As daylight hours shorten this fall, pedestrian crashes are once again climbing — and transportation officials say too many are preventable.
On Tuesday, Oct. 7, the Texas Department of Transportation brought its walking billboard campaign to downtown Amarillo near the Civic Center Complex, where volunteers carried bright yellow safety signs across intersections. The initiative is part of the agency’s “Be Safe. Drive Smart.” effort, timed with October’s designation as National Pedestrian Safety Month.
But officials stress that awareness alone isn’t enough — both drivers and pedestrians must take responsibility.
“Last year, there were 64 crashes involving pedestrians in the Amarillo District,” said Jason Britsch, public information officer for TxDOT’s Amarillo District. “Ten people died, and another 22 were seriously hurt. These aren’t just numbers from a big city; these are our neighbors, people from our own communities.”
Just two days before the TxDOT awareness campaign in Amarillo, a pedestrian pushing a wheelchair was killed in a hit and run while crossing the street — on Sunday, Oct. 5.
Britsch said the agency’s data shows many of those incidents share similar causes: drivers speeding through intersections, pedestrians crossing outside marked crosswalks, and visibility issues after dark.
“These crashes almost always trace back to a moment of inattention,” Britsch said. “Someone looks at their phone, a driver fails to yield, or a pedestrian takes a shortcut across traffic. It happens fast — and the consequences are irreversible.”
To prevent more deaths, TxDOT is promoting several straightforward steps:
For drivers:
For pedestrians:
Across Texas, 773 pedestrians were killed in 2024, including 89 deaths and 143 serious injuries in October alone. Britsch said Amarillo’s share of those fatalities highlights a broader trend: growth in pedestrian activity without the same increase in safety infrastructure or awareness.
“Amarillo is seeing more people walking downtown and near schools and parks,” he said. “That’s a good thing — but it also means drivers have to change their mindset. You’re not just sharing the road with other cars anymore.”
TxDOT engineers routinely evaluate intersections to identify where improvements could make a difference, such as adding flashing beacons, upgraded crosswalks, or pedestrian islands. But Britsch said design changes can only go so far without public cooperation.
“Engineering can help, but it can’t replace common sense,” he said. “If drivers slow down, if people use crosswalks and stay aware, we can reduce these numbers drastically. The road belongs to everyone, and so does the responsibility.”
At the Amarillo event, volunteers in reflective gear walked near Buchanan Street holding bilingual signs that read “Slow down,” “Wait for the signal,” and “¡Frena y mira!” meaning “Stop and look.” The scene drew attention from passing motorists, some honking in support.
“This isn’t about preaching,” Britsch said. “It’s about reminding people that these tragedies are preventable. One bad decision can cost a life — maybe your own.”
This story has been updated because an earlier version included an inaccuracy.
This article originally appeared on Amarillo Globe-News: TxDOT urges Texas drivers and pedestrians to take safety precautions as crashes climb
Reporting by Michael Cuviello, Amarillo Globe-News / Amarillo Globe-News
USA TODAY Network via Reuters Connect
