If you live or work in West Texas, be extra cautious while using the roads. Traffic fatalities continue to be a problem in the oil-rich Permian Basin, according to recent reports.
Three people died and two others were seriously injured in a March 2014 accident in Ward County, Texas, after an oilfield vehicle’s tire blew out, according to a NewsWest 9 report. The blowout caused the vehicle to cross a median and crash into a pickup truck.
The tragic accident illustrates the dangers of traveling on roads in the Permian Basin, which experienced a 13 percent increase in road fatalities between 2012 and 2013, according to statistics from the Texas Department of Transportation. The rise in deadly accidents has prompted communities to search for ways to reverse the troubling trend. In Midland, a victims’ rights coalition has gathered for discussions on how to address the serious traffic problems in the region.
The roads in the Permian Basin have some of the same problems experienced by drivers anywhere in the country. Serious accidents can be traced back to drivers impaired by drugs or alcohol or drivers who are distracted. But the Basin has a few elements that make driving even a bigger risk than it is in many other places. The oil and gas boom in West Texas has led to traffic congestion, with large trucks sharing the roads with smaller vehicles. Some of the most dangerous roadways include SH and US 191.
The Midland Reporter-Telegram reports that Midland County’s death toll has doubled since 2011. Forty-three people died in 40 traffic accidents in 2013. Since Jan. 1, 2014, 12 people have died on the county roads.
To remind drivers to use extra caution while driving through energy work zones, the Texas DOT has launched a public awareness campaign, “Be Safe. Drive Smart.” Sometimes, as personal injury attorneys can attest, drivers who are using extra caution get injured or killed through no fault of their own. The region is booming. Companies are hiring drivers and paying them good salaries, but some of these young drivers are not qualified. In some cases, oil and gas companies hire inexperienced drivers, which can have disastrous consequences. According to an NPR report, some oil and gas companies are hiring young drivers with little-to-no professional experience.
To reduce the risk of serious accidents, the Midland Police Department has enlisted a special unit focused on commercial fleets. Since 2013, the unit has been helping companies to employ drivers who are trained and operate safely.
The Permian Basis is not the only area experiencing rapid economic growth and safety challenges. According to the Texas Department of Transportation, 2013 was a particularly dangerous year for drivers in the Eagle Ford Shale region. The agency reports there were 3,430 fatal and serious injury accidents and 236 traffic fatalities in 2013, representing a 7 percent increase in deadly and serious injury crashes from the previous year.
