By JACQI LEYVA-HILL
Special to the PRESS
With holiday travel increasing across the Rio Grande Valley and South Padre Island preparing for its seasonal influx of visitors, the Texas Department of Transportation (TxDOT) is reminding drivers to plan a sober ride as part of its Drive Sober. No Regrets. campaign. The statewide effort runs from Dec. 12 through Jan. 1, a period when alcohol-related crashes traditionally rise.
While TxDOT does not yet have crash numbers specific to Cameron County for this year, the Pharr District, which includes South Padre Island, recorded 1,202 DUI-alcohol crashes in 2025, resulting in 27 fatalities and 103 serious injuries. South Padre Island itself reported 19 alcohol-related crashes in 2024, according to TxDOT data, though none were fatal that year.
Impaired driving has been a longstanding concern for the island. Historical records dating back to 1975 show 11 fatal accidents on South Padre Island, 8 of which involved drunk drivers, resulting in 14 deaths over the decades. The dangers of impaired driving are not limited to cars. In a tragic example from August 2025, a pickup truck allegedly driven by an intoxicated driver struck a golf cart carrying six passengers. One person, Kaylinn Churchill, was killed, and five others were hospitalized, a stark reminder of how quickly alcohol-related crashes can turn deadly.
“The message is simple: if your holiday celebrations involve alcohol, always choose a sober ride,” said Ray Pedraza, Public Information Officer for TxDOT’s Pharr District. To get that message out, TxDOT is running TV and radio ads, billboards, online campaigns, and placing signage at bars, restaurants, and convenience stores across the state. A hands-on impaired-driving exhibit will stop at the Hidalgo Walmart on Dec. 15 from 3–7 p.m., though no locations are scheduled in Cameron County this year.
Pedraza said enforcement will increase across Texas, though specific deployments along Highway 100 or the Queen Isabella Causeway have not been announced. Holiday travelers will be relieved to know that no roadwork is planned for Highway 100 during the season.
TxDOT’s advice applies to both residents and tourists alike: plan ahead, use a designated driver or rideshare, and help keep holiday travel safe for everyone visiting or living on South Padre Island. For more information, visit DriveLikeATexan.com.
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