On average, a pedestrian was killed every 85 minutes in a traffic crash in 2019. To combat this roadway danger, the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) and the Federal Highway Administration are stepping up efforts to improve safety for vulnerable road users, in particular, people on foot.

During October — National Pedestrian Safety Month — NHTSA is releasing a suite of free resources for use by partners, states, local communities, and members of the public. These educational and communication items range from safety fact sheets to sample social media posts and videos, infographics, and key recommendations or suggested activities on a variety of topics including safe roads, safe vehicles, and safe speeds.

Each week in October will focus on a specific theme, as follows:

• Oct. 4-11: “Everyone is a Pedestrian” celebrates the benefits of walking and how to encourage it by fostering a safer transportation system.

• Oct. 11-15: “Safe Speeds Save Lives” reminds drivers that speed limits are the law and that slower speeds can save lives. In 2019, 9,478 people — motorists, passengers, pedestrians, and other vulnerable road users — died in speeding-related crashes.

• Oct. 18-22: “Safe Vehicles” encourages motorists to learn about how advanced technologies can help protect pedestrians. These include pedestrian automatic emergency braking, rear backup cameras, pedestrian-friendly front structures, and sophisticated headlights.

• Oct. 25-29: “Safe Roads” promotes the message that a Complete Street, is safe, and feels safe, for all road users.

There were 6,205 pedestrian fatalities in the U.S. in 2019 alone. Download the free NHTSA pedestrian safety guide and toolkit for more information.