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Published on January 16, 2025
Houston Coalition Ramps Up Traffic Safety Measures After Alarming Road Fatality SurgeSource: Texas Department of Transportation

In an effort to address the alarming rise in traffic fatalities in the Houston area, which saw more than 700 deaths last year, the Houston Traffic Safety Coalition, led by the Texas Department of Transportation’s (TxDOT) Traffic Safety team, is stepping up its game with a “walking audit” of local neighborhoods. Highlighting walkability issues and seeking feedback to better safeguard the community, the coalition comprises non-profit organizations, law enforcement, and government agencies alike,

With the dubious distinction of more than 4,200 individuals losing their lives in roadway accidents across Texas just last year, Trey Salinas, a TxDOT traffic safety specialist in Houston, emphasized the importance of collaboration. "We feel it is important that we bring people to the table with a similar focus so that we can support each other in our goal to reduce deaths on our roads," Salinas told TxDOT, acknowledging the critical mass of concerned citizens and organizations eager to enact change.

The coalition not only serves as a vital forum for discussing the community’s widespread traffic troubles but also spawns proposals aimed at creating safer environs for all—pedestrians, bicyclists, and motorists. In Salinas's words, "When we work together, we have a greater chance of finding solutions that we can work on together." By having TxDOT at the helm, resources are coordinated, standards established, and a broad traffic safety net cast, thus enabling focused groups confronting issues like impaired driving and distracted driving to join forces and craft solutions.

Beyond the monthly gatherings and regular partnerships, the coalition members have set out on novel endeavors to enhance traffic safety locally; TxDOT’s guiding hand proving pivotal in aligning efforts and tackling different safety challenges, all while bringing diverse initiatives such as targeting impaired and distracted driving to the fore for collaboration and solution-seeking. “The coalition is greater than the sum of its parts," Salinas said, underscoring the collective impact this alliance aims to achieve.

As a new year unfolds, the coalition, under TxDOT’s guidance, remains steadfast in its mission to inform the public about the gravity of traffic safety and to maximize its reach within the community. Salinas asserts that the battle against the twin dangers of impaired driving and distracted driving won’t cease anytime soon, vowing that the coalition will persist in shining a spotlight on these pressing issues and urging motorists to adopt safer driving habits. “Success is working together on a variety is issues at a variety of events,” Salinas said, adding, "And lastly success is knowing we did our part to help save lives on our roads and streets."

Austin-Transportation & Infrastructure