Author: Rebekah McConnell

Steps to Steering: 901
A William’s Walk + Maxwell Driver Education Scholarship

At William’s Walk, everything we do comes back to one belief: safer roads are possible.

After losing our son William in a road crash, we made a commitment to be part of that change. Through community, advocacy, and action, we have worked to raise awareness and bring people together around a shared goal. But we have always known that awareness alone is not enough. Real change also requires investment in solutions.

That is what led us to create Steps to Steering: 901 – A William’s Walk + Maxwell Driver Education Scholarship.

Driver’s education is no longer widely available through schools in Memphis. For many families, that means access comes down to cost, and too often, that cost puts it out of reach. At the same time, we know that better-prepared drivers lead to safer roads for everyone.

From the beginning, we knew that if we were going to create something meaningful, it had to be done alongside people who share our values and our commitment to this community. That is why we are proud to partner with Maxwell Driving School.

Maxwell Driving School is not just a provider of driver’s education. They are leaders in preparing drivers for the real world. Their approach is hands-on, intentional, and built around the understanding that every student learns differently. Through classroom instruction, simulation training, and real-world driving experience, they focus on building confidence and competence, not just helping students pass a test.

Together, we have built Steps to Steering: 901 to address a growing need in Memphis.

Driver’s education is no longer widely available through Memphis Shelby County Schools, and for many families, the cost puts it out of reach. Through this partnership, we are able to remove that barrier by providing full driver’s education scholarships to students who may not otherwise have access.

William’s Walk leads the program through community outreach, student nominations, and selection. Maxwell Driving School delivers the high-quality education and hands-on training that prepares students for the road.

Our 2026 pilot will serve 10 students, selected through a fair and thoughtful process based on demonstrated need, responsibility, and readiness to complete the program.

This program is about safety first. It is about helping young drivers build the skills and confidence they need before they ever get behind the wheel on their own. But it is also about opportunity. For many students, access to driver’s education is not just about driving. It is about getting to a job. It is about helping care for family members. It is about independence and the ability to move forward in life.

Through this partnership, we are not only creating safer drivers. We are helping open doors.

At William’s Walk, our mission is rooted in community. Steps to Steering: 901 is a reflection of what can happen when that community shows up and works together toward a shared goal.

If you would like to support this program, donations are tax-deductible through our partnership with Innovate Memphis.

Nominations for students will be opening soon.

Thank you for continuing to walk with us.

April is National Distracted Driving Awareness Month. It’s a good reminder to step back and look at what’s actually happening on our roads.

According to national reports from National Highway Traffic Safety Administration, thousands of lives are lost each year due to distracted driving, 3200 people in 2024 alone. Over 300,000 people were injured by distracted drivers in 2024, that’s almost 2 every minute. Distracted driving includes things that we do every day: texting, adjusting navigation, eating, or just being mentally distracted.

In Tennessee, the numbers are similar. Data from the Tennessee Department of Safety and Homeland Security shows that distracted driving plays a role in a significant number of crashes across the state each year. While enforcement and awareness have increased, behavior has not changed.

What makes distracted driving especially dangerous is how normal it feels to all of us. Most people don’t think that they are distracted drivers. It’s often seen as a quick glance, a short reply, or something that “only takes a second.” But those seconds matter. At city speeds, taking your eyes off the road for a moment can mean the difference between stopping in time and a life-changing outcome.

In Memphis, this matters even more. Our roads already present challenges for road users. When distraction is added to the mix, the margin for error gets smaller for everyone. This isn’t just about phones. Distraction includes anything that pulls focus away from driving. The reality is that safer roads depend on consistent attention behind the wheel, not just good intentions.

So what does this mean in practice?

• put the phone out of reach before the car is in motion
• set navigation before starting the drive
• don’t turn to talk to someone in the back seat
• be aware of outside driving conditions
• Remember: all roads require full attention

When we talk about distracted driving, it’s not about blame. We’ve all done it at some point. But, what we need to do is be conscious of it every time we drive. Little changes every day add up to a big difference.

