Driving through the DFW metroplex can sometimes feel like a gamble, requiring the mental awareness and reflexes of a ninja to safely navigate the maze of heavy traffic, road construction, detours, and distracted and reckless drivers.
Last year, 4,481 people died on Texas roads — averaging one death every 117 minutes. Dallas County had the second-highest number of traffic fatalities (355) in the state, following behind Harris County (571), according to TxDOT statistics.
To curb the alarming rise in road fatalities in the state, AAA Texas and the Insurance Council of Texas (ICT) have joined forces, launching a public awareness campaign named “Survive the Drive.” The initiative is a call to action aiming to reverse the disturbing trend of reckless and distracted driving that has contributed to so many of the state’s traffic fatalities.
According to Daniel Armbruster, senior public affairs specialist for AAA Texas, there has been a noticeable upswing in recent years in risky driving behaviors, such as speeding, impaired driving, distracted driving, and aggressive driving. This shift in driving habits has had grave consequences, significantly increasing deaths on Texas roadways.
Strikingly, impaired driving deaths on Texas roadways soared by more than 22% from 2019 to 2022. ICT’s Director of Communications Rich Johnson has also noted a spike in claims involving serious crashes.
Johnson attributed this to the growing population in Texas and the increased traffic that comes with it. He pointed out, per CBS News Texas, “We’re getting bigger. We have more people on the roads, as well as just the severity and the expense of cars these days to repair.”
This fall, “Survive the Drive” is on a mission to instill safe road habits among Texans. It promotes rideshare services as an alternative to drinking and driving and advocates for responsible mobile phone usage.
“Put your phone in the glove box. Give it to another passenger. Put it in the trunk, but you should not have it with you,” Armbruster advised, per CBS News.
Johnson echoed these sentiments, highlighting the need to revert to safer driving habits.
“We need to go back to those habits where we’re driving slower, more safe, and less distracted,” he told CBS News.
The campaign stresses the importance of this message, especially as we transition into the time of year when daylight becomes scarce. Armbruster underscored that the reduced daylight hours and the prevalence of risky driving behaviors contribute to the increase in preventable deaths.
The “Survive the Drive” campaign “seeks to create change in the driving habits of all Texans and transform the way we perceive driving –- from a mundane task to a serious responsibility,” according to a news release from the Insurance Council of Texas.
The organization encourages all drivers to pledge to drive safely, share campaign materials on social media, and discuss safe driving habits with family and friends.
“Surviving the drive is not just a matter of chance; it’s a matter of choice,” the ICT emphasized.
