Federal safety officials and Santa Rosa authorities are calling on drivers to slow down and stay vigilant for pedestrians. National statistics show over 7,000 pedestrians were killed and more than 71,000 injured in traffic crashes during 2024.
While fatalities dropped slightly from the previous year, pedestrians still accounted for 18% of all traffic deaths nationwide.
With October recognized as National Pedestrian Safety Month, local officials emphasize that everyone is a pedestrian at some point in their day. Drivers are urged to use extra caution at crosswalks, stick to speed limits in neighborhoods, and drive completely sober.
Extra awareness is especially critical later this month, as Halloween brings trick-or-treating children out onto local streets after dark.