State Highway 71 in Texas: fatal crashes
From 2015 to 2024, 205 fatal crashes on State Highway 71 in Texas killed 246 people, the 19th most of 443 numbered roads in Texas. In 2024 there were 21 fatal crashes and 23 deaths on the road.
A state highway running through 13 counties of Texas. All fatal crashes in Texas.
Deaths on State Highway 71 in Texas by year
| Year | Fatal crashes | Deaths |
|---|---|---|
| 2024 | 21 | 23 |
| 2023 | 26 | 33 |
| 2022 | 20 | 22 |
| 2021 | 22 | 27 |
| 2020 | 26 | 33 |
| 2019 | 11 | 14 |
| 2018 | 24 | 28 |
| 2017 | 14 | 19 |
| 2016 | 27 | 32 |
| 2015 | 14 | 15 |
Source: NHTSA Fatality Analysis Reporting System (FARS), 2024 Annual Report File (released April 2026, subject to revision). How we count
Where on State Highway 71 in Texas: the counties with the most fatal crashes
Travis County had the most fatal crashes on State Highway 71 from 2015 to 2024: 80, with 93 deaths. Travis, Bastrop and Fayette counties together held 72% of fatal crashes on State Highway 71 in Texas from 2015 to 2024; the 7 listed held 95%. Counties are listed from 5 fatal crashes.
| County | 2024 | 2015 to 2024 | Deaths | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Travis County | 6 | 80 | 93 |
| 2 | Bastrop County | 5 | 44 | 53 |
| 3 | Fayette County | 4 | 24 | 33 |
| 4 | Llano County | 2 | 17 | 20 |
| 5 | Colorado County | 1 | 12 | 14 |
| 6 | Wharton County | 2 | 11 | 12 |
| 7 | McCulloch County | 0 | 7 | 7 |
Source: NHTSA Fatality Analysis Reporting System (FARS), 2024 Annual Report File (released April 2026, subject to revision). How we count
When fatal crashes happen on State Highway 71 in Texas
205 fatal crashes on State Highway 71 in Texas from 2015 to 2024 have a known time, too few for any one weekday and time of day to stand out. The worst hour is 3 pm to 4 pm; the worst month is December.
| Midnight to 4 | 4 to 8 am | 8 to noon | Noon to 4 | 4 to 8 pm | 8 to midnight | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Sun | 4.4 percent, 9 fatal crashes | 2.4 percent, 5 fatal crashes | 0.5 percent, 1 fatal crash | 3.4 percent, 7 fatal crashes | 2.9 percent, 6 fatal crashes | 3.4 percent, 7 fatal crashes |
| Mon | 1.5 percent, 3 fatal crashes | 4.4 percent, 9 fatal crashes | 1.5 percent, 3 fatal crashes | 2.4 percent, 5 fatal crashes | 1.5 percent, 3 fatal crashes | 1.5 percent, 3 fatal crashes |
| Tue | 0.5 percent, 1 fatal crash | 1.5 percent, 3 fatal crashes | 1.5 percent, 3 fatal crashes | 4.4 percent, 9 fatal crashes | 3.4 percent, 7 fatal crashes | 2.9 percent, 6 fatal crashes |
| Wed | 2.0 percent, 4 fatal crashes | 3.4 percent, 7 fatal crashes | 3.4 percent, 7 fatal crashes | 1.5 percent, 3 fatal crashes | 1.5 percent, 3 fatal crashes | 3.4 percent, 7 fatal crashes |
| Thu | 0.5 percent, 1 fatal crash | 2.9 percent, 6 fatal crashes | 0.0 percent, 0 fatal crashes | 2.4 percent, 5 fatal crashes | 1.0 percent, 2 fatal crashes | 3.9 percent, 8 fatal crashes |
| Fri | 1.0 percent, 2 fatal crashes | 4.4 percent, 9 fatal crashes | 2.9 percent, 6 fatal crashes | 2.0 percent, 4 fatal crashes | 3.4 percent, 7 fatal crashes | 2.9 percent, 6 fatal crashes |
| Sat | 3.9 percent, 8 fatal crashes | 1.5 percent, 3 fatal crashes | 1.5 percent, 3 fatal crashes | 2.0 percent, 4 fatal crashes | 2.0 percent, 4 fatal crashes | 2.9 percent, 6 fatal crashes |
By hour
By month
- Jan8.8%
- Feb5.4%
- Mar6.3%
- Apr10.2%
- May7.8%
- Jun9.3%
- Jul7.8%
- Aug4.9%
- Sep7.8%
- Oct11.2%
- Nov8.3%
- Dec12.2%
Source: NHTSA Fatality Analysis Reporting System (FARS), 2024 Annual Report File (released April 2026, subject to revision). How we count
What fatal crashes on State Highway 71 in Texas first hit
The first harmful event was a collision with another vehicle in most fatal crashes, 55%; a fixed object such as a tree, pole or barrier in 17%, a pedestrian in 14%, a rollover in 7.8%.
