Distracted Driving and Unsafe Speed: Why Paying Attention and Driving at a Safe Speed Matter in the RGV
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Driving through McAllen, Edinburg, Mission, Pharr, or anywhere else in the Rio Grande Valley can mean dealing with heavy traffic, busy intersections, construction zones, pedestrians, commercial vehicles, and drivers who are in a hurry to get where they are going.
Add a phone, a few drinks, or an excessive speed to the mix, and a routine drive can become dangerous in seconds.
Distracted driving, impaired driving, and unsafe speeds are serious problems on Texas roads. According to the Texas Department of Transportation (TxDOT), speed was the number one contributing factor in Texas traffic crashes in 2024. Speed contributed to nearly 160,000 crashes, resulting in 1,467 deaths and 5,921 serious injuries.
For drivers in the Rio Grande Valley, understanding the dangers of distracted driving and the importance of maintaining a safe speed can help prevent serious crashes and injuries.
Why Is Speed So Dangerous?
Many drivers think of speeding as simply driving faster than the posted speed limit. While exceeding the limit is dangerous, Texas law also requires drivers to control their speed based on the conditions around them.
Texas Transportation Code Section 545.351 requires drivers to operate at a speed that is reasonable and prudent under the circumstances and to control their speed as necessary to avoid collisions. Drivers are also expected to reduce their speed when approaching intersections, curves, hill crests, narrow or winding roads, and when special hazards exist because of traffic, weather, or road conditions.
In other words, the posted speed limit is not a guarantee that the same speed is safe under every circumstance.
A driver traveling 45 mph on a clear, dry road may have very different stopping and reaction requirements than a driver traveling 45 mph through heavy traffic, rain, construction, or an area with pedestrians.
Speeding Increases the Consequences of a Crash
The faster a vehicle is traveling, the less time a driver has to react to something unexpected.
Speed can also:
- Increase stopping distance
- Make it harder to avoid another vehicle
- Increase the force involved in a collision
- Increase the likelihood of severe injuries
- Make it more difficult to maintain control of a vehicle
- Increase the danger to pedestrians, bicyclists, and motorcyclists
TxDOT reports that speeding contributed to nearly 160,000 crashes in Texas during 2024. Those crashes resulted in 1,467 fatalities and more than 5,900 serious injuries.
That makes speed more than a traffic-ticket issue. It is a major roadway safety issue.
Driving Too Slowly Can Also Be Dangerous
Driving safely does not necessarily mean driving as slowly as possible.
Some drivers assume that going significantly below the speed limit automatically makes them safer. But driving substantially slower than surrounding traffic can create its own hazards, particularly on busy highways.
Texas law prohibits a driver from traveling so slowly that they impede the normal and reasonable movement of traffic, unless the reduced speed is necessary for safe operation or required by law.
For example, a driver traveling well below the normal flow of traffic on a highway may cause other vehicles to brake suddenly, change lanes unexpectedly, or attempt unsafe passes.
The goal should not be to drive as fast as possible or as slowly as possible.
The goal is to drive at a safe and reasonable speed for the circumstances.
The Speed Limit Is a Starting Point, Not a Challenge
Seeing a 70 mph speed limit does not mean you must drive 70 mph regardless of what is happening around you.
Texas law specifically requires drivers to consider conditions such as weather, traffic, road construction, curves, intersections, and other hazards.
That matters in the RGV.
Drivers regularly encounter:
- Heavy traffic on major roads
- Busy intersections
- Construction and lane closures
- Sudden changes in traffic flow
- Pedestrians and cyclists
- Commercial trucks
- Motorcycles
- Rain and reduced visibility
- Road debris
- School zones
- Emergency vehicles and roadside workers
A driver who is paying attention can recognize these hazards and adjust their speed before a dangerous situation develops.
Distracted Driving Takes Your Attention Away From the Road
Speed is not the only problem.
Distracted driving can be just as dangerous because it takes a driver’s attention away from what is happening around them.
According to TxDOT, distracted driving was responsible for 86,384 crashes in Texas in 2025. Those crashes resulted in more than 2,400 serious injuries and 299 deaths.
And distraction isn’t limited to texting.
A driver can become distracted by:
- Reading or sending a text
- Checking social media
- Looking at a GPS
- Eating or drinking
- Adjusting the radio
- Talking to passengers
- Grooming
- Reaching for something
- Looking at a phone notification
Even a few seconds of inattention can mean traveling a significant distance without properly watching the road.
