TxDOT Campaign to End Traffic Deaths Focuses on Permian Basin

Troopers statewide will be handing out safety brochures to drivers who receive a warning. (TxDOT via X)

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ODESSA — The Texas Department of Transportation announced a statewide public campaign to end fatalities on Texas roadways.

As part of that ongoing effort to raise awareness of fatalities on Texas roadways within the Permian Basin, TxDOT has placed 115 construction barrels along Interstate 20 between the JBS Parkway interchange and Farm-to-Market Road 1788. Each barrel has been placed approximately 115 feet apart, with yellow caution tape tied along the top of the barrel to represent the lives lost due to traffic fatalities in the Permian Basin.

“Since Nov. 7, 2000, at least one person has died on Texas roadways every single day,” said TxDOT Odessa district engineer Eric Lykins. “We’re all in agreement, losing even one life is too many. To combat this tragic trend, TxDOT launched the industry campaign to raise awareness and promote safe driving practices to eliminate fatalities on Texas roadways in the Odessa district.”

Lykins added that for 2023, the Permian Basin has reached an all-time low of 1.98 per 100 million miles traveled.

“That’s the lowest rate we have achieved in the Odessa district since 2010,” he said. “And could be the lowest rate ever.”

On the anniversary of the last deathless day on Texas roads on Nov. 7, 2000, TxDOT and @TxDPS are working together to share safe driving messages in hopes to finally end this deadly streak. Read more: https://t.co/cfCAy2Ey3v #EndTheStreakTX pic.twitter.com/2VWUkE8i5p — TxDOT (@TxDOT) November 7, 2024

In 2022, the fatality rate in the Permian Basin was at 3.01 which was the highest rate among all of the 25 TxDOT districts across the state. While Lykins said that TxDOT has made remarkable progress with the reduction of traffic fatalities, he reiterated there is still much work to be done to achieve the ultimate goal of zero fatalities.

“We came very close to ending the streak just this past January. On that day, we only had one fatality across the state of Texas,” he said.

“This downward trend is a testament to the concerted efforts and partnerships we have with the Midland Police Department, the Odessa Police Department, Texas DPS and other law enforcement agencies across the Permian Basin.”

Sgt. Steven Blanco, a public information officer for DPS, said that it takes the entire community of not only law enforcement agencies but also partners within the oil industry as well.

Texas has lost at least one person every day on Texas roads since Nov. 7, 2000. We need to #endthestreakTx of daily deaths on Texas roads! The ferry team is doing their part on the road and hopes you can do the same. Slow down, never drive distracted, and never drink and drive. pic.twitter.com/CL62RGvHrx — Galveston Ferry (@GalvestonFerry) November 7, 2024

“The traffic issues statewide and in the Permian Basin can not be solved by just law enforcement, we have to have the community,” he said. “It takes the community, the oil industry, our partners in the private sector, the Permian Road Safety Coalition, the Permian Basin Strategic Partnership, TxDOT and all law enforcement agencies to come together to save lives.”

Blanco encouraged drivers to be courteous and to drive defensively especially while traveling in construction zones. He also reminded the public of the “Move Over” law which requires private passenger vehicles to move over anytime a law enforcement vehicle, EMS, fire emergency vehicle, tow truck, utility vehicle or TxDOT vehicle is on the roadway with their lights on.

“Drivers are required to reduce their speed by 20 mph or move over to the next lane,” he added.

Blanco knows the repercussions of that law not being followed, following the death of a Texas DPS trooper in September of this year. Trooper Kevin Alexis Ramirez Vasquez died Sept. 28 after he was hospitalized with life-threatening injuries following a crash along State Highway 302 in Ector County on the morning of Sept. 17. He was struck by a vehicle while outside his patrol vehicle. Ramirez Vasquez was only 25 years old.

“It’s very important to move over for the safety of not only our first responders, but for our two truck drivers, our TxDOT employees, but also for the public that’s on that traffic stop or in that crash zone. Together, we can save lives, and initiatives like this for industry are very, very important.”

Odessa Police Chief Michael Gerke said that the No. 1 cause of most crashes in Odessa is distracted driving.

“By distracted driving, I mean looking at that cellphone while we are driving down the road,” he said. “Please put that cellphone away.”

Gerke added that for serious accidents, defined as injury accidents and fatalities, driving while intoxicated becomes involved.

“We have a high number of DWIs in the city,” he explained. “I think we have a high number of DWIs in this region, and I think that’s something that we have to implore our businesses such as bars, restaurants and citizens that go out and enjoy a drink now and then to please understand that this impairs your ability to drive.”

Gerke encouraged the public to arrange for a designated driver such as a friend and for businesses to set up a program where patrons can get a ride home. He believes that through interagency cooperation and programming, roadside fatalities can continue to be improved. “I think in the Permian Basin, we are blessed because there is a spirit of cooperation between law enforcement agencies, city, state and county agencies that can come together and solve issues.”

“We are dedicated to bringing these numbers down, total accidents, injury accidents, and fatality accidents. Those things have to come down,” he emphasized. “Please understand law enforcement can’t fix this on their own. It takes the entire community. It takes citizens being responsible. It takes business owners being responsible.”

Since Nov. 7, 2000, more than 87,000 people have been killed on Texas roads.