The Texas Department of Transportation is raising awareness during National Pedestrian Safety Month as daylight hours decrease. TxDOT said October is the deadliest month of the year for pedestrians in Texas, and reduced visibility makes it harder for drivers to see people walking.
According to TxDOT, 694 pedestrians were killed and 1,387 were seriously injured in traffic crashes in Texas in 2025. Pedestrian deaths made up 18% of all traffic deaths. The agency said 68% of pedestrian deaths and serious injuries last year happened in the dark.
TxDOT launched its statewide "Be Safe. Drive Smart" pedestrian safety campaign this week. It centers on Jose Flores III, a 16-year-old from San Antonio who was struck by a truck while walking in a crosswalk. He died in a hospital a month later in October 2025. His mother, Amanda Saucedo, urged drivers to watch for pedestrians. TxDOT will also deploy street teams of walking billboards in places where drivers and people on foot share the road. The campaign is part of the "Drive Like a Texan: Kind. Courteous. Safe" initiative.