Memphis family launches program to promote safer streets, improve driver education for pedestrian safety

June 15, 2026 - 07:47

For the second year in a row, Memphis has been named the deadliest metro area in the country for pedestrians. The ranking comes from a report by Smart Growth America, a group that tracks traffic safety and urban design. The news has pushed one local family to take action. After losing a loved one in a crosswalk accident, they have launched a community program aimed at reducing pedestrian deaths.

The program focuses on two main goals. The first is to improve driver education. Many drivers, the family says, do not know the basic rules about yielding to people on foot. The second goal is to push for safer street design. The family is working with local leaders to add better lighting, more crosswalks, and slower speed limits in high-traffic neighborhoods.

"We cannot wait for another report to tell us we are failing," a family spokesperson said. "We need real changes now." The program will hold free workshops for new drivers and offer safety kits that include reflective gear and informational cards. They also plan to meet with city planners to discuss how to make intersections safer.

The family hopes their effort will spark a larger conversation about pedestrian safety in Memphis. They believe that with better education and infrastructure, the city can move off the top of that deadly list.