Austin Pedestrian Traffic Fatalities: A Growing Crisis
Austin’s streets have become increasingly dangerous for pedestrians, with traffic fatalities revealing a troubling pattern that demands immediate attention from city officials and residents alike.
Current State of Traffic Deaths
As of yesterday, September 22, 78 traffic fatalities have been reported in the ATX, up from 69 on the same date in 2024.
Last year, 103 fatalities were reported in all, up from 94 in 2023, but down from a record-high 122 in 2022. While overall traffic deaths appear to have peaked in 2022, the numbers remain alarmingly high compared to historical levels.
Following 37 automobile deaths so far this year are 24 pedestrian traffic-related fatalities (including one Monday) reported in the most recent data, highlighting that pedestrians represent a significant portion of Austin’s traffic casualties. This figure underscores the vulnerability of people walking in a city designed primarily for vehicles.
Historical Context and Trends
Austin’s traffic safety crisis didn’t emerge overnight.
The year-over-year progression tells a concerning story:
- 2020-2021: Record high of 118 fatalities
- 2022: New record of 122-125 fatalities (sources vary)
- 2023: 94 fatalities (significant decrease)
- 2024: 103 fatalities (uptick from 2023)
- 2025: 78 fatalities as of September 22
Pedestrian Safety in Focus
2022 saw the most pedestrians struck and killed since 1981, according to new data released last week by the nonprofit Governors Highway Safety Association (GHSA). This national trend is reflected locally in Austin, where pedestrian safety has become a critical concern.
The vast majority of all fatal accidents involving pedestrians in Austin occur in the 8:00 p.m. to 4:00 a.m. time period.
Fatal accidents involving pedestrians (turquoise), bicycles (green) and e-scooters (yellow) over the past five years.
Most pedestrian-involved wrecks occur on North Lamar, East Riverside, South Congress, William Cannon, and North I-35, where improvements have been made, but fatal crashes are increasing on non-city-owned freeways, frontage roads, and major arterials.
Map outlining fatal accidents involving a pedestrian so far in 2025. Yellow marks the victim was injured. Red marks a fatality:
KXAN-TV‘s Data Hub tracks the region’s traffic fatal accidents on the roadways.
The severity of pedestrian crashes is particularly alarming. According to Austin’s Pedestrian Safety Action Plan, pedestrian crashes are particularly severe, resulting in incapacitating injury or fatality 43% of the time. This is compared with only 22% of crashes if the crash occurred within other types of collisions, demonstrating the disproportionate impact on vulnerable road users.
A recent collaboration between CapMetro and the City of Austin implemented pedestrian safety upgrades, improved cycling infrastructure, and transit priority bus lanes on Trinity Streets and San Jacinto in downtown Austin, enhancing urban mobility and safety for multiple transportation modes.
Last year, a $10.5 million grant from the U.S. Department of Transportation was awarded to Austin to upgrade crossings at nearly 50 intersections, aiming to reduce fatal crashes and enhance pedestrian safety as part of a larger $1 billion national initiative.
Left turns account for over 10% of pedestrian crashes in Austin. A plan to alleviate that problem was started last year.
In 2022, the Austin Transportation Department piloted a high-tech crosswalk at Rosewood and Angelina that uses in-car alerts and stop light timing to warn drivers of pedestrians.
Last month, a local Muslim leader was hit by a car along North Lamar Boulevard near Parmer Lane which prompted activists and council members to highlight safety issues along the corridor.
The city’s infamous 6th Street will soon see some changes coming in an effort to not only increase mobility for cars, bikes and scooters, but also aid pedestrian traffic.
Broader Context
Austin’s pedestrian safety crisis occurs within a national pattern of increasing pedestrian deaths. The number of pedestrian deaths from motor vehicle crashes in the U.S. has risen 59% since 2009. Cities in Texas and California were among those seeing increases in pedestrian deaths from 2020 to 2022, the Governors Highway Safety Association said.
