Texas Roads Become Deadlier for Pedestrians and Cyclists as State Launches Safety Blitz

Crisis on Texas Streets

Bryan Kight was cycling through an Austin bike lane when a turning driver slammed into him, shattering his femur and leaving him dependent on a walker for months. His story has become the centerpiece of a desperate new safety campaign as Texas grapples with a deadly trend: 914 bicyclists and pedestrians died in traffic crashes in Texas in 2023, while in 2024, 852 cyclists and pedestrians were killed in crashes on Texas roads, accounting for more than 20% of all traffic fatalities .

The numbers reveal a disturbing pattern across the Lone Star State. Pedestrian deaths went up 22% and bicyclist fatalities increased 58% from 2019-2023 . Even more alarming, in early 2025, there were 1,372 crashes involving pedestrians and 527 traffic crashes involving bicyclists, resulting in 186 deaths .

The tragedy extends beyond statistics to real families. Victor Peterzen received a brand-new bicycle for his 10th birthday in 2020, but just three months later, his life was tragically cut short in a crash while riding his bike through his northwest Houston neighborhood .

Behind the Carnage

Failure to yield the right of way, driver inattention and speeding are the top factors contributing to crashes involving pedestrians and cyclists . Urban areas bear the heaviest burden, with most crashes involving pedestrians and cyclists in 2024 occurring in urban areas — including cities like Austin .

Local data paints a grim picture of the scope. In the city of Lubbock, there was 79 crashes involving pedestrians that resulted in eleven fatalities and thirty-eight crashes with bicyclists that resulted in one fatality . These incidents represent preventable tragedies that shatter communities across Texas.

Texas Fights Back

The Texas Department of Transportation has launched an aggressive "Be Safe. Drive Smart" campaign to combat the crisis. The campaign will leverage an interactive virtual reality experience to give participants firsthand experience navigating traffic scenarios that can be dangerous for pedestrians and bicyclists at events across the state .

TxDOT's campaign aims to raise awareness among all Texans—drivers, pedestrians and cyclists alike—of the shared responsibility to help everyone get where they're going safely . The initiative includes practical guidance: drivers must stop and yield in crosswalks, give cyclists space when passing, and always check for vulnerable road users when turning.

For those on foot or bike, the message is equally clear. Cross the street only at crosswalks and intersections and stick to sidewalks. If none exist, walk facing traffic on the left side of the road, unless it is obstructed or unsafe .

A Shared Responsibility

"We continue to see an increase in the number of crashes involving pedestrians or cyclists each year," TxDOT Executive Director Marc Williams stated. "All of us share a responsibility to watch out for each other, but people on foot or riding a bike are most at risk for serious injury or worse in a crash with a car, which means drivers must be extra vigilant" .

The campaign represents more than just safety tips—it's a cultural shift toward what TxDOT calls driving "like a Texan: kind, courteous and safe." As spring brings more people outdoors, the stakes couldn't be higher. Every intersection becomes a test of whether Texans will truly look out for their neighbors, or whether the death toll will continue climbing on roads that should connect communities, not divide them.