On his 10th birthday in 2020, Victor Peterzen, Austin, received his new bike. Just three months later, his life was tragically cut short with a crash while riding a bike through a nearby north Houston.
Sadly, similar tragedy continues to plague our state. In 2023, 914 bicycles and pedestrians were killed in a traffic accident in Texas. This is part of the recent upward trend as pedestrian deaths increased by 22% and cycling deaths increased by 58% from 2019-2023.
Almost five years after his death, Peterzen’s family will work together on TXDOT’s “BeSafe.Drive Smart” campaign to remind Texans this spring to follow traffic laws and safely share the roads with people walking and riding bikes.
“Pedestrians and cyclists are one of our most at-risk road users, and many people are killed or injured in our community each year,” said Marc Williams, executive director of TXDOT, in a news release. “If everyone is looking for each other and following road rules, we can prevent these horrible crashes.”
The TXDOT campaign aims to raise awareness among all Texans (drivers, pedestrians, cyclists) about the common responsibility to help everyone get to a safe place. To support this goal, the “Safe and Drive Smart” campaign sends teams of “Walking Billboards” across the state to share important safety messages in crash-prone areas.
I know the rules. Save your life.
If you are driving:
Stop and harvest for pedestrians, cyclists and other vulnerable road users on crosswalks. Give your bike space and pass through at a safe distance. Sullenge when you spin and always check pedestrians and cyclists. Adjust the conditions according to the speed limit.
If you’re walking:
Use a crosswalk and follow traffic lights. Stick to the sidewalk, but if it is not present, walk facing left traffic unless it is obstructed or unsafe.
If you are on a bike:
Stop at red lights and bus stops in accordance with traffic laws. Take the same direction as traffic and use the bike lane or as close as possible to the curb on the right. Use hand signals to turn or stop. Equip the bike with lights at night, using white light on the front and red light or reflector on the back.
“Safe. Drive Smart” is an important part of a TXDOT drive like the Texan. polite. safety. Leadership. Driving like a Texan is about pride, friendship and accepting responsibility for being a Texan on the road. By making thoughtful choices, we all help to keep each other safe. For more information, please visit drivelikeatexan.com.
