New Report Shows Leading Causes of Fatal Crashes In ETX

(East Texas) East Texas drivers rely upon city street departments, county road and bridge departments, and the Texas Department of Transportation (TxDOT) to maintain the roads they drive. Drivers want safe roads, so these agencies work hard to maintain them. These departments set speed limits, post informational signs, clear roads of any debris, treat roads for inclement or winter weather, and repair them when possible, along with many other maintenance items.

Who Maintains East Texas Roads

It's up to East Texas drivers, though, to make sure they follow the posted signs while driving. Drivers must be alert and drive with attention to changing conditions around them at all times. Staying off the phone and obeying the speed limit are two ways to greatly improve your chances of avoiding an accident.

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2025 Fatal Crash Data in East Texas

Recently, TxDOT released information regarding fatal crashes in 2025 for the TxDOT Tyler District. In 2025, the district reported 148 fatal crashes and 165 total fatalities. Factors contributing to these crashes in Anderson, Cherokee, Gregg, Henderson, Rusk, Smith, Van Zandt, and Wood Counties include:

• unsafe speed
• failure to drive in a single lane
• intoxication

This is one more fatality than in 2024, when 164 deaths were recorded. It is the second lowest since 148 Texas drivers and passengers lost their lives in 2019.

READ MORE --> Here's How The State Of Texas Determines Speed Limits On Texas Roads

Top Causes of Fatal Crashes

We hear it all the time: slow down and don’t drink and drive. But some of us still do both. TxDOT says these are the leading five factors that led to fatalities on East Texas roads in 2025:

1. Driving at an unsafe speed - 27 total fatal crashes.
2. Failure to drive in a single lane – 24
3. Wrong side, not passing – 18
4. Intoxicated (alcohol) - 17
5. Intoxicated (drugs) - 15

What TxDOT Officials Are Saying

While these numbers do not add up to the total number of crashes, TxDOT says crashes can have multiple contributing factors or none at all. TxDOT Tyler District Engineer Vernon Webb says,

Although we saw a slight increase in fatalities in 2025, we remained well below our five-year average and continue to see positive trends in several areas. However, pedestrian fatalities remain a significant concern. With more pedestrians on our roadways—combined with speeding, distracted driving, and impaired motorists—the risk of serious crashes increases."

How Drivers Can Stay Safe

Drivers should remain vigilant and aware of not only how we're driving and what we're doing behind the wheel, but also of the conditions that are around us. We need to observe and obey posted speed limits. Yield the right of way to pedestrians. Pay close attention when turning right on red or near crosswalks to make sure there are no pedestrians trying to cross.