Texas Delivery Truck Accidents

Truck drivers everywhere have a lot to worry about on the road. From other large vehicles to inclement weather, there are many potential dangers they face each time they get behind the wheel.

For one driver in Texas, a recent Amazon delivery truck posed an especially grave threat. In April 2020, four-passenger vehicles–one hauling a trailer–and an Amazon delivery truck were involved in a crash in Houston.

The Amazon truck ran over and killed two women, and to avoid the vehicle, the man driving one of the other cars jumped off an interstate bridge. He was seriously injured but survived.

This incident serves as a tragic reminder of the risks that truck drivers face every day on the road. With more and more large trucks on the road, it is critical that all drivers exercise caution and be aware of the potential dangers.

In another truck accident in Texas, a cargo van on a freeway crashed into the rear of a moving cement truck. The van burst into flames, and the freeway was closed for several hours.

Due to the severity of the fire, it was not possible to identify the victim. This accident highlights the risks that truck drivers face when they are on the road, and it is important that all drivers take precautions to stay safe.

71% of large truck crashes are caused by distracted drivers. VidFleet dashcams use machine learning and a driver facing camera to detect when a driver is distracted from the road. Whether it’s a phone call or eating or texting while driving, VidFleet gives the driver an audible warning to get them back to safe driving.

To better understand the scope of fleet accidents in Texas, we’ve compiled statistics related to accidents in Texas.

Number of accidents involving trucks

Shockingly, Texas is home to hundreds of thousands of vehicle crashes each year. In 2020, 176,931 pickup truck crashes were reported, as well as 23,967 truck crashes and 22,214 truck-tractor / semi-trailer crashes. Van crashes totaled 26,936. 

While these numbers are certainly alarming, it’s even worse that they’re on the rise. What’s even more troubling is that many of these crashes are preventable. By following basic safety guidelines – such as always wearing a seat belt, obeying the speed limit, and avoiding distractions – drivers can help keep themselves and others safe on the road.

Speeding is one of the most dangerous things anyone can do behind the wheel of a vehicle. It was a factor in 26% of all traffic fatalities in 2019. The GPS Trackit driver scorecard helps Fleet Managers know which drivers need coaching and training to drive safely.

 How many field service vehicles are in Texas?

The number of vehicles in Texas has skyrocketed in recent years, and with that comes an increased risk for accidents. According to 2018 figures published on Statista, over 8 million cars are now registered in the state, as well as 6 million pickups and over 1 million vans. 

This increase in vehicles is likely to lead to more accidents, as drivers are increasingly sharing the roads. It is therefore important for all motorists to be aware of the risks and take steps to avoid collisions. 

Austin alone has over 31,000 registered trucks, and this number is only going to grow as the population continues to increase. It is therefore important for truck drivers to take extra precautions when driving in busy areas, and to always be aware of their surroundings.

The number of fatalities, injuries, and dollar costs of damages in Texas

The Texas Department of Transportation has released its 2020 fatal crash statistics. In all, there were 1,895 passenger car fatalities, 1,319 pickup truck fatalities, 148 truck fatalities, 414 truck-tractor / semi-trailer fatalities, and 136 van fatalities.

These fatalities are on the rise, alongside a rise in non-fatal crashes, with 2020’s total death toll on Texas roadways being the highest since 1984. This could be due to several factors, such as increased recklessness, alcohol and drug use, distracted driving, and the ever-growing population of the state.

You can learn more about truck crash liability in our free webinar, The High Cost of Fleet Accidents How to Avoid Them & Protect Your Company.

The causes of field service vehicle accidents in Texas

Texas law firm reports on the causes of truck accidents in the state. The law firm cites speeding, distracted driving, impaired driving, drowsy driving, aggressive driving, and failing to follow traffic laws as the leading causes of truck accidents.

When large trucks speed, they are more likely to lose control, which can lead to a serious accident, and when that happens, the results can be catastrophic. Distracted driving, whether it is from using a cell phone, texting, or eating, can also lead to a serious accident. Impaired driving, either from alcohol or drugs, can also cause a truck driver to lose control of the vehicle.

The VidFleet Artificial Intelligence(A.I.) is better at detecting risky driving events such as speeding, following distance, and distraction to reduce false positive alerts. In the case of speeding, an A.I. camera will improve detection because it reads signs with posted limits to supplement map data.

Drowsy driving is often a factor in truck accidents, as truck drivers are on the road for long periods of time and can easily become fatigued. Aggressive driving, such as tailgating and weaving in and out of traffic, can also lead to an accident. And finally, failing to obey traffic laws, such as failure to stop at a red light or stop sign, can also result in a serious accident.

Vidfleet’s A.I. guided camera systems represent an upgrade over non-A.I. systems that rely on G-force triggers from a device’s accelerometer to report speeding, hard cornering, and other fundamental risky driving events.

They raise the bar by seeing and analyzing much more – sending snippets or alerts to drivers and fleet managers for lane departures, following distance, distraction (cell phone use, smoking, and seat-belt use), or drowsiness.

If you’d like to learn more about how GPS Trackit can help to improve safety, increase productivity and reduce costs for your business, speak with one of our knowledgeable Fleet Advisors at 866-320-5810 or get a quick Custom Quote.