With the weather warming up in Memphis, more people are out on the road. Whether they’re walking or out for a drive to head to one of the amazing events we have every year, people are out, and all of us want to safely get where ever we are headed. Put down the phone, be aware of what is around you, and we can all be a little safer this April.

There is good news to share about road safety in Tennessee, especially here in Memphis.

According to year-end data released by the Tennessee Department of Safety and Homeland Security, traffic fatalities statewide declined in 2025. Tennessee recorded 1,045 roadway deaths, down from 1,194 in 2024. That is a reduction of about 14 percent.

In District 4, which includes Memphis and Shelby County, fatalities declined from 259 in 2024 to 169 in 2025. That is 90 fewer deaths, the largest district-level improvement anywhere in the state.  That number matters. Ninety people are still here who might not have been otherwise. Ninety families were spared phone calls that change everything.

State officials point to coordinated enforcement and safety efforts as a major reason for the improvement. Initiatives like the Memphis Safe Task Force and the Tennessee Highway Patrol’s Bluff City Task Force increased visibility, enforcement, and education. Urban areas saw the largest reductions, with 128 fewer fatalities overall. There were also declines in crashes involving teen drivers, older drivers, and pedestrians.  All progress deserves recognition. It shows that when safety is treated as a priority, lives are saved.

But, it is important to be clear-eyed. One hundred sixty-nine fatalities in a single year in our district is still far too many. Statewide, more than 1,000 people did not make it home. Progress does not mean the problem is solved.  Behind every statistic is a story that did not have to end that way. Road crashes are preventable. That truth is what makes both the progress and the remaining numbers so important.

The data reinforces what we have been saying for years. Enforcement helps. Education helps. Slowing speeds matters. Protecting pedestrians matters. It also reinforces why continued focus is essential, especially in Memphis. We know improvement is possible because we are seeing it. The challenge now is to sustain it and build on it, not relax because numbers moved in the right direction for a year.

This moment should be used as momentum. We need to keep investing in safer street design, while also talking about pedestrian safety. Drivers need to also continue to be reminded that their choice behind the wheel affect everyone on the road.

This work is at the heart of William’s Walk. Our mission is to advocate for safer streets, raise awareness about preventable road crashes, and push for changes that protect people, especially pedestrians, on Memphis roads. Progress like this shows why advocacy matters, and why continued attention and action are needed.

There is real hope in this data. Lives were saved. That should encourage us, but it does not mean our work is done.  We need to keep pushing until no lives are lost because of a preventable road crash.

To our Memphis community,

As 2026 begins, we want to say thank you.

Thank you to everyone who has spoken William’s name, shared our mission, and believed that Memphis can be safer for everyone who uses our streets. We want to thank our friends and family who have supported us through our grief and come along side of us as we fight to make things safer. Thank you to the amazing people at Street Fair that have championed our cause, and supported us as we planned and hosted our first event. Thank you to the people and elected officials in Memphis who have listened and supported the changes we are working to make.

William’s Walk was borne from unimaginable loss, and because of your support has grown into an organization that fights to make all road users in Memphis safer. In 2026, we are continuing our fight. We will be planning another William’s Walk event in June, and hope to add another event to our calendar. We will hope to have a seat at the table with the city as we make things safer, and make sure that pedestrians are considered as roads are updated and improved.

This walk has not been easy, but we know by you helping us the load is lighter.

Thank you!!

Rebekah and Michael
Founders, William’s Walk

When we lost William in a road crash, we were shattered. The weight of our grief was, and still is, something we never imagined carrying. But from the very beginning, we were not alone.

If you’ve talked to Michael or me about this journey, you know how deeply we believe that grief and love are forever intertwined. In the darkest moments, we’ve also seen the brightest light shine through the people around us.

Our friends didn’t wait to be asked. They brought food to our doorstep, sometimes quietly, sometimes with a hug. The Usual Saucepects BBQ Team stepped in without hesitation to provide food for William’s Celebration of Life, lifting a burden we couldn’t even think about carrying. Friends and family sat with us in those early days—not to fix anything, but just to be there. They shared stories about William, cried with us, and listened as we tried to make sense of our pain.

