{"id":411406,"date":"2025-11-28T21:22:16","date_gmt":"2025-11-28T21:22:16","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/us\/411406\/"},"modified":"2025-11-28T21:22:16","modified_gmt":"2025-11-28T21:22:16","slug":"houston-records-third-highest-pedestrian-deaths-in-the-nation-federal-data-shows","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/us\/411406\/","title":{"rendered":"Houston records third-highest pedestrian deaths in the nation, federal data shows"},"content":{"rendered":"<p class=\"dist__Box-sc-1fnzlkn-0 dist__TextBase-sc-1fnzlkn-3 bYFsJw cuqaEv article-text\"><strong>HOUSTON<\/strong> \u2013 Houston continues to rank among the most dangerous cities in America for pedestrians, according to federal data.<\/p>\n<p class=\"dist__Box-sc-1fnzlkn-0 dist__TextBase-sc-1fnzlkn-3 bYFsJw cuqaEv article-text\">The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) reports Houston recorded 98 pedestrian deaths in 2023, placing the city behind only Los Angeles (145 deaths) and Phoenix (109) and ahead of New York City (85). Nationally, 7,314 pedestrians were killed in 2023, a slight decrease from the previous year, while injuries increased to an estimated 68,244, according to data released this year.<\/p>\n<p class=\"dist__Box-sc-1fnzlkn-0 dist__TextBase-sc-1fnzlkn-3 bYFsJw cuqaEv article-text\">NHTSA defines pedestrians as people walking, running, jogging, hiking, sitting, or lying down not those using scooters, wheelchairs, skates, or other personal devices.<\/p>\n<ul class=\"dist__Box-sc-1fnzlkn-0 kDvXdO font_openSans articleList\">\n<li class=\"dist__Box-sc-1fnzlkn-0 dist__StackBase-sc-1fnzlkn-7 ecGWWE iQviKm\"\/><\/ul>\n<p class=\"dist__Box-sc-1fnzlkn-0 dist__TextBase-sc-1fnzlkn-3 bYFsJw cuqaEv article-text\">A new Washington Post investigation, analyzing crash data between 2010 and 2023, identifies short stretches of roads across the U.S. that have become exceptionally deadly.<\/p>\n<p class=\"dist__Box-sc-1fnzlkn-0 dist__TextBase-sc-1fnzlkn-3 bYFsJw cuqaEv article-text\">Among them, a 3.5-mile section of Westheimer Road, where 36 pedestrians were hit and killed over that 13-year period. The same investigation places FM 1960 on the national list of the most dangerous roads between 2021 and 2023.<\/p>\n<p class=\"dist__Box-sc-1fnzlkn-0 dist__TextBase-sc-1fnzlkn-3 bYFsJw cuqaEv article-text\">\u201cWe\u2019ve known for a long time that Houston has a serious crash problem,\u201d said Robin Holzer, director of LINK Houston, a transportation advocacy group.<\/p>\n<p class=\"dist__Box-sc-1fnzlkn-0 dist__TextBase-sc-1fnzlkn-3 bYFsJw cuqaEv article-text\">Holzer said Westheimer repeatedly stands out.<\/p>\n<p class=\"dist__Box-sc-1fnzlkn-0 dist__TextBase-sc-1fnzlkn-3 bYFsJw cuqaEv article-text\">\u201cThis particular one-mile segment of Westheimer\u2026 in the last seven years, 1,100 people have been involved in crashes,\u201d she said.<\/p>\n<p class=\"dist__Box-sc-1fnzlkn-0 dist__TextBase-sc-1fnzlkn-3 bYFsJw cuqaEv article-text\">Holzer said Houston\u2019s built environment contributes heavily to the danger, adding that major corridors like Westheimer see heavy foot traffic because of public transit.<\/p>\n<ul class=\"dist__Box-sc-1fnzlkn-0 kDvXdO font_openSans articleList\">\n<li class=\"dist__Box-sc-1fnzlkn-0 dist__StackBase-sc-1fnzlkn-7 ecGWWE iQviKm\"\/><\/ul>\n<p class=\"dist__Box-sc-1fnzlkn-0 dist__TextBase-sc-1fnzlkn-3 bYFsJw cuqaEv article-text\">\u201cHere on this block of Westheimer, there are 12,000 people a day riding the Metro 82 bus,\u201d she said. \u201cEvery one of them is on foot at one end of their trip or the other.