Texas continues to lead the nation in oil and gas production, creating jobs and prosperity statewide, but communities in the state’s main energy production areas have also seen a rise in deaths on the road accounting for close to half of all traffic fatalities in Texas. In 2018, 1,673 people died and more than 6,000 were seriously injured in crashes in the Permian Basin, Barnett Shale, Eagle Ford Shale, Granite Wash, and Haynes-ville/Bossier Shale, where oil and gas exploration is underway. Traffic deaths in these areas are up by 4% compared to 2017. Crash reports point to failure to control speed as ...