MONTGOMERY, Ala. – (WDNews) – October is National Pedestrian Safety Month, and the Alabama Law Enforcement Agency is reminding drivers to slow down and stay alert, as pedestrian fatalities continue to rise across the state.
In 2024, Alabama recorded 620 pedestrian injuries and 120 deaths in traffic-related incidents. Since 2015, fatalities have increased by about 22%, with distracted walking and electronic device use cited as major contributing factors.
“A driver’s vigilance can be the difference between life and death,” ALEA Secretary Hal Taylor said. “As we recognize National Pedestrian Safety Month, we encourage all Alabamians to slow down, eliminate distractions, and watch for those on foot.”
Nationwide, the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration reports 7,314 pedestrian deaths in 2023 — 18% of all U.S. traffic fatalities. One pedestrian was killed every 72 minutes and injured every eight minutes.
Colonel Jonathan Archer, Director of ALEA’s Department of Public Safety, said Halloween poses particular risks. “Children and families will be out after dark,” he said. “We all must do our part.”
ALEA and NHTSA are reminding drivers to:
- Slow down in neighborhoods and near schools.
- Use caution in low visibility; most pedestrian deaths happen at night.
- Stop for pedestrians in crosswalks and never pass vehicles stopped at them.
- Stay alert at intersections and driveways.
- Never drive impaired — alcohol played a role in 46% of pedestrian deaths last year.
As Halloween approaches, ALEA warns that costumes can make children harder to see and that pedestrian activity increases in the evening. Drivers are urged to stay off their phones and reduce speed in residential areas.
More information and resources are available at NHTSA.gov/Pedestrian.
