TxDOT study reveals top factors that contributed to 165 deaths on roadways in 2025

Published 5:45 am Saturday, March 7, 2026

A report released this week reveals speeding and failing to drive in a single lane contributed to 165 traffic-related deaths in the Tyler area in 2025, according to the Texas Department of Transportation.

TxDOT collected data from eight Tyler-area counties within its district and determined the top five factors that contributed to fatal crashes last year. The study showed factors like unsafe speed, failure to drive in a single lane and intoxication contributed to 148 fatal crashes, which resulted in 165 deaths.

Jeffrey Williford, public information officer at TxDOT Tyler District, said 2025 had the second-lowest total of fatal crashes since 2019, but there were three more fatal crashes in 2025 than in 2024, resulting in a 2% increase.

“We always say that one fatality is too many,” Williford said. “The contributing factors are why we put this out and contribute to some of the messaging we do throughout the year. These things are almost all 100% preventable.”

The TXDOT Tyler District looked at statistics from Anderson, Cherokee, Gregg, Henderson, Rusk, Smith, Van Zandt and Wood counties and found the five main factors for crashes included:

1. Individuals driving at an unsafe speed contributed to 27 fatal crashes.
2. Individuals’ failure to drive in a single lane contributed to 24 fatal crashes.
3. Individuals driving on the wrong side while in non-passing sections contributed to 18 fatal crashes.
4. Intoxicated drivers with alcohol contributed to 17 fatal crashes.
5. Intoxicated drivers with drugs contributed to 15 fatal crashes.

The data in these reports represent the number of crashes that had at least one driver reported as having the indicated contributing factor, according to the study.

“There could be more than one contributing factor in a fatal crash, but the top five show up more than all of them,” Williford said.

Crashes can have none or multiple contributing factors. Therefore, the total number of crashes for these reports will not equal the total number of crashes in the Tyler District.

“Failure to drive in a single lane could be something like distracted driving where a driver drifts into the opposite lane due to impairment or fatigue,” Williford explained. “Wrong side, not passing is where they get fully into that lane, which would be like passing in a no passing zone or improper use of a center turn lane.”

Rural traffic crashes accounted for 70% of the district’s traffic fatalities with 131 people dying, an increase by 5% from 2024. Single-vehicle, run-off-the-road crashes accounted for 29% of the district’s motor vehicle fatalities with 47 deaths.

“One thing we do have a lot of is trees,” Williford said. “We’ve done a lot of work improving safety on those FM roads whether it be trimming or removing trees or improving roads, but 75%, that’s a high amount.”

Williford said many people are always shocked a majority of fatalities come from rural roads and not major interstates, but crashes are more likely to occur in those areas due to curves, trees and low lighting.

“We try to do our best to get the word out on why it’s important to watch your speed and be careful and pay attention,” Williford said.

There were 18 pedestrian and four pedal-cyclist fatalities in 2025, resulting in three more than in 2024.

“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,” said Vernon Webb, engineer for the Tyler District. “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.”

Williford said pedestrians are encouraged to always stay on sidewalks, cross only at intersections with pedestrian lights, and wear reflective gear or a light at night.

“We feel like distracted driving is a very hard thing to see the results of,” Williford said. “It can be whether you’re looking down at a phone, something else going on in your car or kids can cause you to lose control of your car in a split second, and in a lot of investigations that may not be something that’s known.”

In 2025, there were 5 confirmed distracted driving deaths, 43 unrestrained vehicle passenger deaths, meaning individuals without a seatbelt, 37 intersection deaths and 39 alcohol-related deaths.

“We must continue to hold ourselves accountable and practice safe driving habits,” Webb said. “We will remain focused on our public outreach events and educational campaigns. In addition, we will maintain strong communication with our law enforcement partners to ensure that areas of concern are identified and addressed quickly. We will not rest until we achieve our mission of zero fatalities on Texas roadways.”

Williford said TxDOT hosts several events throughout the year around including events near the Super Bowl, New Year’s, Christmas and Labor Day. He said their next large awareness effort will be March 22 as part of the “Click it or Ticket” campaign event, which involves a large truck and speakers that brings attention to buckling your seatbelt, specifically targeted to teens.

“The annual study is all about bringing awareness to what those causes of these fatal crashes are and with unsafe speed being No. 1, we need people to know that we know we get impatient, we get in a hurry, but pushing the envelope can be very dangerous,” Williford said. “Those 165 fatalities are family members, co-workers and friends that have lost their lives and it’s important to us that we’re doing our part to work with communities to keep each other safe and that’s what we’ll continue to do.”