Fewer deaths on Texas highways

Fatalities on Texas roads have dropped pretty dramatically, and state officials credit a $1.2 billion expenditure of state bond funds on highway barriers, left-turn lanes and overpasses.

"Our efforts are paying off," Steve Simmons, Texas Department of Transportation deputy executive director, said Tuesday. "More people are wearing seat belts, and there are public campaigns to discourage drinking and driving. But there's no doubt that safer highways have contributed to a decline in fatalities across Texas."

Despite the good news, the carnage on Texas highways is still staggering. In 2009, 3,089 people were killed in crashes in the Lone Star State -- but that's 388 fewer than the year before. In 2008, 3,477 people died on the roads.

Here's how the state transportation department is spending the bulk of its $1.2 billion in safety funds:

* Upgrading 2,200 miles of narrow two-lane roads.

* Installing 1,030 miles of concrete and cable barrier.

* Adding 272 left-turn lanes.

* Building 38 highway interchanges.

Gordon Dickson, 817-390-7796

Comments

[Big Dave]

While this is good news,getting the drunks off the road will help more than any highway improvements..

[jgn5517]

Banning cell phones would save more lives than chasing down drunks and that's a fact.

[Loto]

Banning texting in particular ought to do it.

[Safetysentryinc]

I am Karl Pratt the owner of Safety Sentry Inc. based in Granbury, TX I invented a trailer towing safety device due to the issues of trailers coming loose while towing. Our company started due to my personal trailer coming loose while towing after this occured with research in Texas alone their are over 50 fatalities and over 3200 injuries and over 5,800 reports of property damage each year from the occurance of trailer separation just in Texas. I am not speaking of Tractor Trailers I am talking about the small utility trailers that go up and down the highways on a daily basis towing everything from lawn equipment to boats and horses. Take a look at my website and be more informed www.safetysentryinc.com. Thanks Karl Pratt

[Jackson Chase]

Great ! Now tell me how they managed to build a one billion dollar football stadium, on time....and TXDOT cannot finish three miles of highway one year after the stadium is finished. I never see more than three workers at one time on that stretch. I have a lot of time to look for them, because it takes me 30 minutes to go those three miles. Come on TXDOT, finish that project. Put my tax dollars to work for me, that's your job!!