City of Charlotte Recognizes Pedestrian Safety Month

Published on October 26, 2026

Aerial view of Charlotte intersection featuring crosswalks, bike lanes, etc.

October is nationally recognized as Pedestrian Safety Month, reminding everyone of the importance of keeping our most vulnerable road users safe. Traffic safety impacts everyone, whether they’re walking, rolling, biking or driving.

The City of Charlotte supports Pedestrian Safety Month and addresses critical traffic safety needs through its Vision Zero initiative. The goal is to eliminate all traffic-related deaths and serious injuries on our roads. The Charlotte Department of Transportation (CDOT) works to implement projects that ensure our streets support healthier communities, stronger neighborhoods and more confidence for all travelers to move safely.

“We’re prioritizing human life in how we design, operate and maintain Charlotte’s transportation system,” said CDOT director Debbie Smith. “Charlotte’s progress toward Vision Zero in fiscal year 2026 reflects a year of measurable safety improvements, significant policy advances, continued infrastructure investment and deeper regional collaboration.”

In Fiscal Year 2026, CDOT:

Upgraded over 1,300 LED lighting fixtures and implemented Charlotte’s first solar-powered roadway lighting project to promote visibility.
Installed 22 new traffic signals, including 13 crossing beacons, to ensure pedestrians have safer options to cross the street.
Enhanced 12 intersections with signal timing changes that allow pedestrians more time to cross the street.

We all share the streets, and we all share the responsibility to keep them safe. Together, we can look out for each other and make every trip a safer one.

You can explore crash data and learn more about our approach on the Vision Zero website. The Vision Zero Annual Report includes the full set of crash data, trends, and what we’re focusing on next.