EL PASO, Texas (KTSM) — TxDOT is bringing their “Be Safe. Be Smart.” pedestrian and bicyclist safety campaign to El Paso on Wednesday, March 27.
TxDOT says its campaign will feature its highly visible “walking billboards” from 8 a.m. through 12 p.m. across the University of Texas at El Paso.
TxDOT’s walking billboards will be in high-traffic areas across the UTEP campus to “remind drivers, pedestrians, and bicyclists how to help keep each other safe.”
TxDOT’s campaign urges all Texans to learn and follow the laws for safe driving, walking, and biking. Those laws are the following:
If you’re driving in Texas, state law requires you to:
- Stop and yield for pedestrians, bicyclists and other vulnerable road users in crosswalks.
- When turning, yield the right of way to pedestrians and bicyclists.
- Pass bikes at a safe distance and give bicyclists room to ride.
- Always follow the speed limit and drive at a safe speed.
If you’re walking:
- Cross the street only at intersections and crosswalks.
- Obey all traffic signs and signals, including at crosswalks.
- Use sidewalks. If there’s no sidewalk, walk on the left side of the road, facing oncoming traffic, unless the left side is obstructed or unsafe.
If you’re riding a bike:
- Always stop at red lights and stop signs.
- Ride in the same direction as traffic and use bike lanes or ride as near as possible to the right-hand curb.
- Use hand signals when turning or stopping.
- At night, ensure your bike has a white light on the front and a red light or reflector on the back.
“In the El Paso area in 2022, there were 209 traffic crashes involving pedestrians, resulting in 26 fatalities and 36 serious injuries. Also in the El Paso area in 2022, there were 52 traffic crashes involving bicyclists, resulting in 2 fatalities and 4 serious injuries,” TxDOT said.
