

4

SR-6 (5)

Karnes

13

2

1

2

SR-80 (6)

Comanche

13

1

5

2

SR-36 (3)

Sherman

13

1

2

1

US-287 (5)

Gray

13

1

2

2

I-40 (7)

Live Oak

12

3

1

1

US-59 (4)

Mcculloch

12

2

2

4

SR-71 (6)

Culberson

12

5

0

3

US-62 (6)

Llano

12

5

2

2

SR-71 (3)

Red River

12

2

3

3

SR-37 (4)

Camp

12

3

2

8

US-271 (3)

La Salle

12

2

1

3

I-35 (8)

Clay

12

4

0

4

US-287 (4)

Deaf Smith

11

0

1

2

US-60 (5)

Glasscock

11

0

1

2

SR-137 (3)

Val Verde

11

3

1

2

US-277 (4)

Brooks

11

2

1

4

US-281 (5)

Aransas

11

1

3

1

SR-35 (5)

Morris

10

0

1

1

US-67 (2)

Oldham

10

1

1

5

I-40 (6)

Duval

10

1

2

3

US-59 (3)

Donley

10

1

0

3

US-287 (7)

Carson

10

4

1

4

I-40 (4)

Uvalde

10

1

3

3

US-83 (5)

Upton

10

3

0

4

SR-349 (5)

Rains

10

2

1

4

US-69 (3)

San Augustine

10

5

0

3

SR-147 (3)

Brown

10

3

2

3

Pr 15 (1)

Starr

10

4

5

3

US-83 (6)

Archer

10

1

1

3

US-281 (4)

Zavala

10

3

2

6

US-57 (6)

Marion

10

1

1

5

US-59 (3)

Hutchinson

10

2

3

3

SR-136 (5)

Kleberg

10

2

1

3

US-77 (3)

Mills

10

1

1

3

US-84 (6)

Goliad

9

3

0

4

US-59 (2)

Bee

9

2

1

6

US-181 (3)

Terry

9

2

0

1

US-62 (2)

Runnels

9

3

1

2

US-83 (3)

Coleman

9

4

0

4

US-84 (3)

Wilbarger

8

0

1

2

US-287 (5)

Willacy

8

3

0

3

US-77 (2)

Hockley

8

1

0

1

SR-114 (3)

Parmer

8

2

1

1

US-60 (5)

Hartley

8

3

0

1

US-54 (2)

Lavaca

8

3

1

5

US-77 (2)

Loving

8

4

2

1

Cr-300 (3)

Concho

8

0

1

2

US-83 (6)

Young

8

1

0

4

SR-16 (5)

Calhoun

8

4

1

2

SR-185 (2)

Dawson

7

1

1

1

US-87 (4)

Hamilton

7

1

2

1

US-281 (3)

Sabine

7

2

1

4

SR-87 (2)

Crane

7

2

0

1

US-385 (2)

Bailey

7

3

0

5

US-70 (4)

Trinity

7

4

0

2

SR-94 (3)

Baylor

7

1

2

1

US-277 (3)

Reagan

7

1

1

2

US-67 (3)

Garza

7

2

1

3

US-84 (5)

Haskell

7

1

1

0

US-277 (3)

Lamb

7

5

0

3

US-84 (2)

Sterling

7

2

0

0

US-87 (3)

Wheeler

7

1

1

3

I-40 (6)

Castro

7

3

1

2

SR-86 (3)

Sutton

6

0

1

2

I-10 (4)

Ochiltree

6

1

1

2

Cr-L (1)

Jack

6

1

0

0

US-380 (3)

Refugio

6

1

0

3

US-77 (4)

Real

6

1

1

4

US-83 (2)

Kenedy

6

0

0

0

US-77 (6)

Dallam

6

1

0

2

US-87 (4)

Yoakum

5

2

1

0

US-82 (2)

Borden

5

0

1

1

US-180 (3)

Somervell

5

0

0

3

US-67 (2)

Kinney

5

0

1

2

Rm 674 (2)

Franklin

5

2

0

2

Fm 3007 (1)

Edwards

5

0

1

0

SR-55 (3)

Childress

4

0

1

0

US-287 (3)

Hall

4

0

0

2

Fm 2361 (1)

Knox

4

2

0

3

US-277 (2)

Armstrong

4

1

1

1

SR-207 (2)

Hardeman

4

2

1

2

US-287 (2)

Brewster

4

1

1

1

US-67 (2)

Presidio

4

3

0

1

US-67 (4)

Stephens

4

2

2

1

Fm 2231 (1)

Mason

4

2

0

1

Cr-Hurley Rd (1)

Lynn

4

1

1

1

US-87 (2)

Collingsworth

4

1

0

1

SR-203 (2)

Terrell

4

0

0

1

US-90 (4)

Mcmullen

3

0

0

0

SR-72 (2)

Jeff Davis

3

2

0

1

SR-118 (2)

Throckmorton

3

1

1

1

US-183 (2)

Fisher

3

1

0

2

Fm 57 (2)

Menard

3

1

0

2

US-83 (2)

Hansford

3

0

0

1

Cr-24 (1)

Crosby

3

1

1

0

US-0082 (1)

Hemphill

2

1

0

2

US-60 (2)

Zapata

2

1

1

1

10Th St (1)

Stonewall

2

0

0

1

US-83 (1)

Schleicher

2

0

0

0

Fm 1828 (1)

Swisher

2

0

0

1

Fm 928 (1)

Floyd

2

0

1

0

SR-207 (1)

Dickens

2

1

0

2

SR-70 (1)

Cochran

2

0

0

0

SR-125 (1)

San Saba

2

0

1

0

SR-16 (1)

Roberts

2

1

1

1

SR-70 (2)

Lipscomb

2

1

0

1

US-60 (1)

Delta

1

0

0

0

SR-24 (1)

Coke

1

0

0

1

US-277 (1)

Briscoe

1

0

0

0

Fm 378 (1)

Jim Hogg

1

0

1

0

SR-16 (1)

Irion

1

0

0

0

SR-163 (1)

Motley

1

0

0

1

Dundee Ave (1)

Cottle

1

0

0

0

US-62 (1)

King

1

0

1

1

US-82 (1)

Methodology

MoneyGeek analyzed data from the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration Fatal Accident Reporting System (FARS) database using fatality data from 2018, 2019 and 2020. Currently, 2020 is the latest data available in the system.

About Doug Milnes, CFA


Doug Milnes, CFA headshot

Doug Milnes is the head of marketing and communications at MoneyGeek. He has spent more than a decade in corporate finance performing valuations for Duff and Phelps and financial planning and analysis for various companies including OpenTable. He holds a master’s degree in Predictive Analytics (Data Science) from Northwestern University and is a CFA charter holder. Doug geeks out on building financial and predictive models and using data to make informed decisions.


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