SAN ANTONIO -- A staggering number of people are dying on Texas roadways. At the current rate, state officials said the state will surpass last year's 3,000 deaths. With that in mind, a new program is revving up the drive to save lives.
This initiative is starting just in time for Labor Day weekend. Last year during the holiday seven people died on Texas roads three of them were in San Antonio.
Whether you're on your daily commute or traveling across Texas, flashing messages on signs along the roadways will update the latest traffic fatality statistics.
"I noticed them this morning," said Melissa Montgomery with Mothers Against Drunk Driving.
More than 1700 fatality crashes this year on Texas highways. Alarming statistics said Melissa Montgomery with M.A.D.D.
"Those signs are a good way to give people information on a passive manner that will make sense to them," said Montgomery.
According to TxDOT, that's what they want. They launched the pilot program this week. It's an effort designed to remind drivers that getting behind the wheel requires full and sober attention.
"If they're driving intoxicated, if they're not wearing their safety belt if they're texting and using their electronic devices they could become one of these statistics," said Samuel Aguirre with TxDOT.
While the annual number of traffic fatalities has decreased by 21 percent since 2003.
"We're still seeing fatal crashes on highways and roadways," said Aguirre.
TxDOT officials said more needed to be done to bring awareness to the community.
"We're making stride I always tell people it's darkest before dawn but we have a huge drunk driving problem in San Antonio," said Montgomery.
If the year-to-date number of fatalities increase the statistic will be updated every third week of each month.