| First harmful event | Fatal crashes | Share |
|---|---|---|
| Collision with another vehicle | 112 | 55% |
| Fixed object (tree, pole, barrier, ditch) | 34 | 17% |
| Pedestrian | 28 | 14% |
| Rollover | 16 | 7.8% |
| Other | 8 | 3.9% |
| Parked vehicle | 4 | 2.0% |
| Cyclist | 3 | 1.5% |
| Not reported | 0 | 0.0% |
Source: NHTSA Fatality Analysis Reporting System (FARS), 2024 Annual Report File (released April 2026, subject to revision). How we count
How fatal crashes on State Highway 71 in Texas compare with the state
The largest difference from Texas: from 2015 to 2024, 70% of fatal crashes on State Highway 71 in Texas were on rural roads, against 38% across Texas. Also above the Texas share: unlit roads at night. Below it: speeding, unbelted occupants, motorcycles and pedestrians. Shares of fatal crashes from 2015 to 2024, against the share across all of Texas. A share is only given over 20 crashes; above or below means more than chance would give on 205 crashes.
| State Highway 71 | Texas | ||
|---|---|---|---|
| On rural stretches | 70% | 38% | above the Texas share |
| At or near an intersection | 23% | 22% | about the same as the Texas share |
| In the dark, road unlit | 42% | 31% | above the Texas share |
| A drinking driver | 22% | 26% | about the same as the Texas share |
| Speeding | 22% | 32% | below the Texas share |
| A distracted driver (as recorded) | 11% | 10% | about the same as the Texas share |
| Occupants killed unbelted | 33% | 45% | below the Texas share |
| Hit-and-run | 5.9% | 7.6% | about the same as the Texas share |
| A motorcycle involved | 4.9% | 14% | below the Texas share |
| Pedestrians among the dead | 12% | 18% | below the Texas share |
Source: NHTSA Fatality Analysis Reporting System (FARS), 2024 Annual Report File (released April 2026, subject to revision). How we count
Questions about fatal crashes on State Highway 71 in Texas
- How many fatal crashes have there been on State Highway 71 in Texas?
- 205 fatal crashes killed 246 people on State Highway 71 in Texas from 2015 to 2024. In 2024 there were 21 fatal crashes and 23 deaths. Source: NHTSA's Fatality Analysis Reporting System (FARS).
- Where on State Highway 71 in Texas do the most fatal crashes happen?
- Travis County had the most fatal crashes on State Highway 71 from 2015 to 2024: 80, with 93 deaths. Bastrop County was second with 44.
Other roads in Texas with a page
All fatal crashes in Texas, with every road ranked.
Where the State Highway 71 numbers come from
Counted from NHTSA's Fatality Analysis Reporting System, 2024 Annual Report File: every fatal crash whose road NHTSA filed as State Highway 71 in Texas (filed under 9 spellings, such as "SR-71", "SR-71 BASTROP HWY", "SR-71 BEN WHITE BLVD", "SR-71 CROSSOVER"). Ramps, frontage and service roads are left out. Where two routes share a road, NHTSA files each crash under one of them, so a shared stretch counts on one route only. A fatal crash is one in which someone died within 30 days. Totals in state and news reports for a road usually differ: they include ramps and frontage roads, or count from preliminary reports. The full method.