As the largest of America’s 48 contiguous states, Texas likes to boast that it’s big in everything. But the state can’t brag about this: ranking in the top 10 for both America’s deadliest DUI and deadliest speeding states for a car crash accident. That’s according to Reader’s Digest magazine, which assessed recent data on road and bridge conditions, congestion, spending on roads and overall safety.

No. 1 for deadly DUI drunk driving accidents was Montana, followed by South Carolina, Louisiana, Wyoming, West Virginia, Mississippi, North Dakota, No. 8 Texas, Alabama and Arkansas. No. 1 for deadly speeding was Alabama, followed by Mississippi, South Carolina, Wyoming, Alaska, Montana, Pennsylvania, Missouri, Arizona and No. 10 Texas.

As for deadliest roads, Texas ranked 16th, with Montana again ranking first. For the best roads, Kansas was first, with Texas 29th.

Good or bad, how does your state rank on these lists? Check out Reader’s Digest’s web site to see.

At least the need for better roads is being addressed in Texas, with about 1,000 road construction or improvement projects underway in the state, according to the Texas Department of Transportation. But this introduces another potential problem: highway work zone car crash accidents.

Such fatal accidents claim more than 800 Americans each year, so it’s vital that drivers respect warning signs and cones that alert them to highway construction areas. At the least, slow down — which, when you think about it, could help move Texas out of the top 10 states for deadly speeding.

Meanwhile, Jim S. Adler & Associates encourages all Texans to respect road signs, road work and whatever it takes to travel safely from spot A to spot B. Your life, and others’ lives, can depend upon it. And if someone else injures you in a Texas car crash accident, perhaps we can help.

Share on Facebook