Task force to target safety on the Grand Parkway

The effort to “end the streak" of daily deaths on Texas roads has received a new boost from the Harris County Sheriff's Department and neighboring law enforcement agencies, with a new multi-agency partnership forming to address safety on the Grand Parkway, Harris County Sheriff Ed Gonzalez said at a Dec. 18 press conference.

Gonzalez said a partnership of area agencies began working in November to increase enforcement and awareness of safe driving practices on the corridor, where 2,280 crashes have occurred in Harris County alone in 2024, resulting in nine deaths.

"Reckless driving must end now," Gonzalez said at the news conference. "We are taking action to make Hwy. 99 a safer road for everyone. We are committed to making a difference."

Partners in the effort include:

• Texas Department of Public Safety
• Texas Department of Transportation
• Harris County Sheriff's Office
• Fort Bend County Sheriff's Office
• Montgomery County Sheriff's Office
• Chambers County Sheriff's Office
• Liberty County Sheriff's Office

Some context

The initiative started in November in response to "concerning" statistics on increasing numbers of car crashes on the Grand Parkway, Gonzales said on Dec. 18.

“This corridor has become known as ... a speedway, and it’s a culture that has been allowed to occur with very little law enforcement present and that’s something we want to change. We want to make sure they know that we’re going to be out there,” Gonzalez said.

Among the strategies the effort will employ are:

• Increasing patrols targeting speeding and impaired driving
• Using technology for speed detection
• Addressing aggressive driving behavior
• Educating drivers to obey speed limits, drive sober and change behaviors

What they're saying

• "It is critical for Texans to do their part, and you can do your part by reducing speeds, minimizing distractions, wearing safety belts, never driving under the influence [and] following the law," said Terry Truett, a major with DPS.
• "This initiative was put in place to not only to reduce vehicle crashes, but to educate motorists of hazards of driving at excessive speeds. Fatality crashes and major crashes have devastating effects on families involved and also affects the first responders who are summoned to these calls. With the help of the community, we can educate each other and our young drivers on the roadway," Fort Bend County Sheriff Eric Fagan said.