Rochester emphasizes pedestrian safety to reduce fatalities

ROCHESTER, N.Y. (WROC) – According to a report done by Smart Growth America, the number of pedestrian fatalities in the United States has increased by 75% over the past ten years.
Over the past few weeks, Monroe County has seen an uptick in pedestrian crashes causing injury, and in one case, killing a 74-year-old woman.
That fatality happened on May 23, on Monroe Avenue in Pittsford. Co-executive director of Reconnect Rochester, Cody Donahue, spoke on the roadway and the dangers it can bring.
'Monroe Avenue around the Pittsford Plaza is a very large roadway,' Donahue said. 'It's not designed with pedestrians or cyclists in mind. The roadway design does not lend itself to safe crossing, and it prioritizes cars in general.'
According to Donahue, it is up to both the driver and the pedestrian to keep those in the crosswalk safe.
For pedestrians, Donahue says to remember to always look both ways when crossing the street, and only cross when you are signaled too.
Of course though, the driver holds the majority of the responsibility to keep those crossing the road safe.
'My biggest message to the drivers of Monroe County is to slow down, put down the phone, make sure you're not running red lights, and keep an eye out for people,' says Donahue. 'New York State law says if someone is in a crosswalk, you have to yield to them. Even if you have a green light, you have to yield to the person who is walking through the crosswalk.'
To help push the importance of pedestrian safety, Reconnect Rochester host different community events throughout the year, including their 'Complete Street Makeover' and 'Downtown smART Streets'.
'It's a new initiative to paint curb extension murals,' Donahue explained. 'It creates this physical sign to the driver that you need to slow down here, that there may be pedestrians crossing.'
You can learn more about Reconnect Rochester and their many safety initiatives on their website.
Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.

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