US 181 in Texas: fatal crashes
From 2015 to 2024, 78 fatal crashes on US 181 in Texas killed 88 people, the 60th most of 443 numbered roads in Texas. In 2024 there were 11 fatal crashes and 12 deaths on the road.
A US route running through 6 counties of Texas. All fatal crashes in Texas.
Deaths on US 181 in Texas by year
| Year | Fatal crashes | Deaths |
|---|---|---|
| 2024 | 11 | 12 |
| 2023 | 5 | 5 |
| 2022 | 9 | 12 |
| 2021 | 4 | 4 |
| 2020 | 9 | 11 |
| 2019 | 4 | 5 |
| 2018 | 7 | 7 |
| 2017 | 9 | 11 |
| 2016 | 7 | 7 |
| 2015 | 13 | 14 |
Source: NHTSA Fatality Analysis Reporting System (FARS), 2024 Annual Report File (released April 2026, subject to revision). How we count
Where on US 181 in Texas: the counties with the most fatal crashes
Bexar County had the most fatal crashes on US 181 from 2015 to 2024: 16, with 17 deaths. Bexar, Karnes and Wilson counties together held 56% of fatal crashes on US 181 in Texas from 2015 to 2024. Counties are listed from 5 fatal crashes.
| County | 2024 | 2015 to 2024 | Deaths | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Bexar County | 4 | 16 | 17 |
| 2 | Karnes County | 2 | 14 | 18 |
| 3 | Wilson County | 2 | 14 | 14 |
| 4 | Nueces County | 0 | 13 | 17 |
| 5 | Bee County | 1 | 13 | 14 |
| 6 | San Patricio County | 2 | 8 | 8 |
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 US 181 in Texas
78 fatal crashes on US 181 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 10 pm to 11 pm; the worst month is September.
| Midnight to 4 | 4 to 8 am | 8 to noon | Noon to 4 | 4 to 8 pm | 8 to midnight | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Sun | 3.8 percent, 3 fatal crashes | 1.3 percent, 1 fatal crash | 1.3 percent, 1 fatal crash | 0.0 percent, 0 fatal crashes | 1.3 percent, 1 fatal crash | 2.6 percent, 2 fatal crashes |
| Mon | 1.3 percent, 1 fatal crash | 1.3 percent, 1 fatal crash | 2.6 percent, 2 fatal crashes | 3.8 percent, 3 fatal crashes | 3.8 percent, 3 fatal crashes | 5.1 percent, 4 fatal crashes |
| Tue | 1.3 percent, 1 fatal crash | 1.3 percent, 1 fatal crash | 2.6 percent, 2 fatal crashes | 3.8 percent, 3 fatal crashes | 5.1 percent, 4 fatal crashes | 3.8 percent, 3 fatal crashes |
| Wed | 2.6 percent, 2 fatal crashes | 2.6 percent, 2 fatal crashes | 1.3 percent, 1 fatal crash | 1.3 percent, 1 fatal crash | 5.1 percent, 4 fatal crashes | 2.6 percent, 2 fatal crashes |
| Thu | 1.3 percent, 1 fatal crash | 1.3 percent, 1 fatal crash | 1.3 percent, 1 fatal crash | 0.0 percent, 0 fatal crashes | 1.3 percent, 1 fatal crash | 5.1 percent, 4 fatal crashes |
| Fri | 0.0 percent, 0 fatal crashes | 1.3 percent, 1 fatal crash | 0.0 percent, 0 fatal crashes | 5.1 percent, 4 fatal crashes | 1.3 percent, 1 fatal crash | 3.8 percent, 3 fatal crashes |
| Sat | 3.8 percent, 3 fatal crashes | 2.6 percent, 2 fatal crashes | 2.6 percent, 2 fatal crashes | 1.3 percent, 1 fatal crash | 2.6 percent, 2 fatal crashes | 3.8 percent, 3 fatal crashes |
By hour
By month
- Jan9.0%
- Feb6.4%
- Mar7.7%
- Apr5.1%
- May7.7%
- Jun9.0%
- Jul9.0%
- Aug10.3%
- Sep12.8%
- Oct9.0%
- Nov6.4%
- Dec7.7%
Source: NHTSA Fatality Analysis Reporting System (FARS), 2024 Annual Report File (released April 2026, subject to revision). How we count
What fatal crashes on US 181 in Texas first hit
The first harmful event was a collision with another vehicle in most fatal crashes, 54%; a pedestrian in 18%, a fixed object such as a tree, pole or barrier in 18%, a rollover in 7.7%.
| First harmful event | Fatal crashes | Share |
|---|---|---|
| Collision with another vehicle | 42 | 54% |
| Pedestrian | 14 | 18% |
| Fixed object (tree, pole, barrier, ditch) | 14 | 18% |
| Rollover | 6 | 7.7% |
| Cyclist | 1 | 1.3% |
| Other | 1 | 1.3% |
| Parked vehicle | 0 | 0.0% |
| 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 US 181 in Texas compare with the state
The largest difference from Texas: from 2015 to 2024, 54% of fatal crashes on US 181 in Texas were on rural roads, against 38% across Texas. Below the Texas share: unbelted occupants. 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 78 crashes.
| US 181 | Texas | ||
|---|---|---|---|
| On rural stretches | 54% | 38% | above the Texas share |
| At or near an intersection | 19% | 22% | about the same as the Texas share |
| In the dark, road unlit | 33% | 31% | about the same as the Texas share |
| A drinking driver | 23% | 26% | about the same as the Texas share |
| Speeding | 27% | 32% | about the same as the Texas share |
| A distracted driver (as recorded) | 13% | 10% | about the same as the Texas share |
| Occupants killed unbelted | 33% | 45% | below the Texas share |
| Hit-and-run | 2.6% | 7.6% | about the same as the Texas share |
| A motorcycle involved | 12% | 14% | about the same as the Texas share |
| Pedestrians among the dead | 16% | 18% | about the same as 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 US 181 in Texas
- How many fatal crashes have there been on US 181 in Texas?
- 78 fatal crashes killed 88 people on US 181 in Texas from 2015 to 2024. In 2024 there were 11 fatal crashes and 12 deaths. Source: NHTSA's Fatality Analysis Reporting System (FARS).
- Where on US 181 in Texas do the most fatal crashes happen?
- Bexar County had the most fatal crashes on US 181 from 2015 to 2024: 16, with 17 deaths. Karnes County was second with 14.
Other roads in Texas with a page
All fatal crashes in Texas, with every road ranked.
Where the US 181 numbers come from
Counted from NHTSA's Fatality Analysis Reporting System, 2024 Annual Report File: every fatal crash whose road NHTSA filed as US 181 in Texas (filed under 9 spellings, such as "US-181", "US-181 PADRE ST", "US-181 SUNSET STRIP ST", "US-181/10TH"). 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.