Spikes for Anthony conducted a controlled review of Texas crash data to better understand the documented burden of strict wrong-way driving across the state.

Our primary analysis uses publicly available data from the Texas Department of Transportation’s Crash Records Information System, or CRIS. For the main study, we defined a strict wrong-way crash as one containing confirmed contributing-factor Code 71: WRONG WAY – ONE WAY ROAD. We kept other wrong-side roadway codes separate so the analysis would not be broadened simply to produce a larger number.

Evidence Before Assumptions

What the Data Shows

6,182 strict Code 71 wrong-way crashes statewide from 2021 through 2025
567 fatalities recorded within those crashes
822 additional strict wrong-way crashes statewide from April 14 through December 31, 2025
217 of those 822 occurred within our established nine-county Greater Houston study area

How we approached the work

Our research process included duplicate review, source traceability, reproducibility checks, independent verification, final-source refresh comparisons, and claim-level quality control. When a roadway statistic changed during final validation, it was corrected before publication.

What the data does not claim

These findings describe recorded crash burden. They do not establish legal fault, causation, or exposure-adjusted roadway risk. A fatality count is a count of people, not fatal crashes. The 6,182 strict Code 71 crashes included 567 fatalities.

Our Technical Evidence Report below documents the study definitions, methodology, findings, limitations, and quality-control process used in the 2021–2025 evidence review.

Read the Technical Evidence Report

SPIKES FOR ANTHONY

Evidence Before Assumptions

What the Data Shows

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