Texas hasn't had a death-free day on its roads in nearly 23 years.
The Texas Department of Transportation (TxDOT) haslaunched a new initiativeto inform Texan motorists about the dangers of speeding. "Be Safe. Drive Smart," a joint initiative between TxDOT and local law enforcement, endeavors to educate drivers through several mediums, with safe speed messages displayed on billboards, gas pumps, social media channels, TV, and radio.
＂Getting to your destination two or three minutes faster just isn't worth the risk of a crash and causing harm to yourself or others," said TxDOT Executive Director Marc Williams. "Motorists who observe the speed limit and match their driving to road and weather conditions can help prevent crashes."
According to TxDOT, a third of all people killed on Texan roads in 2022 were involved in a speeding-related crash. In total, 1,469 people died last year in a collision involving speeding.
Sadly, the last death-free day on Texas roads was November 7, 2000 - nearly 23 years ago.
These figures and the new initiative come just days after the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA)launched its anti-speed campaign, suggesting high-speed crashes are becoming a severe problem in America. The federal agency revealed that, in 2021, more than 12,000 people died in crashes linked to speeding. To make matters worse, that figure increased by 8% compared to 2020.
The latest crash statistics show that an estimated 42,795 individualswere killed in traffic collisionson American roads in 2023. To prevent more unnecessary deaths, TxDOT has shared some tips with motorists, noting that safe driving extends beyond sticking to the posted speed limit.
This includes matching your speed to the prevailing road conditions, especially if bad weather or active road construction occurs.
Other helpful tips include increasing your following distance in heavy traffic, when roads are wet, and checking for road signs.
Interestingly, the IIHS recently released the findings of a study that showed muscle car ownersare most likely to diein vehicle accidents and are more likely to be linked to other-driver deaths, too. While those behind the wheel of a smaller vehicle are also at greater risk, the IIHS believes muscle cars are greatly affected due to the way they are marketed.
＂The muscle cars [...] highlight that a vehicle's image and how it is marketed can also contribute to crash risk," said IIHS President David Harkey. "However, the deadly record of these muscle cars suggests that their history and marketing may [encourage] more aggressive driving," he added.
So, if you want to use all the power from yourFord Mustang GTon public roads, perhaps reconsider and keep it on the track.
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