US 281 in Texas: fatal crashes
From 2015 to 2024, 296 fatal crashes on US 281 in Texas killed 356 people, the 8th most of any numbered road in Texas. In 2024 there were 30 fatal crashes and 39 deaths on the road.
An 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 |
|---|---|---|
| 2015 | 35 | 44 |
| 2016 | 40 | 42 |
| 2017 | 31 | 36 |
| 2018 | 25 | 30 |
| 2019 | 22 | 26 |
| 2020 | 24 | 29 |
| 2021 | 30 | 43 |
| 2022 | 35 | 38 |
| 2023 | 24 | 29 |
| 2024 | 30 | 39 |
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. Counties are listed from 5 fatal crashes.
| County | 2024 | 2015 to 2024 | Deaths | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Bexar | 8 | 55 | 61 |
| 2 | Blanco | 5 | 32 | 42 |
| 3 | Erath | 4 | 27 | 32 |
| 4 | Burnet | 2 | 27 | 29 |
| 5 | Hidalgo | 4 | 27 | 29 |
| 6 | Jim Wells | 0 | 22 | 28 |
| 7 | Palo Pinto | 2 | 19 | 21 |
| 8 | Live Oak | 2 | 14 | 16 |
| 9 | Comal | 0 | 14 | 15 |
| 10 | Brooks | 0 | 12 | 22 |
| 11 | Lampasas | 1 | 10 | 14 |
| 12 | Cameron | 1 | 9 | 9 |
| 13 | Hamilton | 0 | 7 | 13 |
| 14 | Archer | 0 | 7 | 7 |
| 15 | Jack | 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
| 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
Shares of fatal crashes from 2015 to 2024, against the share across all of Texas. A share is only given over 20 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% | below the Texas share |
| Speeding | 24% | 32% | below 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
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. A fatal crash is one in which someone died within 30 days. The full method.