Fatal Crashes Up Sharply Across Permian Basin
By: Karl Rundgren
Updated: March 18, 2013
MIDLAND -- The entire Permian Basin is seeing a significant rise in fatal crashes.
TXDOT reports that there were 320 fatal crashes and 4,128 serious wrecks in the Permian Basin energy sector region in 2012.
Fatal crashes jumped 27 percent between 2011 and 2012 in the 58 county region (which is 300 miles long and 250 miles wide).
Law enforcement say that the leading causes of serious crashes in the Permian Basin were failure to control speed and driver inattention.
Almost half of fatal and serious injury crashes involved a single vehicle, and commercial trucks were involved in 7 percent of reported crashes in which someone was killed or seriously injured.
The most dangerous time of day (in terms of fatal and serious crashes) was between 4 PM and 5 PM.
Now, TXDOT is partnering with oil and gas companies, the Texas Department of Public Safety and communities across the Permian Basin to promote roadway safety.
The campaign -- called "Be Safe, Drive Smart" -- will feature billboards, ads and signs on gas pumps across West Texas.
TXDOT reports that there were 320 fatal crashes and 4,128 serious wrecks in the Permian Basin energy sector region in 2012.
Fatal crashes jumped 27 percent between 2011 and 2012 in the 58 county region (which is 300 miles long and 250 miles wide).
Law enforcement say that the leading causes of serious crashes in the Permian Basin were failure to control speed and driver inattention.
Almost half of fatal and serious injury crashes involved a single vehicle, and commercial trucks were involved in 7 percent of reported crashes in which someone was killed or seriously injured.
The most dangerous time of day (in terms of fatal and serious crashes) was between 4 PM and 5 PM.
Now, TXDOT is partnering with oil and gas companies, the Texas Department of Public Safety and communities across the Permian Basin to promote roadway safety.
The campaign -- called "Be Safe, Drive Smart" -- will feature billboards, ads and signs on gas pumps across West Texas.
