Harris County has experienced the most commercial vehicles in Texas this year, TxDOT data shows.
The TxDOT Crash Records Information System shows an uptick in accidents in Harris County 2019, just before the pandemic, a substantial decrease in commercial vehicle accidents when passenger vehicles stayed off the road in 2020, and a near return to previous rates in 2021. If 2022 maintains its current pace regarding commercial vehicle crashes, it is expected to rank higher than 2019 in the number of crashes – just around 7,000.
In the TxDOT Crash Records Information System, commercial vehicles include vans, trucks, tractor trailers, and other vehicles used to move cargo, and wrecks include incidents involving death, injury, or at least $1,000 worth of damage, reports the Houston Chronicle.
Of all the highways in Harris County, Interstate 10 in Houston is specifically the most dangerous for commercial vehicle crashes, with 3,537 crashes since 2017. The interchange where I-10 meets Beltway 8 in Spring Branch is considered a particularly high-risk area – 101 commercial vehicle accidents have occured in that area in the past five years.
The second most dangerous area for commercial vehicle wrecks in Harris County is Sam Houston Parkway/Beltway 8 with 3,186 accidents since 2017.Two additional hotspots for CMV crashes include 610 near both intersections with Interstate 45, with over 100 accidents each since 2017.
The date also shows that Tuesdays are the most likely days for CMV related crashes, while Saturday and Sunday are the least likely days.