Local research brief · September 7, 2026
2026 Rio Grande Valley Commercial-Vehicle and DWI Crash Data Brief
A two-county comparison of the latest available 2024 and 2025 TxDOT crash tables for Cameron and Hidalgo counties, the principal population and transportation centers of the Rio Grande Valley.
Research status
Source tables rechecked October 1, 2026
This regional brief is calculated from the same TxDOT source tables used in TSC's statewide research. Regional groupings are editorial study areas unless expressly identified otherwise; raw crash counts are not population-, traffic-, or vehicle-miles-traveled-adjusted risk rates.
Citable regional findings
Suggested citation
Texas Settlement Calculator, “2026 Rio Grande Valley Commercial-Vehicle and DWI Crash Data Brief,” analysis of TxDOT 2024 and 2025 county crash tables.
Two-county CMV-involved crashes
1,092 → 892
−200 crashes · −18.3%
Two-county DUI (Alcohol) crashes
1,135 → 1,066
−69 crashes · −6.1%
What changed in Cameron and Hidalgo counties
CMV counts declined in both counties
Cameron County CMV-involved crashes declined from 344 to 295, while Hidalgo County declined from 748 to 597. Together, the two-county count fell by 200 or 18.3%.
The DWI county trends diverged
Cameron County DUI (Alcohol) crashes increased from 383 to 391, while Hidalgo County declined from 752 to 675. The combined count fell by 69 or 6.1%.
Hidalgo carried the larger 2025 counts
Hidalgo County recorded 597 CMV-involved crashes and 675 DUI (Alcohol) crashes in 2025. Raw counts do not measure risk or explain the difference.
The datasets describe events, not risk
The figures are raw reported crash counts. They do not account for population, vehicle miles traveled, freight exposure or differences in enforcement and reporting.
County comparison
Counts are shown separately because a crash may appear in both datasets.
| County | CMV 2024 | CMV 2025 | CMV change | DUI 2024 | DUI 2025 | DUI change |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Cameron | 344 | 295 | -49 (-14.2%) | 383 | 391 | +8 (+2.1%) |
| Hidalgo | 748 | 597 | -151 (-20.2%) | 752 | 675 | -77 (-10.2%) |
Quotable findings
For reporters and researchers
“Across Cameron and Hidalgo counties, reported CMV-involved crashes declined 18.3% from 2024 to 2025, while DUI (Alcohol) crashes declined 6.1%.”
“Cameron and Hidalgo counties both recorded fewer CMV-involved crashes in 2025, while their DUI (Alcohol) trends diverged: Cameron increased 2.1% and Hidalgo declined 10.2%.”
Attribution: Texas Settlement Calculator analysis of TxDOT 2024 and 2025 county crash tables. Quotations may be reproduced with attribution and a link to this brief.
Methodology and limitations
Texas Settlement Calculator transcribed the Cameron and Hidalgo county values from TxDOT’s 2024 and 2025 CMV-involved and DUI (Alcohol) county tables. Absolute change equals the 2025 count minus the 2024 count. Percentage change equals that difference divided by the 2024 count, multiplied by 100 and rounded to one decimal place.
Cameron and Hidalgo counties are used as an editorial two-county core for this Rio Grande Valley comparison. This is not an official TxDOT region and does not represent the complete Rio Grande Valley or attorney territory, which also includes Starr and Willacy counties. The two crash datasets can overlap and must not be added together.
These are raw reported crash counts, not population- or exposure-adjusted rates. The figures do not measure individual risk, establish causation, assign fault, determine insurance coverage or predict a legal result. TxDOT administrative data may be revised.
Independent-publication disclosure: This report is not affiliated with, sponsored by, approved by or endorsed by TxDOT or any other governmental agency. TxDOT is identified solely as the source of the underlying public data.
Rio Grande Valley resources
Press and corrections
Reporters may request source-table details or comment at contact@texassettlementcalculator.com. Submit corrections with the affected URL and supporting source to privacy@texassettlementcalculator.com.
Published September 7, 2026 · Data reviewed September 7, 2026
Sources
- TxDOT crash data and crash records (CRIS)
State crash data and the crash-report / records request process relied on by these pages.
- FMCSA minimum insurance requirements — 49 CFR Part 387
Federal minimum financial-responsibility rules for commercial motor carriers.
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