US 281 in Texas: fatal crashes
From 2015 to 2024, 296 fatal crashes on US 281 in Texas killed 356 people, the 9th most of 443 numbered roads in Texas. In 2024 there were 30 fatal crashes and 39 deaths on the road.
A US route running through 18 counties of Texas. All fatal crashes in Texas.
Deaths on US 281 in Texas by year
| Year | Fatal crashes | Deaths |
|---|---|---|
| 2024 | 30 | 39 |
| 2023 | 24 | 29 |
| 2022 | 35 | 38 |
| 2021 | 30 | 43 |
| 2020 | 24 | 29 |
| 2019 | 22 | 26 |
| 2018 | 25 | 30 |
| 2017 | 31 | 36 |
| 2016 | 40 | 42 |
| 2015 | 35 | 44 |
Source: NHTSA Fatality Analysis Reporting System (FARS), 2024 Annual Report File (released April 2026, subject to revision). How we count
Where on US 281 in Texas: the counties with the most fatal crashes
Bexar County had the most fatal crashes on US 281 from 2015 to 2024: 55, with 61 deaths. Bexar, Blanco and Erath counties together held 39% of fatal crashes on US 281 in Texas from 2015 to 2024; the 15 listed held 97%. Counties are listed from 5 fatal crashes.
| County | 2024 | 2015 to 2024 | Deaths | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Bexar County | 8 | 55 | 61 |
| 2 | Blanco County | 5 | 32 | 42 |
| 3 | Erath County | 4 | 27 | 32 |
| 4 | Burnet County | 2 | 27 | 29 |
| 5 | Hidalgo County | 4 | 27 | 29 |
| 6 | Jim Wells County | 0 | 22 | 28 |
| 7 | Palo Pinto County | 2 | 19 | 21 |
| 8 | Live Oak County | 2 | 14 | 16 |
| 9 | Comal County | 0 | 14 | 15 |
| 10 | Brooks County | 0 | 12 | 22 |
| 11 | Lampasas County | 1 | 10 | 14 |
| 12 | Cameron County | 1 | 9 | 9 |
| 13 | Hamilton County | 0 | 7 | 13 |
| 14 | Archer County | 0 | 7 | 7 |
| 15 | Jack County | 1 | 6 | 9 |
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 281 in Texas
The heaviest slot is Friday, 4 to 8 pm, with 14 fatal crashes from 2015 to 2024. The worst hour is 9 pm to 10 pm; the worst month is April.
| Midnight to 4 | 4 to 8 am | 8 to noon | Noon to 4 | 4 to 8 pm | 8 to midnight | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Sun | 3.4 percent, 10 fatal crashes | 3.4 percent, 10 fatal crashes | 2.0 percent, 6 fatal crashes | 2.7 percent, 8 fatal crashes | 2.7 percent, 8 fatal crashes | 3.4 percent, 10 fatal crashes |
| Mon | 1.0 percent, 3 fatal crashes | 1.7 percent, 5 fatal crashes | 1.7 percent, 5 fatal crashes | 3.4 percent, 10 fatal crashes | 1.7 percent, 5 fatal crashes | 2.4 percent, 7 fatal crashes |
| Tue | 1.0 percent, 3 fatal crashes | 2.4 percent, 7 fatal crashes | 2.7 percent, 8 fatal crashes | 2.0 percent, 6 fatal crashes | 2.7 percent, 8 fatal crashes | 3.7 percent, 11 fatal crashes |
| Wed | 1.4 percent, 4 fatal crashes | 1.7 percent, 5 fatal crashes | 1.7 percent, 5 fatal crashes | 2.4 percent, 7 fatal crashes | 2.0 percent, 6 fatal crashes | 1.7 percent, 5 fatal crashes |
| Thu | 2.0 percent, 6 fatal crashes | 1.7 percent, 5 fatal crashes | 2.4 percent, 7 fatal crashes | 2.0 percent, 6 fatal crashes | 1.7 percent, 5 fatal crashes | 4.1 percent, 12 fatal crashes |
| Fri | 2.0 percent, 6 fatal crashes | 2.0 percent, 6 fatal crashes | 1.4 percent, 4 fatal crashes | 3.4 percent, 10 fatal crashes | 4.7 percent, 14 fatal crashes | 2.4 percent, 7 fatal crashes |
| Sat | 3.4 percent, 10 fatal crashes | 2.0 percent, 6 fatal crashes | 2.0 percent, 6 fatal crashes | 3.7 percent, 11 fatal crashes | 1.7 percent, 5 fatal crashes | 2.7 percent, 8 fatal crashes |
By hour
By month
- Jan7.1%
- Feb5.1%
- Mar8.8%
- Apr9.8%
- May8.1%
- Jun7.8%
- Jul9.5%
- Aug9.1%
- Sep8.1%
- Oct8.8%
- Nov9.8%
- Dec8.1%
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 281 in Texas first hit
The first harmful event was a collision with another vehicle in most fatal crashes, 53%; a fixed object such as a tree, pole or barrier in 20%, a pedestrian in 13%, a rollover in 8.4%.
| First harmful event | Fatal crashes | Share |
|---|---|---|
| Collision with another vehicle | 158 | 53% |
| Fixed object (tree, pole, barrier, ditch) | 60 | 20% |
| Pedestrian | 38 | 13% |
| Rollover | 25 | 8.4% |
| Other | 8 | 2.7% |
| Cyclist | 4 | 1.4% |
| Parked vehicle | 3 | 1.0% |
| 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 281 in Texas compare with the state
The largest difference from Texas: from 2015 to 2024, 71% of fatal crashes on US 281 in Texas were on rural roads, against 38% across Texas. Also above the Texas share: distracted drivers. Below it: intersections, speeding, unbelted occupants, hit-and-runs, 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 296 crashes.
| US 281 | Texas | ||
|---|---|---|---|
| On rural stretches | 71% | 38% | above the Texas share |
| At or near an intersection | 17% | 22% | below the Texas share |
| In the dark, road unlit | 32% | 31% | about the same as the Texas share |
| A drinking driver | 24% | 26% | about the same as the Texas share |
| Speeding | 24% | 32% | below the Texas share |
| A distracted driver (as recorded) | 17% | 10% | above the Texas share |
| Occupants killed unbelted | 35% | 45% | below the Texas share |
| Hit-and-run | 4.4% | 7.6% | below the Texas share |
| A motorcycle involved | 9.1% | 14% | below the Texas share |
| Pedestrians among the dead | 13% | 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 US 281 in Texas
- How many fatal crashes have there been on US 281 in Texas?
- 296 fatal crashes killed 356 people on US 281 in Texas from 2015 to 2024. In 2024 there were 30 fatal crashes and 39 deaths. Source: NHTSA's Fatality Analysis Reporting System (FARS).
- Where on US 281 in Texas do the most fatal crashes happen?
- Bexar County had the most fatal crashes on US 281 from 2015 to 2024: 55, with 61 deaths. Blanco County was second with 32.
- When do fatal crashes on US 281 in Texas happen most often?
- The heaviest slot from 2015 to 2024 was Friday, 4 to 8 pm, with 14 fatal crashes.
Other roads in Texas with a page
All fatal crashes in Texas, with every road ranked.
Where the US 281 numbers come from
Counted from NHTSA's Fatality Analysis Reporting System, 2024 Annual Report File: every fatal crash whose road NHTSA filed as US 281 in Texas (filed under 30 spellings, such as "US--281", "US-281", "US-281 AMERICAN LEGION MEM HWY", "US-281 BROADWAY ST"). 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.