MIDLAND, Texas — In July 2024, Midland experienced its lowest monthly crash total since January 2021, with 183 incidents reported, according to a press release from the City of Midland.
The Midland Police Department indicated that July 2024's total is the first monthly count below 200 since January 2022, which recorded 198 crashes. The only lower total since January 2022 was 180 crashes in January 2021.
This decrease is part of a broader trend. The City of Midland provided these statistics:
- The two lowest two-month totals since March 2021.
- A 20% drop compared to July 2023.
- A pace this year that is 11% lower than through the end of 2023.
- The lowest crash pace since 2021.
Crash statistics are as follows:
Fewest Crashes in a Month (since January 2021):
- January 2021: 180
- July 2024: 183
- June 2021: 193
July Crash Totals:
- 2024: 183
- 2023: 229
- 2022: 211
- 2021: 217
Year-to-Date Totals Through July:
- 2024: 1,538 (down 11.2% from 2023)
- 2023: 1,732
- 2022: 1,638
- 2021: 1,429
Chane Blandford, who works with the Crime Prevention Unit within the Midland Police Department, said some of the reasons behind the high amount of crashes in the previous months have been speeding, road rage and drivers cutting their fellow driver off.
That is why MPD has been placing a bigger emphasis on traffic enforcement.
“We're noticing that, when they see a cop car, they're starting to behave. I couldn't tell you how many times I've seen people fly by me on the loop and I'd pull them over," Blandford said. "They'd realize 'oh, I didn't know what the speed limit was.' Now these drivers are paying attention, they're aware, they're looking for officers which makes them look for other cars.”
MPD has also been setting aside time for their officers to get specialized training.
“They had officers that were assigned to just a special time and a special day, and that's all they worked on was traffic enforcement," Blandford said. "They didn't answer any calls. They had all the other officers that were on the regular days that were working, that were answering the calls, doing what we've always been doing, but they put forth the extra manpower to try to help alleviate a lot of these traffic issues that we've had.”
Fewer speeders on the road certainly helps lessen the amount of crashes that occur as well.
MPD, alongside the city, have done their part to try and discourage the people speeding on the roads.
“We've set up and we put out the radar systems that say, this is your 'speed' to help them say, look at your speed versus what the speed really is," Blandford said. "Those are still out there, we even put up regular signs that are there permanently so they see that in some of these areas.”
Blandford is hopeful that this trend continues, and he has some sage advice for all the drivers out there.
“It's easier just to pay attention, drive by the rules, follow the laws and do your due diligence and pay attention to the road in front of you," Blandford said.