Texas is America’s second-most populous state. And despite having millions fewer residents than population leader California, the state has consistently ranked at the very top for overall traffic fatalities and alcohol-related traffic fatalities. Let’s compare the drunk driving accidents statistics for Texas with those of the U.S. as a whole. Overall Traffic Fatalities The federal National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) keeps annual records of the number of Americans who die in motor vehicle accidents on both a nationwide and state-by-state basis. In 2015, the year with the most recent available NHTSA figures, a total of 35,092 people died in such accidents throughout the U.S. Fully one-tenth of all these deaths — 3,516 — occurred in the State of Texas. However, the number of traffic fatalities in the state actually fell by a very small amount between 2014 and 2015. Drunk Driving Fatalities The NHTSA also keeps annual records of the number of Americans who die every year in alcohol-related crashes. The latest drunk driving accidents statistics also cover the year 2015. In that year, a total of 10,265 people died in alcohol-related crashes throughout the U.S. Again, the State of Texas accounted for a sizable number of these deaths: 1,323. However, as with fatal motor vehicle accidents in general, the number of Texans who died in DUI-related crashes actually fell between 2014 and 2015. In fact, Texas experienced the country’s single greatest decline in such deaths during that span of time. Drunk Driving As a Percentage of Overall Fatalities Roughly 29% of all of America’s fatal traffic accidents for the year 2015 had alcohol use as an underlying cause. In Texas, alcohol use contributed to a significantly higher 38% of all traffic fatalities. Texas ranks high in the number of fatal traffic accidents and fatal alcohol-related traffic accidents it has, but it isn’t the state with the highest numbers. In fact, two states — Rhode Island (43%) and Connecticut (39%) — have a higher rate of DUI-related motor vehicle deaths. These figures highlight the need for safer roads as well as effective alcohol abuse treatment. Sources National Highway Traffic Safety Administration: State Traffic Safety Information for Year 2015 https://cdan.nhtsa.gov/stsi.htm National Highway Traffic Safety Administration: 2015 Motor Vehicle Crashes Overview https://crashstats.nhtsa.dot.gov/Api/Public/ViewPublication/812318 Category: AlcoholismBy The Right StepOctober 18, 2017Post navigationPreviousPrevious post:The Highest Rated Non-Alcoholic Beers for Your HealthNextNext post:Teen Depression & High Suicide Rates in Japan: The Causes & FactorsRelated postsIs Alcohol a Depressant? More About Central Nervous System DrugsJuly 24, 2020Am I Struggling With Addiction? Finding the Answer to this Painful QuestionJuly 21, 2020Get to Know the Dangers of Mixing Substances Before It’s Too LateJuly 15, 2020How to Help an AlcoholicJuly 13, 2020Do I Need Binge Drinking Treatment?June 12, 2020Quarantined with an Alcoholic SpouseJune 11, 2020