The grim task where authorities notify people a loved one has died in a traffic wreck has reached unprecedented daily occurrences in Texas.
State Department of Transportation figures show at least one person, and usually many more, now has died in Texas every day for more than 13 years.
Nov. 7, 2000, is the last traffic-fatality-free day in the state. Since then, more than 45,000 motor vehicle fatalities have occurred on more than 300,000 miles of Texas public roadways.
State records go back to 1940, although some in that decade are incomplete. But it appears the previous long stretch of daily traffic deaths extended over 12½ years, ending in June 1989.
Authorities say impaired driving, lack of seat belts and speed are the "big three" reasons for traffic deaths.
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