Pedestrian accidents remain one of the most serious traffic safety problems in Texas. Even when overall traffic deaths decline, people walking near roads, schools, and commercial areas continue to face a high risk of catastrophic injury or death.
Generally, the trend for pedestrian deaths is complicated. Statewide, pedestrian deaths have decreased from 810 in 2023 to 772 in 2024, based on TxDOT data. However, these numbers may have increased again in 2025, but it is currently too early to say. While preliminary data for Jan. – July of 2025 showed 29 fewer adjusted deaths than the same period in 2024, TxDOT claimed “almost 1,000 pedestrians were killed on Texas roadways in 2025” on Feb. 18, 2026.
Regardless of whether pedestrian accidents are increasing or decreasing however, in Houston, pedestrian deaths remain far higher than they should be.
On This Page
- Are Pedestrian Deaths Increasing or Decreasing in Texas?
- Are Pedestrian Deaths Increasing or Decreasing in Houston?
- Why Are Pedestrian Accidents So Dangerous?
- Common Causes of Pedestrian Accidents in Texas
- Talk to a Houston Pedestrian Accident Lawyer
Are Pedestrian Deaths Increasing or Decreasing in Texas?
The most recent complete statewide pedestrian-only numbers show a decrease in pedestrian deaths from 2023 to 2024. TxDOT reported 810 pedestrian fatalities in 2023. For 2024, TxDOT’s pedestrian safety campaign reported 6,095 pedestrian crashes, 772 pedestrian deaths, and 1,455 serious pedestrian injuries.
That means pedestrian deaths decreased year over year, but the danger did not disappear. TxDOT states that pedestrians are involved in only about 1% of Texas traffic crashes, yet they account for 19% of all roadway fatalities.
Early 2025 data also shows the problem continuing. TxDOT reported that in early 2025, there were 1,372 traffic crashes involving pedestrians and 527 crashes involving bicyclists in Texas. Those crashes killed 186 people. TxDOT did not separate that early 2025 death count into pedestrian-only and bicyclist-only fatalities in that release, so the safest interpretation is that pedestrian and bicyclist deaths combined remained a serious statewide concern.
Are Pedestrian Deaths Increasing or Decreasing in Houston?
In Houston, pedestrian deaths appear to have decreased in 2025 compared to 2024, but the numbers are still alarming.
Houston had 119 pedestrian deaths in 2024, making up more than one-third of the city’s roadway deaths that year. More than half of those pedestrian deaths occurred on roads with speed limits of 45 mph or higher, according to a Houston Chronicle review of TxDOT crash data.
Preliminary 2025 data reported by Axios from TxDOT CRIS showed 300 total traffic deaths in Houston, including 99 pedestrian deaths and 10 bicyclist deaths. That is lower than 2024, but still means Houston pedestrians accounted for roughly one-third of all traffic deaths in the city.
The first half of 2025 showed a similar trend. 53 pedestrians died in Houston during the first six months of 2025, compared with 58 pedestrian deaths during the same period in 2024.
So the answer is: Houston pedestrian deaths decreased in 2025, but Houston still remains one of the most dangerous places in Texas for pedestrians.
Why Are Pedestrian Accidents So Dangerous?
Pedestrians have no protection when struck by a vehicle. A person walking across a street, standing near a shoulder, crossing at an intersection, or walking through a parking lot does not have a seat belt, airbag, steel frame, or helmet to absorb impact. Additionally, pickup trucks and SUVs are very popular in Texas, and Houston in general – but they are also much more dangerous. According to the CDC, pedestrians have as much as a 100% higher chance of death when being struck by a truck or SUV, compared to a sedan.
The NHTSA reported that 7,080 pedestrians were killed in traffic crashes nationwide in 2024, and that a pedestrian was killed every 74 minutes. NHTSA also warns drivers to slow down, look for pedestrians, use extra caution at night or in bad weather, yield at crosswalks, and never pass vehicles stopped at a crosswalk.
In Texas and Houston, speed is especially important. A pedestrian struck on a high-speed road is much more likely to suffer fatal injuries. Houston’s 2024 pedestrian death data is especially concerning because more than half of pedestrian fatalities occurred on roads with speed limits of 45 mph or higher.
Common Causes of Pedestrian Accidents in Texas
TxDOT identifies several common factors in pedestrian crashes, including pedestrians failing to yield, drivers failing to yield, driver inattention, and speeding.
In real cases, pedestrian accidents may involve:
- Drivers failing to stop at crosswalks
- Drivers turning without checking for pedestrians
- Speeding near intersections or bus stops
- Distracted driving
- Drunk or drug-impaired driving
- Poor lighting
- Unsafe road design
- Lack of sidewalks
- Lack of safe crossings
- Hit-and-run drivers
- Commercial vehicle or rideshare driver negligence
It should be noted that, while many crash reports list a single contributing factor, that rarely tells the full story. A pedestrian may be blamed for “failing to yield” even when the road design, lighting, driver speed, or lack of safe crossings contributed to the crash.
Talk to a Houston Pedestrian Accident Lawyer
Pedestrian accidents can cause catastrophic injuries, including traumatic brain injuries, spinal cord injuries, broken bones, internal injuries, amputations, severe burns, and wrongful death. Even when pedestrian deaths decline in a given year, the numbers in Texas and Houston show that people on foot remain extremely vulnerable.
Hilda Sibrian has represented injury victims in negligence and truck accident claims across Texas for over 22 years. If you or someone you love was injured in a truck or car crash, call the Law Offices of Hilda Sibrian today for a free consultation. The Law Offices of Hilda Sibrian serve all of Houston and Texas, including Sugar Land, Missouri City, La Porte, Beaumont, Pasadena, The Woodlands, The Heights, Bellaire, Kingwood, Baytown and of course Houston proper.
Call our office today for a free consultation, or fill out our online contact form.
