Within El Paso County, pedestrian deaths and serious driver related injuries have continued to increase in recent years. With many citizens expressing concerns regarding this unsettling increase in incidents, there has become a growing curiosity about what might be causing the rise and how the community as a whole can promote a safer driving culture.
UTEP psychology major and criminal justice minor Isabella Ognibene notes a particular pattern of drivers taking unnecessary risk, “As a student driver, there have definitely been times where I’ve felt unsafe on the road in El Paso.”
Ognibene alludes to the lack of responsibility from drivers and safe driving in the city.
“There’s been numerous times where I’ve seen people running red lights while there was traffic coming from the other direction and only one of those times, I’ve seen a cop car stop them,” said Ognibene.
Texas Department of Transportation (TxDOT) data confirms the extent of the problem. In 2023, El Paso County recorded 18,860 traffic crashes, with 101 resulting in fatalities and 378 leading to suspected serious injuries. 201 traffic crashes involved pedestrians, with pedestrian deaths in Texas rising by 22% over the last five years.
In considering what might contribute to this rise in accidents, data has shown that there is a culmination of factors.
Ryan Urrutia, commander at the El Paso County Sheriff’s Office told KFOX that this issue is primarily attributed to a growing population, leading to heavier traffic. This coupled with common driving behaviors like distracted driving, speeding and not following traffic rules, particularly on busy intersections like TX-659/Zaragoza Road, US-54 BUS/Dyer St and TX-20/Mesa Street have led to a higher risk of accidents.
Ognibene openly admits that her phone is one of her biggest distractions while driving.
“Every time I get a notification, I have an urge to look at my phone, but this is definitely something I’ve been working on, especially when I have other passengers in the car,” she said.
TxDOT has issued several recommendations for drivers, aiming to encourage safer behavior and reduce the risk of accidents. Their guidelines emphasize basic yet crucial actions: stopping and giving the right of way to pedestrians in crosswalks, staying alert when passing stopped buses or vehicles and adhering to speed limits.
Pedestrians are also urged to take safety measures. TxDOT advises using crosswalks, looking both ways when crossing, following traffic signs and wearing reflective clothing or using a flashlight when walking at night.
While the recent rise in traffic accidents is not an insurmountable problem, it does require collective effort and attention. By emphasizing the shared responsibility of drivers and pedestrians and promoting safe driving practices, El Paso can work toward creating a road environment that prioritizes everyone’s safety. The challenge lies in transforming individual awareness into community-wide commitment, ensuring that El Paso’s roads remain safe and accessible for all.
For additional information on road safety tips for both drivers and pedestrians, visit TxDOT.gov.
Rumi Sevilla is a staff reporter for The Prospector and may be reached at [email protected]
