Too many pedestrians and bicyclists are dying on Houston roads and the state’s trying to bring those numbers down with a new safety campaign.
Last year, there were 1,627 crashes in Houston involving pedestrians. Of those, 209 people died and 390 were seriously hurt.
In the same year, 25 bicyclists were killed and more than 80 were badly hurt in accidents with cars.
Deaths for pedestrians and bicyclists are trending up across the entire state, according to the Texas Department of Transportation.
In 2022, 922 people and cyclists were killed in traffic accidents across the state. Between 2018-2022, pedestrian deaths increased by 30% and bicyclist fatalities increased by 28%. In addition, one out of every five fatalities on state roads involve pedestrians or bicyclists.
With these statistics in mind, the Texas Department of Transportation (TxDOT) is launching its new “Be Safe. Drive Smart” pedestrian and bicyclist safety campaign.
The goal is to remind Texans of the importance of following traffic laws to keep pedestrians and cyclists safe.
“Too many people are killed or seriously injured every year in Texas walking, jogging or biking in their communities,” TxDOT Executive Director Marc Williams said. “We want all Texans—whether you’re behind the wheel, on foot or on a bike—to watch out for each other and follow the rules of the road so everyone gets where they’re going safely.”
By state law, drivers should stop and yield to pedestrians and bicyclists at crosswalks and grant them the right of way when turning. If you see a cyclist in the bike lane, pass them at a safe distance and allow plenty of room for them to ride. And don’t speed.
If you’re walking, don’t jaywalk. That’s one of TxDOT’s safety tips -- only cross the street at crosswalks and intersections. Sidewalks are safer than walking on the street, but if you don’t have a choice, walk on the left side of the road, facing oncoming traffic if possible.
Bicyclists should ride in the same direction of traffic and stop at red lights and stop signs. At night, it’s essential for bikes to have a white light on the front and a red light (or reflector) on the back to increase visibility. Also, keep in mind to use hand signals when turning or stopping.
To further encourage road safety, TxDOT will supply walking billboards with safety reminders to crash-prone areas throughout the state.
The “Be Safe. Drive Smart” campaign and pedestrian and bicyclist safety initiative are key components of #EndTheStreakTX, a broader social media and word-of-mouth effort that encourages drivers to make safer choices while behind the wheel to help end the streak of daily deaths.