Dallas Car Accident Statistics

Dallas, Texas, is a populous city with several major highways, including I-35E, I-30, I-45, and I-635. With over 1.3 million residents and 25.7 million visitors annually, it is no surprise that the city is notorious for its traffic congestion.

In this article, we will take a look at various traffic statistics in Dallas, including the number of car accidents per year, injury and fatality rates, and steps being taken to reduce these incidents. To learn more about who we are and how our attorneys can help with your case, contact our law office today.

Frequency of Auto Collisions in Dallas, TX

On average, Dallas sees between 50,000 and 55,000 auto accidents per year. However, collisions have increased steadily over the last few years, with just over 48,200 wrecks in 2020 and more than 52,100 in 2023.

According to data from the Texas Department of Transportation, approximately 1,500 to 1,700 car accidents occur per day in the state. In comparison, there is an average of 95 to 96 collisions daily in Dallas. This means that, out of the over 1,200 incorporated cities in the state, Dallas accounts for around 6% of day-to-day car wrecks.

Severity of Dallas Auto Crashes

In a 2025 report, it was revealed that Dallas has the highest rate of deadly crashes per capita in Texas. In 2023 alone, Dallas recorded 539 traffic deaths. In addition, there were 2,884 serious injuries and 16,675 minor injuries resulting from car accidents. Data shows that drivers and passengers between the ages of 25 and 34 were most likely to be injured in these incidents. However, on average, 27,000 crashes in Dallas do not involve injuries each year.

Crash Hotspots: Where Accidents Happen Most in Dallas

While accidents can occur anywhere, there are specific roadways and intersections in Dallas known to be especially dangerous. On average, Dallas’ interstates saw the most fatal crashes with a total of four deaths in 2024.

According to Vision Zero’s data collected from 2015 to 2019, 131,997 crashes occurred on non-access-controlled or principal arterial roadways, such as Northwest Highway, Preston Road, and Garland Road. This makes up more than half of all severe crashes in the city. Similarly, 62% of crashes at intersections were near a traffic signal.

In terms of time-of-day patterns or peak crash times, more severe and fatal injuries occur between sunset and midnight than at any other part of the day. In addition, collisions peak in late fall and early spring.

Common Contributing Factors To Crashes

Several factors can be the primary or contributing causes of an auto collision. Data from 2019 to 2023 indicates that speeding is the leading cause of car accidents in Texas. In 2023 alone, 3,504 crashes were speed-related in the state, with over 14% occurring in Dallas. Other common causes of Dallas car wrecks in 2023 included the following:

Distracted driving: 305 accidents
Failure to yield: 225 accidents
Failure to stay in lane: 297 accidents
Driving under the influence of alcohol: 202 accidents

Crash and Fatality Rates by Population and Mileage

One 2022 news article identified Dallas as the second-highest city in the U.S. for traffic fatalities, with 15–16 fatalities per 100,000 residents from 2017 to 2021. Another source found Dallas’ traffic death rates to be the worst among the 10 largest U.S. cities. Overall, the city’s average traffic fatality rates are significantly higher than national averages.

The high number of fatalities from Dallas auto collisions can be attributed to several factors besides poor driving habits, such as traffic volume and population growth. The Dallas-Fort Worth metro area gains about 170,000 to 178,000 residents annually, roughly 487 daily, making it the fastest-growing U.S. metro. While this can bolster the economy in many positive ways, more drivers on the road and more vehicle-miles traveled naturally raise the likelihood of crashes.

Impact on Public Health and Economy

The high number of collisions that occur on Dallas’ roadways has a significant impact on public health and the city’s economy.

Public Health

On average, these incidents cause 19,000 injuries each year, meaning hundreds of people need medical attention. This can put a strain on emergency services and hospital resources, requiring trauma surgeons, nurses, and hospital beds, and affecting care for other patients. Additionally, long-term disabilities can contribute to lost productivity, dependence on social services, and emotional stress for families.

The Economy

While no information is publicly available on the total cost of crashes in Dallas, statewide data can help estimate these costs. The Texas Department of Public Safety estimates that car accidents involving serious injuries cost approximately $3.5 million on average, while non-serious injury accidents cost around $500,000. These totals typically come from the following expenses:

Immediate medical bills and vehicle repair
Lost wages and productivity
Higher insurance premiums and public spending
Long-term disability

Each of these elements strains economic growth, causing people to work and spend less, and for society to pay more to treat injuries and maintain infrastructure. However, policymakers can use this data to identify key issues in the city and improve roadways, such as installing safer intersections, monitoring speeds, and setting up DUI checkpoints.

Recommendations Based on Dallas Crash Data

While Dallas policymakers’ decisions may appear most impactful, individuals can make everyday choices that create a safe driving environment, including the following:

Obey speed limits and adjust for road conditions
Avoid distracted driving
Maintain safe following distances
Use seat belts and ensure all passengers do the same
Stay alert for pedestrians and cyclists
Drive sober and avoid impaired driving

Citizens can also encourage policymakers to make changes to the city’s roadways that reduce the risk of accidents, such as:

Install clearer signage and road markings
Redesign dangerous intersections
Add traffic-calming measures like speed bumps or curb extensions
Increase enforcement in high-risk areas like speed cameras or DUI checkpoints
Improve pedestrian and bike infrastructure by adding crosswalks and bike lanes
Enhance lighting and visibility at night

Community advocacy is another key part of improving road safety that involves the following:

Supporting public awareness campaigns
Encouraging policymakers to prioritize traffic safety initiatives
Partnering with schools, businesses, and neighborhood groups
Fostering a culture of safety throughout the community

Through these actions, residents can directly influence safer streets and reduce crashes in their neighborhoods.

Dallas Road Safety Efforts and Vision Zero

The core goal of Vision Zero Dallas is to eliminate traffic deaths and cut serious injuries by half by 2030. The main focuses for this effort include street design, pedestrian safety, speeding, DUI enforcement, education, and regular evaluation.

Street design: The program targets about 7% of streets, which are responsible for 6% of fatal and severe crashes. Efforts focus on redesigning these streets with improvements such as better intersections, lane changes, medians, and traffic-calming measures to reduce accidents.
Pedestrian safety: Pedestrians are involved in about 30% of severe crashes, making them a focus for this initiative. Vision Zero is working to add crosswalks, pedestrian signals, lighting, and protected sidewalks to create safer crossings and reduce collisions with vehicles.
Speeding: Speeding is a significant factor in crash severity and fatality risk. To combat this, the city is lowering speed limits on high-risk corridors, installing traffic-calming measures, and using automated enforcement to encourage drivers to slow down.
DUI enforcement: Because impaired driving continues to contribute to fatal crashes in Dallas, police are conducting targeted DUI checkpoints, patrols, and enforcement campaigns to reduce alcohol and drug-related wrecks.
Education: Public awareness campaigns inform drivers, pedestrians, and cyclists about safe behaviors such as speed management, distraction avoidance, and compliance with laws. The goal is to change poor driving behavior and promote a safety culture.
Regular evaluation: Dallas is continuing to monitor crash data, evaluate interventions, and adjust strategies to ensure resources target areas with the greatest impact, supporting measurable progress toward Vision Zero goals.