The last death-free day on Texas roads is old enough to vote.

Wednesday marks 18 years since the last time Texas went a full day without a roadway fatality, an anniversary state officials commemorate each year with a barrage of social media campaigns, centered around #EndTheStreak.

The stretch has been a deadly one for Texas. In the 6,575 days, more than 66,000 people have died. A number that, all things considered, contributes to the Houston region being the deadliest major metro area in the nation for roadway deaths, which has been the centerpiece of a Houston Chronicle investigation, Out of Control.

About 640 people a year die on Houston-area roads, and 2,850 more are seriously injured. All factors considered, the road wreckage makes Houston the most deadly major metro area in the nation for drivers, passengers and people in their path.

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The nine-county metro region, defined by the U.S. Census Bureau, leads the nation for fatal crashes involving drugs and alcohol. It's No. 2 for fatal crashes, per capita, on federal highways in the 12 largest regions of the country. The Houston region ranks second for fatal wrecks that involve speeding and also trails only Dallas in crashes blamed on someone slamming into stopped congestion on the freeway.

Many of the problems persist across Texas, where drivers often do not fear getting a speeding ticket or face scorn for not putting their phone down.

“We all have the power to end the streak of daily deaths on Texas roadways,” said Texas Transportation Commissioner Laura Ryan, in a statement. “Don’t drink and drive; put away the cell phone; buckle up; and obey traffic laws. Be the driver you would want next to you, in front of you or behind you.”

Drivers, however, are only one part of the equation, which safety experts compare to a three-legged stool. Roadway safety is equal parts educating drivers and others to be vigilant about safety, enforcing laws with robust police presence and engineering streets so people’s worst habits don’t create more havoc.

Police enforcement, especially in the major cities, is spotty and many say they simply do not worry about citations for driving, including alcohol and drug impairment behind the wheel. Meanwhile critics note the state’s development-friendly lack of restrictions has led to more car dependence and roads built for maximum speed rather than maximum safety.

Coupled with the high speeds and lax enforcement, many places in the Houston area are off-limits for pedestrians and cyclists, who say they face deadly risks using local roads.