\u201d<\/p>\n<p class=\"dist__Box-sc-1fnzlkn-0 dist__TextBase-sc-1fnzlkn-3 bYFsJw cuqaEv article-text\">At a gas station along FM 1960, employee Gwendolyn Lincoln told KPRC 2 News the danger is constant.<\/p>\n<p class=\"dist__Box-sc-1fnzlkn-0 dist__TextBase-sc-1fnzlkn-3 bYFsJw cuqaEv article-text\">\u201cI\u2019ve seen so many wrecks. It\u2019s unbelievable, Lincoln said.<\/p>\n<p class=\"dist__Box-sc-1fnzlkn-0 dist__TextBase-sc-1fnzlkn-3 bYFsJw cuqaEv article-text\">Lincoln described a stretch where drivers routinely speed and even race cars, motorcycles, and trucks.<\/p>\n<p class=\"dist__Box-sc-1fnzlkn-0 dist__TextBase-sc-1fnzlkn-3 bYFsJw cuqaEv article-text\">\u201cThey just drive so fast down 1960,\u201d said Lincoln.<\/p>\n<p class=\"dist__Box-sc-1fnzlkn-0 dist__TextBase-sc-1fnzlkn-3 bYFsJw cuqaEv article-text\">She added that a new median has helped slow traffic \u201ca little bit,\u201d but said drivers and pedestrians must remain vigilant.<\/p>\n<p class=\"dist__Box-sc-1fnzlkn-0 dist__TextBase-sc-1fnzlkn-3 bYFsJw cuqaEv article-text\">\u201cPeople need to pay more attention especially watching the people that\u2019s walking,\u201d Lincoln said.<\/p>\n<p class=\"dist__Box-sc-1fnzlkn-0 dist__TextBase-sc-1fnzlkn-3 bYFsJw cuqaEv article-text\">Houston Mayor John Whitmire issued a statement to KPRC 2 News acknowledging the severity of the issue and noting the data predates his administration.<\/p>\n<p class=\"dist__Box-sc-1fnzlkn-0 dist__TextBase-sc-1fnzlkn-3 bYFsJw cuqaEv article-text\">\u201cThe study was conducted between 2010 and 2023 and predates my administration. The pedestrian deaths are a major concern. The City of Houston will enhance traffic enforcement and safety measures. We are making changes that will address this urgent problem.\u201d<\/p>\n<ul class=\"dist__Box-sc-1fnzlkn-0 kDvXdO font_openSans articleList\">\n<li class=\"dist__Box-sc-1fnzlkn-0 dist__StackBase-sc-1fnzlkn-7 ecGWWE iQviKm\"\/><\/ul>\n<p class=\"dist__Box-sc-1fnzlkn-0 dist__TextBase-sc-1fnzlkn-3 bYFsJw cuqaEv article-text\">TxDOT also outlined new safety improvements planned for Westheimer.<\/p>\n<p class=\"dist__Box-sc-1fnzlkn-0 dist__TextBase-sc-1fnzlkn-3 bYFsJw cuqaEv article-text\">\u201cThe Houston District is implementing improvements along FM 1093\/Westheimer Road to help draw drivers\u2019 attention to pedestrians. We will be updating and enhancing pedestrian crosswalks from I-610 to SH 6,\u201d the agency said in a statement to KPRC 2 News.<\/p>\n<p class=\"dist__Box-sc-1fnzlkn-0 dist__TextBase-sc-1fnzlkn-3 bYFsJw cuqaEv article-text\">TxDOT says the enhanced crosswalk design uses specialized striping to visually narrow lanes, encouraging drivers to slow down. The project is scheduled for 2027. The agency is also exploring midblock crosswalks, pending feasibility studies.<\/p>\n<p class=\"dist__Box-sc-1fnzlkn-0 dist__TextBase-sc-1fnzlkn-3 bYFsJw cuqaEv article-text\">Holzer says Houston does not have to wait years for high-impact safety upgrades.<\/p>\n<p class=\"dist__Box-sc-1fnzlkn-0 dist__TextBase-sc-1fnzlkn-3 bYFsJw cuqaEv article-text\">\u201cThere are easy, affordable roadway design changes we could make, like splitter islands\u2026 that would help drivers know, \u2018I need to be careful, I need to slow my roll.\u2019 We\u2019re not doing that yet.\u201d<\/p>\n<p class=\"dist__Box-sc-1fnzlkn-0 dist__TextBase-sc-1fnzlkn-3 bYFsJw cuqaEv article-text\">While some argue Houston is inherently a \u201ccar city,\u201d Holzer says the reality is more nuanced.<\/p>\n<p class=\"dist__Box-sc-1fnzlkn-0 dist__TextBase-sc-1fnzlkn-3 bYFsJw cuqaEv article-text\">\u201cHouston isn\u2019t one-size-fits-all,\u201d Holzer said. \u201cYou might live on a street where nobody\u2019s walking, but on Westheimer thousands of people are walking to and from the bus every day.