The Texas Department of Transportation is urging drivers and pedestrians to stay alert as evenings arrive earlier, according to an Oct. 20 agency story published during Pedestrian Safety Month.
TxDOT said familiar streets can look very different after dark, and a child stepping off a curb, a neighbor walking a dog or a family crossing the road may be difficult for drivers to see. The agency noted that the seasonal clock change, when clocks turn back one hour, offers a timely reminder to slow down and keep pedestrian safety in focus. Pedestrian Safety Month is observed Oct. 1–31, 2026.
For people on foot, TxDOT recommended simple precautions, according to the story by agency writer Robbi Smith. Pedestrians should wear bright or reflective clothing, use the sidewalk, put away phones and earbuds, cross at a crosswalk, watch approaching traffic and make eye contact with drivers before stepping into the street.
Drivers share the responsibility, the agency said. At night or in bad weather, motorists should slow down, scan the road carefully and be prepared to stop before turning through a crosswalk. TxDOT said following the speed limit is especially critical near schools, on neighborhood streets and anywhere children or other pedestrians may appear.
The agency described Pedestrian Safety Month as an annual effort that brings communities together around a shared goal of helping everyone arrive safely. According to TxDOT, the campaign encourages drivers to slow down, supports designing roads with people in mind and promotes safer walking habits, with the aim of helping prevent pedestrian deaths.
TxDOT also pointed to the wider benefits of walking and other active travel. The agency said each trip made on foot, by bicycle, wheelchair, scooter or another active mode replaces a vehicle trip, reducing emissions and fuel use while improving air quality. TxDOT added that active travel helps children develop healthy habits that can last a lifetime, noting that even a short bike ride can have benefits that reach well beyond the neighborhood.
With the clock change approaching and darkness settling in earlier each evening, the agency said its message to Texans is to stay alert, slow down and look out for one another on the road.