Addressing Pedestrian Safety in Memphis Through the Crosswalk Talk Initiative
Following a national report by Smart Growth America ranking Memphis as the nation’s deadliest city for pedestrians, the Tennessee Highway Safety Office (THSO) and the Shelby County Sheriff’s Office are tackling the issue with their “Crosswalk Talk” initiative. By engaging directly with pedestrians who cross outside designated crosswalks, law enforcement agencies are gathering crucial data on local walking habits.
Safety officials found that many pedestrians bypass crosswalks due to infrastructure gaps, such as crosswalks spaced half a mile apart, poor sidewalk conditions, or missing connections near key businesses. THSO is sharing these field insights with city and county leaders to help guide future infrastructure updates, pedestrian signal additions, and community education efforts to save lives.
Read more at FOX13 Memphis.