As road construction projects ramp up statewide, Texas Department of Transportation officials are asking motorists to slow down and stay alert when driving through the thousands of work zones in Texas to protect themselves and others.
In 2021, traffic crashes in the state’s work zones claimed the lives of 244 people, a 33% increase over the previous year. Drivers and their passengers accounted for the majority of those who died in Texas work zone crashes last year: 195 motorists or vehicle passengers were killed, along with 38 pedestrians, four bicyclists and three roadside construction workers.
Speeding and driver inattention were among the leading causes of crashes.
“It’s cause for tremendous concern that the number of people killed on our roadways reached a 40-year high last year and fatalities in our workzones rose dramatically,” said TxDOT Executive Director Marc Williams.
“It’s important for drivers to remember that driving conditions in work zones can be especially challenging because of extra congestion, slow-moving heavy equipment, temporary barriers and vehicles that make sudden stops.”
