DALLAS (1080 KRLD) - Millions of Texans will leave town for Labor Day weekend, and a law is taking effect that increases penalties for people who leave the scene of a crash where someone dies.
HB 2502 takes effect September 1. The law requires anyone convicted of leaving the scene of a fatal crash to spend at least 120 days in confinement if a judge grants community supervision.
"If you say, 'What's a reasonable number for the number of highway deaths we should have?' Is it one per day? That's not acceptable because what if that's your family member?" says TxDOT's Val Lopez.
AAA is predicting an increase in the number of people driving over Labor Day this year. AAA says the average price of gas in Texas is $2.31, the lowest for Labor Day weekend since 2016.
"This is going to be a weekend where we see increased travel. People are celebrating the end of Summer," Lopez adds.
Over Labor Day last year, TxDOT says 328 crashes involved a drunk driver. Eight people died; 25 were seriously injured.
"It's a very big travel weekend, and it's a weekend where lots of people host party. We have a young state, and young people tend to engage in more high-risk activities," Lopez says.
TxDOT launched "End the streak" last year. The state has had at least one death on its roads every day since November 7, 2000.
In addition to increased road travel, the industry group, Airlines for America, is expecting a four percent increase in air passengers. The group says 17.5 million people will fly this weekend.