Put the Phone Away
Texas law prohibits reading, writing, or sending an electronic message while operating a motor vehicle, with violations subject to a fine of up to $200.
But avoiding distracted driving should be about more than avoiding a ticket.
If you need to send a text, check directions, or make a phone call, pull over somewhere safe and come to a complete stop.
No notification is worth a crash.
Impaired Driving Makes Dangerous Driving Even Worse
Another major concern on Texas roads is driving under the influence of alcohol or drugs.
In 2024, 1,053 people were killed in Texas crashes where a driver was under the influence of alcohol.
Alcohol and drugs can affect:
- Reaction time
- Judgment
- Coordination
- Concentration
- Decision-making
- Ability to maintain a lane
- Ability to recognize hazards
An impaired driver may also be more likely to speed, follow too closely, ignore traffic signals, or make other dangerous decisions.
When impairment is combined with distraction or excessive speed, the risk can become even greater.
RGV Drivers Need to Watch for One Another
The Rio Grande Valley has a mixture of urban streets, highways, residential neighborhoods, commercial areas, and rural roads.
Drivers in McAllen and Edinburg may encounter heavy traffic during peak hours, while roads throughout Hidalgo County and the surrounding Valley can have different traffic patterns and hazards.
Safe driving requires paying attention to what other road users are doing, not simply following the vehicle directly in front of you.
Give yourself enough time and space to react.
That means:
- Leave a safe following distance.
- Watch several vehicles ahead when possible.
- Avoid sudden lane changes.
- Use your turn signals.
- Watch for pedestrians and cyclists.
- Slow down in construction and school zones.
- Adjust your speed for weather and traffic.
- Never drive under the influence.
- Put your phone away.
These are simple habits, but apparently humanity continues to require reminders that the road is not a personal escape room.
What Happens When Unsafe Driving Causes an Accident?
When a driver speeds, drives while distracted, or operates a vehicle while impaired, their actions can put everyone around them at risk.
If an unsafe driver causes a crash, the consequences can extend far beyond vehicle damage.
An injured person may face:
- Emergency medical treatment
- Hospital bills
- Follow-up appointments
- Physical therapy
- Lost income
- Vehicle damage
- Long-term physical limitations
- Pain and suffering
- Other financial and personal consequences
Determining what caused a crash can require looking beyond the initial police report.
Evidence may include photographs, videos, witness statements, vehicle damage, medical records, crash reports, and other available information.
What Should You Do After a Crash?
If you are involved in a collision in McAllen, Edinburg, or elsewhere in the Rio Grande Valley, prioritize safety and medical attention.
If it is safe to do so:
- Check yourself and others for injuries.
- Call 911 when emergency assistance is needed.
- Move to a safe location when possible.
- Exchange information with the other driver.
- Take photographs of the vehicles and surrounding area.
- Gather contact information for witnesses.
- Seek medical attention for injuries.
- Keep records of medical treatment and expenses.
- Notify your insurance company as appropriate.
- Keep records of communications related to the accident.
TxDOT also recommends checking for injuries, moving vehicles to a safer location when possible, exchanging information, and documenting the crash.
How Brasure Law PLLC Can Help After a Serious Car Accident
When an accident results in significant injuries, dealing with insurance companies and the aftermath can become overwhelming.
At Brasure Law PLLC, attorney Chris Brasure can help injured clients understand their legal options and navigate the personal injury claim process.
That can include investigating the circumstances of the accident, reviewing available evidence, communicating with insurance companies, evaluating damages, and working toward an appropriate resolution.
If another driver’s distracted driving, impaired driving, speeding, or failure to control their speed contributed to your accident, understanding your rights can be an important part of moving forward.
Safe Driving Protects Everyone on the Road
Speeding, distracted driving, and impaired driving are not isolated problems. They can affect drivers, passengers, pedestrians, cyclists, motorcyclists, and entire families.
Driving too fast can reduce your ability to react and increase the severity of a crash. Driving too slowly can create hazards when it unnecessarily disrupts the normal flow of traffic. The safest approach is to pay attention, follow posted limits, and adjust your speed to the actual conditions on the road.
For drivers throughout McAllen, Edinburg, Mission, Pharr, and the greater Rio Grande Valley, a few extra seconds of patience can make a meaningful difference.
And if you or a loved one has been injured because another driver was distracted, impaired, or traveling at an unsafe speed, Brasure Law PLLC can help you understand the legal process and your options. Contact Brasure Law PLLC today.
