Pedestrian and bicyclist deaths rise in Texas, consciousness marketing campaign begins

HOUSTON — The Texas Division of Transportation lately launched its “Be Secure. Drive Good” marketing campaign in an effort to gradual a troubling pattern.

Between 2019 and 2023, pedestrian deaths in Texas went up 22% and bicyclist fatalities elevated 58%, in keeping with TxDOT. In 2023, 914 bicyclists and pedestrians died in crashes involving automobiles.

Sadly, Victor Peterzen is a kind of statistics. He obtained a brand new bike for his tenth birthday in 2020. Three months later, he was using his bike by his northwest Houston neighborhood when he was hit and killed. Now, his household is becoming a member of the state’s efforts to boost consciousness.

“Nothing, completely nothing, is well worth the catastrophe that going quick could cause to a household,” Victor’s mom, Luisa Peterzen, instructed KHOU 11 Information reporter Orko Manna. “I actually take pleasure in with the ability to assist others to keep away from this ache that I really feel, the ache that I really feel for Victor, for lacking him, for not having him.”

TxDOT stated it’s as much as everybody to make a distinction on Texas roadways.

“Pedestrians and cyclists are amongst our most at-risk highway customers, and too a lot of them are killed or injured in our communities annually,” TxDOT Govt Director Marc Williams stated. “If everybody seems out for one another and follows the foundations of the highway, we may help forestall these horrible crashes.”

Final week, Harris County leaders introduced the marketing campaign, too. Consultants stated pedestrian deaths have surged by greater than 80% in Harris County since hitting a historic low in 2009.

RELATED: Here is what a brand new examine says concerning the variety of pedestrian deaths in Harris County

TxDOT’s marketing campaign goals to boost consciousness amongst all Texans — drivers, pedestrians, and cyclists alike — of the shared duty to assist everybody get the place they’re going safely. To help this aim, the “Be Secure. Drive Good” marketing campaign is posting billboards and posters throughout Texas, and throughout Houston, to remind everybody what they’ll — and may — do to maintain one another secure. The indicators are in each English and Spanish.

TxDot can also be sending groups of “strolling billboards” across the state to share important security messages in crash-prone areas. The “strolling billboards” are primarily folks carrying indicators on their again, spreading TxDot security ideas.

Here is what TxDOT needs you to know:

• Cease and yield for pedestrians, bicyclists and different susceptible highway customers in crosswalks.
• Give bikes house and go at a secure distance.
• Yield when turning and all the time verify for pedestrians and cyclists.
• Observe the velocity restrict and modify for situations.

• Use crosswalks and obey site visitors alerts.
• Follow sidewalks, but when none exist, stroll dealing with site visitors on the left aspect except it’s obstructed or unsafe.

• Observe site visitors legal guidelines and cease at purple lights and cease indicators.
• Experience in the identical route as site visitors and use bike lanes or experience as close to as potential to the right-hand curb.
• Use hand alerts for turns or stops.
• Equip your bike with lights at night time, utilizing a white gentle on the entrance and a purple gentle or reflector on the again.

For extra, go to the TxDOT Site visitors Security Knowledge Portal.