Rockland County officials are urging residents to remain vigilant and prioritize pedestrian safety as crashes involving pedestrians continue to be a significant public safety concern across New York State and locally.

According to the Traffic Safety Statistical Repository, 208 pedestrians were killed or injured in crashes in Rockland County during 2024. Statewide, more than 300 pedestrians are killed each year and thousands more suffer injuries on roadways. Pedestrians account for nearly one-quarter of all traffic fatalities in New York.

County officials noted that many pedestrian crashes occur at intersections or while crossing roadways and often involve factors such as distracted driving, speeding, failure to yield the right-of-way, alcohol use, and inadequate crossing infrastructure.

To help reduce crashes and save lives, Rockland County is encouraging pedestrians to cross at marked crosswalks or intersections whenever possible, obey pedestrian signals, make eye contact with drivers before crossing, avoid distractions such as texting, and increase visibility at night by wearing reflective clothing or carrying a flashlight. Residents are also reminded to walk facing oncoming traffic when sidewalks are unavailable.

Officials emphasized that improving pedestrian safety requires a coordinated effort involving education, enforcement, and infrastructure improvements. The county continues to support public awareness campaigns and targeted enforcement initiatives aimed at reducing pedestrian-related crashes.

“Eyes on the Road, Rockland. Stay alert. Follow the rules. Look out for one another,” the county said in its safety message.

The initiative is funded by the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration through a grant from the New York State Governor’s Traffic Safety Committee. For more information on pedestrian safety, visit: https://rcklnd.us/Safe-Streets.