Houston tops Memorial Day traffic deaths as Texas attorney warns drivers about truck risks

By AI, Created 10:25 PM UTC, May 21, 2026, /AGP/ – Houston and Dallas rank first and second in the nation for Memorial Day weekend traffic deaths, according to an analysis of NHTSA data from 2018 through 2022. A Houston truck accident lawyer says Texas drivers should avoid five common mistakes around 18-wheelers as AAA expects record holiday travel.

Why it matters: - Houston and Dallas sit at the top of a grim Memorial Day leaderboard, and Texas leads the nation in holiday traffic fatalities. - AAA expects 39.1 million Americans to travel by road this Memorial Day weekend, putting more drivers near commercial trucks at the same time. - The risk is highest for holiday travel, when heavy traffic, impaired driving, and late-night crashes can turn routine trips into fatal ones.

What happened: - Houston ranked No. 1 among U.S. cities for Memorial Day weekend traffic deaths, averaging 20 fatalities per holiday period from 2018 through 2022. - Dallas ranked No. 2 at 19 average Memorial Day weekend traffic deaths over the same period. - Texas averaged 218 Memorial Day weekend traffic fatalities per year from 2018 through 2022, more than any other state. - Sgt. Pike, founding attorney at Texas Truck Accident Lawyer and a former U.S. Army Special Forces operator, urged Texas drivers to prepare before sharing the road with 18-wheelers. - Pike said holiday crashes follow repeatable patterns and that many serious Texas commercial vehicle wrecks stem from the same mistakes.

The details: - A peer-reviewed analysis of NHTSA Fatality Analysis Reporting System data, published in BMC Research Notes, found that all U.S. demographic groups face higher motor vehicle fatality risk during Memorial Day weekend than during non-holiday periods. - The same analysis found Saturday is the deadliest day of the holiday period. - The National Safety Council says 38% of Memorial Day weekend traffic fatalities involve an alcohol-impaired driver. - KXAN Austin reported that 42% of Memorial Day weekend traffic deaths involve people ages 16 to 35. - Texas recorded 546 fatal commercial motor vehicle crashes and 608 deaths in 2024, the most of any state, according to Texas Department of Transportation data reported by the Texas Tribune. - FMCSA says commercial trucks have four blind spots: directly in front, directly behind, and along both sides. - FMCSA notes the right-side blind spot is the largest. - Drivers should pass on the left, pass quickly, and avoid lingering beside an 18-wheeler. - A fully loaded 18-wheeler can weigh up to 80,000 pounds and may need nearly two football fields to stop at highway speed, according to FMCSA. - Drivers should leave an escape route if a truck is behind them and avoid sitting behind a truck where the road ahead is hidden. - FMCSA warns drivers not to cut quickly in front of a truck and slow down, because the maneuver reduces safe stopping distance. - In severe cases, a smaller vehicle can be pulled underneath a trailer in an underride collision. - INRIX, which supplies traffic data for AAA, forecasts the worst congestion this weekend on Thursday and Friday from 3 p.m. to 6 p.m. and again Monday afternoon. - INRIX projects the Houston-to-Austin route via I-10 West and SR-71 West will see travel times 56% longer than normal on Friday around 3 p.m. - The National Safety Council says nearly four in 10 Memorial Day weekend traffic deaths involve an alcohol-impaired driver. - Pike advised drivers to stay off their phones, keep both hands on the wheel, and stay alert for erratic behavior.

Between the lines: - Memorial Day combines several danger factors at once: more cars, more trucks, more alcohol, and more late-night driving. - The repeatable crash patterns around blind spots, stopping distance, and rushed lane changes make truck crashes especially preventable when passenger drivers adjust their behavior. - Texas stands out not just for highway volume, but for the scale of fatal commercial vehicle crashes and holiday deaths.

What’s next: - INRIX expects the heaviest traffic during peak departure windows on Thursday and Friday and again on Monday afternoon. - Drivers heading across Texas should plan for early-morning or late-evening travel to avoid the worst congestion and commercial traffic. - If a truck crash happens, Pike says the first 48 hours are critical because trucking companies often send rapid-response investigators to the scene quickly. - Victims should call 911, document the scene, seek medical care, avoid recorded statements to the carrier’s insurer, and preserve electronic truck data.

The bottom line: - Memorial Day driving in Texas is especially dangerous, and the biggest truck-related risks are predictable enough for drivers to avoid.