Vision Zero Initiative Response
Austin has implemented its Vision Zero initiative in response to these alarming trends.
The city maintains crash data tracking through the program, which views crash data by month, year, transportation mode, demographic groups impacted, time of day, and geographic location.
Fatal injuries spiked by 64% between 2013-2017 and 2018-2022, contradicting the Vision Zero plan’s goal of eliminating severe and fatal wrecks.
Analysis and Implications
While 2023 showed a promising decrease in overall fatalities to 94 from the record highs of 2022, the uptick to 103 in 2024 suggests the improvement may not be sustained. The current trajectory for 2025, with 78 fatalities as of yesterday, indicates the year could end with numbers similar to or exceeding 2024 levels.
The data reveals that Austin’s pedestrian safety crisis reflects broader urban planning challenges in rapidly growing cities. As Austin continues to expand, the tension between accommodating population growth and maintaining safe streets for all users becomes increasingly critical.
The human cost behind these statistics cannot be overlooked—each number represents a life lost, a family devastated, and a community forever changed by preventable tragedies on Austin’s streets.
An accident Monday resulted in the city’s 78th traffic fatality. Again, this one involved a pedestrian.
Meanwhile, authorities have provided more details on a fatal wreck last week on I-35.
The agencies behind Project Connect—the Austin Transit Partnership, CapMetro, and the City of Austin—are seeking community members to join a new advisory board. The 11-member Project Connect Community Advisory Board will help engage the public and provide advice on anti-displacement efforts related to the massive transit project. Applications are open until October 15. (Austin American-Statesman)
“This is the type of disrespect we’ve seen during the whole process.” — Bob Nicks, AFA president
The Austin Firefighters Association is upset with the City of Austin after a scheduled meeting for Monday was abruptly canceled without prior notice.
Firefighters and paramedics in Austin will soon have their own bulletproof vests.
On Wednesday, the Central Texas Public Safety Commission will announce new funds for the vests. The city of Austin said it will protect those first responders when they are called to emergencies involving guns. (KXAN-TV)
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Austin police are set to share details on a shelter-in-place alert that was issued and then lifted during the search for a shooting suspect in Zilker Park two weeks ago.
A truck driver involved in a deadly 18-vehicle crash in March that killed at least five people and injured 11 others is now facing a new multi-count indictment.
According to court documents, Solomun Weldekeal-Araya has been charged with five counts of manslaughter and 17 counts of aggravated assault. The indictment was filed Monday with the Travis County District Clerk’s office. (KXAN-TV)
A new initiative designed to provide immediate support for individuals experiencing acute psychiatric crises is preparing to launch in downtown Austin next month. (CBS Austin)
Travis County residents that still have debris to be picked up as a result of the July flooding have a deadline tomorrow,
More information is available at the Travis County Office of Emergency Management website.
Residents in the Sandy Creek neighborhood are very relieved to finally have automobile access in and out of the area again.
Austin officials are seeking support from Bastrop County residents and officials for a $1.5 billion plan to store excess treated drinking water in the Carrizo-Wilcox Aquifer.
If the project is approved, it could be operational by the early 2040s. (Austinn American-Statesman)
The discovery of a broken glass panel at the ATX Tower construction site downtown following four previous incidents of falling glass panels, is highlighting significant safety challenges in high-rise construction projects and the need for enhanced inspection protocols to prevent potential hazards to workers and pedestrians.
City staff in South Austin are clearing a hazardous lot that was once a Texas Historic Landmark.
Decades of neglect have left the 173-year-old building in ruins, posing a public safety threat. The unsecured property, just east of I-35 and William Cannon, has also become one of the area’s largest encampment sites. The structure was once home to prominent political figures at the dawn of Texas’ statehood. (Austin Monitor)
Street closures have begun in and around Zilker Park as crews set up the Austin City Limits Music Festival. (CBS Austin)
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AUSTIN-BERGSTROM INTERNATIONAL AIRPORT
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September is normally one of the area’s two “rainy seasons” but it has been anything but.
