Driving in Texas could be riskier, take longer, and cost more than it does in most states. That’s because Texas tops the rankings of the states with the worst roadways, coming in 17th with roughly 20% of its roads in poor condition.
Here’s why, with more details on:
- Why Texas Ranks #17 for Worst Roads Nationwide
- The Top 10 Most Congested Roads in Texas
- How Road Congestion Contributes to Auto Accidents in Texas
- After a Car Accident on a Congested Road in Texas
To explore more risks of Texas roads, check out Why Texas Ranks in the Deadliest Dozen for Truck Wrecks, Why Auto Crashes in TX Increase in Winter, and How Driverless Trucks Could Impact Safety in the Permian Basin.
Why Texas Ranks #17 for Worst Roads Nationwide
Though not in the top 10, Texas is number 17 on the latest reports assessing America’s most terrible roads. This ranking — and the roadways behind it — were evaluated based on several factors, including pavement conditions, congestion, and the impact on drivers.
Notably, the findings revealed that:
- ~1 in 5 Texas roads is in “poor condition”: There are roughly 10 times more city and urban-area streets in poor condition than rural roads.
- Fatalities per mile driven put Texas higher: With roughly 1.5 deaths per 100 million miles driven, Texas would be 15th for the worst and deadliest roads for motorists.
Despite spending roughly $23 billion on infrastructure improvements each year, Texas ranks higher than most U.S. states for worst roads. The table below presents the latest data behind the rankings for Texas.
| Worst Road Metric – Texas Data | |
|---|---|
| Fatalities per 100 million miles driven (VMT) | 1.49% |
| Rural Roads in “Poor” Quality | 2% |
| Urban Roads in “Poor” Quality | 19% |
While researchers ranking the worst roads in the U.S. did evaluate several components, it’s unclear how or whether 18-wheeler traffic and big rig wrecks were factored into their analysis.
The Top 10 Most Congested Roads in Texas
Looking deeper at why Texas stood out in the worst roads rankings, traffic congestion is a persisting issue that motorists in the Lone Star State not only have to “deal with” but also have to defend themselves against.
That’s especially true for those who live or commute in Houston, Dallas-Fort Worth (DFW), or Austin because roads in these areas comprise the top 10 most congested roads in Texas, according to recent reports and as shown in the table below.
| Rank | Texas Road | From | To | Texas Metro | Cost/Year |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | W. Loop Fwy (IH 610) | Katy Fwy (IH 10) | Southwest Fwy (IH 69) | Houston | $125.9M |
| 2 | Woodall Rodgers Fwy (SS366) | US 75 | N. Beckley Av. | DFW | $47.8M |
| 3 | IH 35 | US 290 N | Ben White Blvd. | Austin | $197.1M |
| 4 | E.R.L Thronton Fwy (IH 30) | Jefferson Viaduct | E. Grande Ave. | DFW | $96M |
| 5 | Eastex Fwy (IH 69) | SH 288 | IH 10 | Houston | $70.6M |
| 6 | Southwest Fwy (IH 69) | W. Loop Fwy | South Fwy | Houston | $115.3M |
| 7 | N. Loop Fwy (IH 610) | North Fwy | Katy Fwy | Houston | $130.7M |
| 8 | US 75 | Northwest Hwy | Woodall Rodgers Fwy | DFW | $102.7M |
| 9 | US 75 | LBJ Fwy | Northwest Hwy | DFW | $77.4M |
| 10 | Katy Fwy (IH 10) | W. Loop N. Fwy | North Fwy | Houston | $114.1M |
A few highlights to point out when looking at the top 100 most congested roads in Texas:
- DFW ranks #1 for having more of the most congested roads in Texas than any other region, with 42 of the top 100 being in the DFW area.
- Houston ranks #2, with 33 of the most congested roads in the Lone Star State.
- Traffic delays cost motorists more than 505.7 million hours in traffic delays, and that has increased by more than 20% since 2022.
- Congestion comes with a price of more than $13.4 billion, not including the cost of wasted fuel. This price has increased by nearly 21% since 2022.
How Road Congestion Contributes to Auto Accidents in Texas
Congested roadways aren’t just frustrating — they can be incredibly dangerous. That’s because traffic congestion can elevate drivers’ crash risks, due to factors like (and not limited to):
- Rear-end collisions: Drivers who misjudge stopping distances or fail to react quickly enough to changing conditions are more likely to rear-end vehicles they follow in high-traffic conditions.
- Lane-change accidents: Heavy congestion can give rise to frequent and often unsafe lane changes, particularly when motorists fail to check blind spots or merge too quickly, causing sideswipe crashes or merging collisions.
- Driver fatigue: Sitting in traffic for long periods can cause driver fatigue, which could result in longer blinks, head bobbing, or even short periods of leaving the eyes closed. Driver fatigue can also mean slower response times and greater chances of crashes.
- Driver distraction: Motorists waiting for vehicles to move — or to move faster than a few miles per hour — could succumb to distractions, like playing with the radio, using their cellphone, eating, or engaging in other activities. Any distractions could delay accident-preventing reactions, especially when drivers are both fatigued and distracted.
- Aggressive driving and road rage: Frustrated drivers in congested areas can be prone to aggressive behavior, including speeding, tailgating, zigzagging in and out of traffic, and other dangerous maneuvers, increasing the likelihood of wrecks on high-traffic roads.
- Delayed emergency response times: During peak congestion, emergency vehicles may face delays in reaching accident sites. That could raise the risk of secondary collisions if the initial wrecks are in the immediate path of traffic and other motorists have zero warning, way to stop, or option for maneuvering around them.
While that’s not an exhaustive list of how congestion can lead to car accidents, it reveals another way in which the roads in Houston, DFW, Austin, and throughout Texas present real dangers to unsuspecting drivers day in and day out.
After a Car Accident on a Congested Road in Texas
As careful as you may be behind the wheel, a car accident on a congested road (or any other road) in Texas can occur in the blink of an eye. When that happens to you, the data and rankings on congested roads won’t help you recover — but knowing your rights and talking to an experienced car accident can.