Pedestrian and bicyclist deaths were up sharply across Texas last year and now account for roughly one out of every five traffic fatalities in the state.
More than 800 Pedestrians and Bicyclists Killed in Texas Last Year
“More than 800 people lost their lives last year while walking and biking on Texas roads. Even one death is too many,” TxDOT Executive Director Marc Williams said in a statement. “Whether you’re behind the wheel, on foot, or riding a bicycle, we’re reminding all Texans that they need to be safe and smart, and that starts with paying attention to driving and obeying traffic laws.”
While traffic accidents were down overall, 731 people died in pedestrian-related crashes along Texas roads and highways in 2020, an increase of 9% from the previous year. Another 1,211 were seriously injured. From 2016 to 2020, traffic-related pedestrian fatalities rose 5% across the Lone Star State.
Accidents involving bicyclists tragically killed 82 people in 2020, up from 68 deaths in 2019.
A quarter of the fatal pedestrian and bicyclist-related crashes reported last year involved alcohol.
Too Many Texans are Ignoring Traffic Safety Laws
According to TxDOT, too many people — drivers, walkers, and bicyclists – are failing to obey road signs, use crosswalks, or otherwise abide by the law.
Because they’re more likely to be killed or seriously injured in a motor vehicle crash, Texas requires drivers to take extra precautions to protect pedestrians and bicyclists. State laws mandate stopping for pedestrians in crosswalks, yielding the right of way to pedestrians and bicyclists when turning, and passing bicyclists at a safe distance and giving them room to ride.
Bicyclists must also obey all traffic signs and signals, including stopping at red lights and stop signs. They’re also required to use hand signals to indicate when they’re turning or stopping, ride with traffic, and use bike lanes or ride as near as possible to the right-hand curb. When riding at night, bikes must have a white light on the front and a red light or reflector on the back.
Pedestrians must cross the street only at intersections and crosswalks, obey all traffic and crosswalk signals, and always use sidewalks. When a sidewalk isn’t available, they should walk on the left side of the street or road, facing oncoming traffic.
Hitting a Pedestrian in Crosswalk Could Mean Jail Time in Texas
October is Pedestrian Safety Awareness Month. To mark the occasion, TxDOT has launched the “Be Safe. Drive Smart” campaign to remind drivers, pedestrians, and cyclists to watch out for each other and follow traffic laws.
“We hope to bring some education to the public about how we should encourage each other to look out for pedestrians and bicyclists and vice versa,” a department spokesperson told KWTX-10. “Whether you’re a motorist bicycle or pedestrian, we got to look out for each other, and obviously, ultimately, we want to reverse the trend.”
Motorists should also be aware that Texas enacted a new law this year — the Lisa Torry Smith Act – that allows inattentive drivers to be charged with a Class A misdemeanor if they hit a pedestrian in a crosswalk. A conviction carries a fine of $4,000 and up to one year in jail.
If the pedestrian is seriously injured, the driver can be found guilty of a state jail felony, which could result in up to two years in jail and a $10,000 fine.
The law was named for Lisa Torry Smith, a young mother from Fort Bend County who was tragically killed while walking her 6-year-old son to school in November 2019.
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