How Risky is Driving in Texas?
Texas is one of the busiest and most important states for trucking and fleet operations in the U.S. With vast stretches of highway, diverse terrain, and major freight corridors like I-10, I-35, and I-45, drivers encounter everything from congested city traffic in places like Dallas, Houston, and San Antonio to long, isolated rural routes.
Weather can be unpredictable—blazing heat, flash floods, and severe storms are all part of the job. Texas is also a key hub for cross-border freight with Mexico, adding to the volume and complexity of routes. Fleets operating here need to be ready for high mileage, varied road conditions, and a mix of urban and open-road driving challenges.
What are the 10 riskiest driving behaviors in Texas?
It should surprise no one that handheld device and following distance take up the first two spots for risky driving behaviors in Texas in the Lytx® 2025 State of the Data report. Handheld device use is rampant nationwide. In 2022, 3,308 people were killed in motor vehicle crashes involving distracted drivers.
A short following distance can be risky because it leaves less reaction time when the car ahead does something unexpected. And when you factor in other variables like weather and road conditions, the risk only grows.
At number five, incomplete stops pose plenty of danger. Pedestrians are particularly at risk when a driver fails to make a complete stop, especially when a driver is trying to make a right turn.
How to solve for these risky behaviors in your own fleet?
- Help drivers improve behaviors– AI-powered dash cams detect risky behaviors like distracted driving, following distance, and incomplete stops. Robust video safety and telematics functionality can provide data-rich insights on driver performance, driver behavior monitoring, risk management, and incident detection.
- Proactively coach and train drivers– Insights from video and telematics together help managers provide targeted coaching, reducing risky habits before they lead to accidents.
- Get invaluable incident footage for liability protection– Video footage provides clear evidence in case of an accident, protecting your fleet from false claims and costly litigation.
Where are the riskiest Texas driving areas?
For Texas drivers, big cities like Dallas/Fort Worth, Houston, and Austin pose challenges thanks to their heavily populated areas and busy roads. On the other hand, driving long stretches across the vast state means a lot can change over the course of a single day. Between changing weather and long summer daylight hours, it’s critical that drivers stay clear of issues like heat stress while on the job.
- Stay ahead of dynamic risk– Dealing with dynamic risk from areas like weather is a typical part of any operations manager’s job. Leading video and telematics solutions offer GPS tracking for easy adjustment of service and deliveries, plus weather alerting and configurable zone rules and alerts to help managers choose safer routes and lower their fleet’s risk profile.
- Manage heat risk– Heat stress is a common concern in summer Texas months. It can lead to driver fatigue or more serious issues if not taken seriously. Fatigue detection and in-cab alerting can give drivers the chance to course correct and stay safe.
When are the riskiest times to drive in Texas?
Many Texas fleets need to operate at all hours of the day and night. When that’s the case, being selective about routing decisions is critical. How can fleets stay on top of challenges like time-of-day risk?
- Go beyond dots on a map– Video safety and telematics allow operations managers access to robust, on-demand video for all their vehicles, plus real-time visibility of vehicle locations, enabling better resource allocation and quicker response times. This means a clearer picture of what’s happening in the moment, allowing managers to quickly change a driver’s course if needed.
- Get the data you need for future decisions– Analysis of fuel management, vehicle diagnostics, route optimization, and regulatory compliance data can reveal patterns and offer key data points to make operational decisions, like avoiding a particular section of road at certain times of the day.
Take action: Protect your fleet with the right video safety and telematics technology
Managing a fleet in Texas is no small task, but with the right tools, you can safeguard your drivers, vehicles, and business. A top-tier fleet video safety and telematics system gives you the visibility and insights needed to reduce risk, cut costs, and build a culture of safety.
Ready to learn more about how the right technology provider can help your fleet protect your most valuable assets in motion? Contact us today to get started.