And quietly, in ways that may never be seen by the world, people have shared their hearts with us. Some reached out with stories or memories so deeply personal, so sacred, that they live only between us and the person who shared them. Those words, those moments, are tucked away in our hearts. They have carried us through more days than we can count.

But it didn’t stop there.

Our people showed up for more than just us—they showed up for a cause. Friends and family stood before the Memphis City Council and spoke William’s name into the public record. They became advocates, fighting for safer streets, not just in William’s memory, but for the safety of every person in our city.

As we began organizing William’s Walk, we were continually overwhelmed by the support we received. Friends rolled up their sleeves—literally—to help with planning, logistics, setup, and cleanup. They didn’t hesitate. They just showed up.

And then there were the people we didn’t know—strangers who found us online, liked our posts, shared them, and reached out to volunteer. Each one of those small acts has meant more than we can express. Every time someone says William’s name, shows up to help, or hits “share,” it tells us that his story matters—and that we’re not alone in this work.

Grief has taught us a lot. It’s taught us that love doesn’t end. It’s taught us that even in heartbreak, there is hope. And maybe most of all, it’s taught us that community—real, loving, hands-in-the-dirt community—is one of the greatest gifts we have.

Thank you for being part of ours.

Because Safe Streets Shouldn’t Be a Luxury

When we lost William, it opened our eyes to a painful truth: Memphis is the most dangerous city in the country for pedestrians. But it doesn’t have to stay that way. Road crashes aren’t random; they’re preventable. Cities can make choices that save lives. We’ve seen it done elsewhere, and it can happen here.

Here are five proven ways cities like ours can make streets safer for everyone:

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1. Design Streets for People, Not Just Cars

Wide, fast roads through neighborhoods are a recipe for tragedy. Cities can redesign roads with narrower lanes, pedestrian islands, protected crosswalks, and traffic-calming features that make drivers slow down, and keep people safe.

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2. Lower Speed Limits Where People Walk

Speed is the biggest factor in whether a person hit by a car survives. Even a small reduction in speed, especially in busy areas or near parks, schools, and shopping districts, can mean the difference between life and death.

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3. Enforce the Laws That Protect Pedestrians

Laws that require drivers to yield at crosswalks or prohibit distracted driving are only helpful if they’re enforced. Cities need consistent enforcement to remind drivers that protecting lives is not optional.

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4. Invest in Lighting and Visibility

Poorly lit streets put pedestrians at risk. Simple changes like better lighting, visible crosswalks, and clear signage can prevent crashes, especially in the early morning and evening hours.

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5. Listen to the Community—Especially After Tragedy

No one understands where the danger spots are better than the people who walk, bike, and drive those streets every day. City leaders need to listen to residents, act on concerns, and treat crashes as a call to action, not just another statistic.

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We walk for William. But we also walk for every person who deserves to get home safely.

The solutions are there. What we need is the will to make them happen.

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Want to get involved? Learn more about William’s Walk and how you can help at williams-walk.com.

And Why We Don’t Call It an Accident

If you’ve talked to Michael or me about this subject, you may have noticed that we are breaking the habit of calling what happened to William an accident and instead calling it what it was: a road crash.

It’s not just a matter of wording; it’s a matter of truth, responsibility, and honoring our son.

The word accident implies that something was unavoidable, that no one could have seen it coming or done anything to stop it. But road crashes are not random. They are preventable. They happen because of choices, choices about speed, distraction, design, enforcement, and awareness. Calling it an accident makes it easier to accept as just bad luck. But there was nothing random about the road where William was hit. And there was nothing random about the conditions that made it unsafe.

We’ve learned that language shapes the way people think, and how society responds. When we call it a crash, we invite people to ask questions. What happened? Could it have been prevented? What needs to change? That’s the space where change can begin.

We’re not perfect. After years of using “accident” ourselves, the word still slips out sometimes. But we are trying. Because using more honest language is one small way we can shift the conversation, and hopefully we can prevent other families from experiencing the same pain.

William’s death was not an accident. It was a crash. It was preventable. And it is the reason we do this work.