5-DAY FORECAST / AUSTIN, TEXAS
The latest on Hurricane Gabrielle and two other systems brewing in the tropics.
This year, the University of Texas is once again setting new records for enrollment, applications, and student retention. The school reports an all-time high of 55,000 students enrolled for the 2025 academic year. Additionally, the university saw a 7.5% increase in first-time college students, with 9,900 new freshmen on the Forty Acres. (Austin American-Statesman)
A group of families has filed a third lawsuit against 14 school districts in Texas, including Georgetown and Comal County, over a new law that mandates the display of the Ten Commandments in classrooms. The districts are among dozens being sued since Governor Greg Abbott signed the law in June.
Gov. Greg Abbott on Monday signed a bill that would restrict which restrooms transgender people can use in government buildings and schoolsand fines institutions up to $125,000 for violations.
A former Belton ISD teacher has been arrested and charged for recording several female students without their apparent knowledge. 39-year-old Pietro Victor Giustino was arrested Monday in Bexar County on two warrants for state-jail felony invasive visual recording.
Giustino was formerly a teacher at Belton High School. (FOX 7 Austin)
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Some are calling it a new chapter in the relationship between higher education and Texas politics – we’ll have a closer look at what’s happening at A&M right now and why it matters.
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(Episode from September 22, 2025)
A 50-year-old Lockhart woman has been sentenced to 60 months in federal prison for her involvement in a conspiracy to transport illegal aliens from Eagle Pass to San Antonio. Temple Ordaz-Alvarado was identified as a leader and organizer in the smuggling operation, according to court documents. (My Texas Daily)
A South Texas man is facing federal criminal charges after officials say he attempted to interfere with a work site raid by U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) agents. (My San Antonio)
The rural Texas home of Shelly Duvall, the late, great Lone Star State-born actress is now on sale. Not only that, but several pieces of memorabilia related to the actress’ career were available over the weekend in an estate sale. Duvall died last year at the age of 75. (Houston Chronicle)
SPORTS
The Texas Longhorns will face three teams for the next three seasons beginning in 2026:
Arkansas Razorbacks
Oklahoma Sooners
Texas A&M Aggies
The SEC is scheduled to announce football opponents for the next four years for every SEC school in a one-hour television special tonight at 6 p.m. CT on SEC Network and ESPN2.
Texas Football – Sam Houston Game Recap / SEC Schedule | LIVE | 9/23/25
Stay classy, Arch.
Story from The Atlantic.
MLB: The Texas Rangers are on life support while the Houston Astros have better odds at extending their season…but they need to start winning.
Meanwhile, The Texas Rangers got swept by the Miami Marlins over the weekend to extend their season-long losing streak to seven straight games and all but end their playoff hopes. They are five games back in the Wild Card race with six games left on the schedule.
AL WEST STANDINGS
WILD CARD RACE
Travel across the Lone Star State to uncover three unforgettable stories of art, food, and tradition.
In Brownsville, meet funeral director and artist Oscar Alvarez, who has found a way to turn grief into creativity. By blending his work in funeral services with his passion for art, Oscar shows how healing and expression can come from the most unexpected places.
Next, head to Schulenburg to visit the legendary Moravia Store, a family-owned Texas restaurant that has been serving generations with home-style cooking, live music, and family recipes that bring people together. More than just a place to eat, Moravia Store is a symbol of small-town Texas tradition, community, and hospitality that continues to thrive.
Finally, in Austin, meet Nam Joti Kaur Khalsa, a dedicated broom maker who keeps the timeless art of handmade brooms alive in today’s world of mass production. Each handcrafted broom reflects her commitment to preserving Texas craftsmanship and carrying forward traditions that are both beautiful and functional.