\u201d<\/p>\n<p class=\"dist__Box-sc-1fnzlkn-0 dist__TextBase-sc-1fnzlkn-3 bYFsJw cuqaEv article-text\">The city says enforcement and roadway redesigns are coming, but for those who walk these roads every day, the urgency is already clear.<\/p>\n<p class=\"dist__Box-sc-1fnzlkn-0 dist__TextBase-sc-1fnzlkn-3 bYFsJw cuqaEv article-text\">\u201cYou never know when somebody\u2019s going to run across the street,\u201d Lincoln said. \u201cPeople need to pay more attention.\u201d<\/p>\n<p class=\"dist__Box-sc-1fnzlkn-0 dist__TextBase-sc-1fnzlkn-3 bYFsJw cuqaEv article-text\">TXDOT Full Statement:<\/p>\n<p class=\"dist__Box-sc-1fnzlkn-0 dist__TextBase-sc-1fnzlkn-3 bYFsJw cuqaEv article-text\">\u201cThe Houston District is implementing improvements along FM 1093\/Westheimer Road to help draw drivers\u2019 attention to pedestrians. We will be updating and enhancing pedestrian crosswalks from I-610 to SH 6. The enhanced crosswalk design uses specialized striping to visually narrow the travel lane, encouraging drivers to slow down while making the crossings more prominent. This project is scheduled to be let in 2027.<\/p>\n<p class=\"dist__Box-sc-1fnzlkn-0 dist__TextBase-sc-1fnzlkn-3 bYFsJw cuqaEv article-text\">We are also exploring the addition of midblock crosswalks to give pedestrians safer crossing options beyond the existing signalized intersections. This will require feasibility studies, but we will work closely with the City of Houston to determine suitable locations.\u201d <\/p>\n<p>Copyright 2025 by KPRC Click2Houston &#8211; All rights reserved.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"HOUSTON \u2013 Houston continues to rank among the most dangerous cities in America for pedestrians, according to federal&hellip;\n","protected":false},"author":3,"featured_media":364975,"comment_status":"","ping_status":"","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[5130],"tags":[111095,4345,176876,358,3187,193455,193454,92447],"class_list":{"0":"post-411406","1":"post","2":"type-post","3":"status-publish","4":"format-standard","5":"has-post-thumbnail","7":"category-houston","8":"tag-fm-1960","9":"tag-houston","10":"tag-national-highway-traffic-safety-administration","11":"tag-texas","12":"tag-tx","13":"tag-txdot-road-improvements","14":"tag-txdot-safety-improvements","15":"tag-westheimer"},"share_on_mastodon":{"url":"https:\/\/pubeurope.com\/@us\/115629428575942512","error":""},"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/us\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/411406","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/us\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/us\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/us\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/3"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/us\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=411406"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/us\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/411406\/revisions"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/us\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/364975"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/us\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=411406"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/us\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=411406"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/us\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=411406"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}