At Some Point Every Day, We Are All Pedestrians
October is Pedestrian Safety Month. It’s easy to think of pedestrian safety as something that only applies to other people, but at some point every day, all of us are pedestrians. We walk from the parking lot into work. We cross the street to the mailbox. We walk our kids into school and our dogs around the block.
At William’s Walk, we believe everyone has the right to walk and bike safely in their community. This month, we’re asking Memphis to pay attention to why that matters, and to what each of us can do about it.
Why this is personal for us
In 2022, our son William was killed in a pedestrian crash. Nothing prepares you for that kind of loss. But from the very beginning, we knew we didn’t want William’s story to end with a statistic. We chose to honor him by working for safer streets, so other families will be spared from experiencing that loss.
That’s what William’s Walk is. It was born from unimaginable tragedy, and it has grown into an organization fighting to make every road user in Memphis safer.
Why it matters in Memphis
Memphis has the highest pedestrian fatality rate of the 50 largest cities in the United States. In just five years, 293 people were killed while walking on Memphis streets from 2019-2023. William was only 1 of those. That means 292 families who have a story similar to ours.
Nationally, 7,080 pedestrians were killed in traffic crashes in 2024. That’s one person every 74 minutes.
Behind every one of those numbers is a family whose life changed in an instant. We know, because we are one of them.
Crashes are preventable
Pedestrian crashes are not accidents in the sense of being unavoidable. They are the result of decisions: how fast we drive, where we look, how our streets are designed, and how well our drivers are prepared. That means they can be prevented.
We can all make changes to how we navigate the roads. When you drive, slow down, especially in neighborhoods and near schools. Put your phone away. Look for people at crosswalks, and check twice before turning, since people crossing are easy to miss.
If you’re walking, cross at crosswalks and intersections when you can, make yourself visible after dark, and watch for turning cars, even when you have the right of way.
Better drivers also start with better education. Driver’s education is no longer offered in Memphis-Shelby County Schools, which puts it out of reach for many families. That’s why we created Steps to Steering: 901, a scholarship program in partnership with Maxwell Driving School that gives Memphis teens access to full driver education at no cost to their families. Safer roads start with better-prepared drivers.
Community makes the difference
When we lost William, our community didn’t wait to be asked. People brought food, sat with us, and shared stories about him. Then, they went further. They stood before the Memphis City Council and spoke William’s name into the public record. They volunteered, shared our posts, and showed up.
Grief has taught us that community, real, hands-in-the-dirt community, is one of the greatest gifts we have. It’s also how change happens.
This month, we’re asking you to be part of that community. Follow along as we share what’s happening on Memphis streets and what we can all do differently. Share these posts with someone who drives, someone who walks, or someone raising a new driver. And learn more about our work at williams-walk.com.
Every time someone says William’s name and chooses to slow down, look twice, or speak up, Memphis gets a little safer.
