Although Harris County has by far the worst problems in Texas with DUI accidents and crashes caused by street racing, it actually lags behind several other large Texas cities in the number of speed-related crashes. Our Houston crash injury attorneys mention that this might be because the high growth rate and resulting traffic congestion in and around Houston mean that drivers simply can’t find much room to pick up any speed on many roads.
Dallas County tops the list for the number of speed related accidents at 1,568. Bexar County (San Antonio) follows with 1,453 speed-related crashes in 2012. Harris County, by contrast, only had 1,167 speed-related wrecks in 2012. And Travis County (Austin) was not far behind with 1,107.
But the Houston crash injury attorneys at Denena Points, PC emphasize that Harris County fatal crashes caused by speeding were far more devastating than in other Texas counties. With a lower number of crashes tied to speeding (hundreds lower than Dallas, for instance), Harris County nonetheless experienced the highest number of speed-related deaths in those accidents, with 63. Dallas only had 50 deaths, Bexar 34, and Travis County a mere 22. So apparently those who do manage to find room to speed in Harris County speed all the faster for being thwarted at other times.
In 2012 in Texas, someone died in a fatal crash on average every 2 hours and 35 minutes. A person was injured in a wreck every two minutes and 17 seconds. And a reportable crash occurred almost every minute, or every 75 seconds. (TxDOT: Texas Motor Vehicle Traffic Crash Highlights Calendar Year 2012)
Although holidays were meant to be relaxing, the holiday season is a time when many people feel they must rush around to get everything done. Don’t take chances with your life or the lives of your loved ones. Slow down and get to your destination safely.
Our Houston crash injury attorneys report that studies have repeatedly demonstrated that each small increment in speed exponentially increases the chances of dying from a speed related wreck. Many of these accidents occur when a driver comes around a curve at too high a speed and loses control of the vehicle, often ending in a deadly rollover for driver and passengers.
And it doesn’t just happen to cars. The deadly Metro North train wreck in New York recently happened when the engineer took a 30 mph curve at 82 mph and sent the train flying off the tracks. Click the link to learn about two recent Harris County fatal crashes blamed on speed.