Pedestrian Safety Awareness Campaign Launched by NY DOH

New York State Department of Health Campaign Raises Awareness About Best Practices for Pedestrian Safety

Media Campaign Aims to Reduce Motor Vehicle and Pedestrian Crashes

More Than 65,000 Pedestrians Injured in Motor Vehicle Crashes Since 2020; More Than 1,000 Fatalities

ALBANY, N.Y. (April 6, 2026) – The New York State Department of Health, in partnership with the Governor's Traffic Safety Committee and the New York State Department of Transportation, has launched a media campaign to raise awareness about the best practices for drivers and pedestrians to reduce the number of crashes, injuries and fatalities.

"No one wants to cause an avoidable collision," State Health Commissioner Dr. James McDonald said. "This campaign helps New Yorkers avoid dangerous behaviors by teaching best practices that can keep pedestrians safe. Everyone can do their part to ensure pedestrian safety on our streets."

According to the Institute for Traffic Safety Management & Research at the University at Albany's Rockefeller College, in 2024 there were more than 14,000 pedestrians injured, and more than 300 pedestrians killed in motor vehicle crashes on New York State roadways. Since 2020, there have been more than 65,000 pedestrians injured and more than 1,000 pedestrian fatalities. Leading causes of these crashes included distracted driving, failure to yield and crossing without a signal.

The approximately $2.5 million media campaign will run throughout the year and highlight best practices for drivers and pedestrians to help support pedestrian safety. In April, the campaign will focus on distracted driving as part of the National Highway Safety Administration's Distracted Driving Awareness Month, reminding drivers to pay attention and avoid distractions.

Other best practices for drivers to protect pedestrian safety include:

• yielding for pedestrians in crosswalks and at intersections – it's the law
• not blocking crosswalks when stopping at intersections

• looking out for pedestrians, especially before turning at a green light or making a right turn on red
  While drivers play a major role in ensuring pedestrian safety, best practices for pedestrians when walking include:

• being visible, especially at dawn and dusk

• crossing at intersections where drivers expect to see instead of midblock

• pushing the button and waiting for the signal to cross
  The campaign will also include a " Walking with Daisy " video featuring street safety tips for kids in grades K-5.

Stopping New York City's Super Speeders Through Intelligent Speed Assistance
Speed is one of the leading causes of serious injury and death on New York City streets, with repeat offenders posing an outsized risk to pedestrians, cyclists, and families. Governor Hochul has introduced legislation to authorize New York City to pilot a program to require the installation of Intelligent Speed Assistance systems for drivers with a documented pattern of flouting speeding laws and putting New Yorkers at risk. Under this initiative, New York City can require that vehicles driven by persistent speeders be equipped with technology that prevents motorists from driving more than a few miles per hour above the posted speed limit. This pilot will directly target the most dangerous driving behavior, helping prevent tragedies before they happen and making city streets safer for everyone. Based on the results from this pilot initiative, New York will seek to allow interested communities around the state to opt into an Intelligent Speed Assistance program.

State Department of Transportation Commissioner Marie Therese Dominguez said, "I thank our partners at the Department of Health and the Governor's Traffic Safety Committee for their ongoing efforts to as we work together to protect pedestrians across New York State. The heart of pedestrian safety is enforcement, education and engineering and all three need to work cohesively to enhance pedestrian safety. However, everyone – from drivers to pedestrians – plays an important role in reducing pedestrian crashes. This new campaign aims to educate the traveling public on important ways to keep pedestrians safe, including the real-life dangers associated with distracted driving. As temperatures continue to rise and more and more pedestrians are outside sharing the road, the timing for this campaign could not be more fitting."

NYS Department of Motor Vehicles Commissioner and GTSC Chair Mark J.F. Schroeder said, "Pedestrian safety is everyone's responsibility but drivers need to be especially aware that they are behind the wheel of a powerful machine that can do great damage. Especially as the weather is getting warmer, drivers need to be aware at all times and look out for pedestrians. I applaud this campaign for providing simple and effective tips to enable everyone to navigate our streets safely. Always remember: Walk and Drive Safe New York!"

The media campaign, funded by the New York State Department of Transportation and National Highway Traffic Safety Administration with a grant from Governor's Traffic Safety Committee, will appear on streaming audio and video services, radio, social media, billboards, transit and street furniture. View campaign materials and learn more here and here.

To learn more about New York's ongoing efforts to prevent distracted driving, visit the Governor's Traffic Safety Committee website.

Additional information about distracted driving is available on the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration website and the Governors Highway Safety Association website.

To learn more about how the New York State Department of Transportation supports these efforts, please visit the New York State Strategic Highway Safety Plan website.

For information about pedestrian safety, visit here.

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