Here’s an interesting fact: according to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration’s early estimate of traffic fatalities in 2011, deaths declined nationwide but remained about the same in Texas.
The report was released recently and covers only the first nine months of 2011. It will be amended at a later date. The preliminary report shows the lowest number of traffic fatalities in the past 60 years. This may be due to people driving less as gas prices increase, to higher seat belt usage, and to safer vehicles.
There are several possible reasons for the Texas discrepancy. The Texas economy has not suffered as much as in other states, and that may have brought more people to Texas in search of jobs. That means more vehicles on the roads.