Within the span of two weeks, two Chattanooga families lost family members in separate pedestrian crashes.
Shortly after 11 p.m. on July 12, a 38-year-old man was struck while crossing Lee Highway. He later died at a local hospital.
Then, just before 10 p.m. on July 26, a 60-year-old man walking along Highway 58 was struck by a southbound vehicle and pronounced dead at the scene.
The two crashes occurred miles apart and under different circumstances, but together they underscore a troubling trend: the number of pedestrians struck by vehicles in Chattanooga is climbing.
Through early August 2026, the Chattanooga Police Department has reported 30 pedestrian casualties – people struck by vehicles – compared with 21 during the same period in 2025. That amounts to a 43% increase in one year.
A growing safety concern
The CPD’s reported increase in pedestrian casualties in 2026 reflects all pedestrian-involved crashes, not just fatalities.
A pedestrian casualty includes anyone struck by a vehicle, whether the injuries are minor, serious or fatal. Although fatal crashes often draw the greatest public attention, they represent only part of the broader safety picture.
Police have publicly confirmed at least one pedestrian fatality during the comparable periods in both 2025 and 2026, but the department has not released a detailed breakdown separating deaths from injury crashes within the overall totals.
Even so, the upward trend suggests more people are being injured on Chattanooga roadways.
What police say can prevent crashes
Following serious pedestrian crashes, Chattanooga Police have consistently emphasized that preventing collisions requires responsibility from everyone who uses the roadway.
For pedestrians, officers recommend crossing only at marked crosswalks or intersections controlled by traffic signals or stop signs whenever possible.
They encourage waiting for the WALK signal before entering the roadway, looking both ways even when pedestrians have the right of way and making eye contact with approaching drivers before stepping into traffic.
Visibility is another recurring theme in the department’s public messaging. Police advise pedestrians walking after dark or during periods of low visibility to wear bright or reflective clothing so drivers can see them sooner.
When sidewalks are unavailable, officers recommend walking facing oncoming traffic whenever practical and avoiding mid-block crossings when safer alternatives exist nearby.
Drivers also play a critical role. Police routinely remind motorists to slow down near crosswalks and school zones, stay alert for pedestrians and yield where required by law.
Chattanooga’s Safer Streets initiative
Long before this year’s increase in pedestrian casualties, Chattanooga had begun investing in a comprehensive effort to improve safety for its most vulnerable road users.
In 2024, the city launched its Pedestrian Safety Hub as part of the broader Safer Streets initiative.
The online resource brings together crash statistics, educational materials, updates on infrastructure projects and a public survey where residents can identify locations they believe need attention.
Community members can also request walk or bicycle safety audits or report pedestrian concerns directly to city staff.
City leaders say the initiative is built around a simple goal: ensuring residents, workers and visitors feel safe moving around Chattanooga whether they are walking, biking or driving.
Residents can explore the Pedestrian Safety Hub at city-of-chattanooga-safer-streets-chcrpa.hub.arcgis.com to learn more about local pedestrian safety efforts, review crash information and share concerns or suggestions.
Engineering streets for pedestrian safety
Education is only one part of Chattanooga’s approach.
The city has also invested in engineering improvements designed to reduce the likelihood and severity of pedestrian crashes.
In September 2025, officials announced automated speed enforcement cameras at Orchard Knob Elementary School and Brainerd High School, emphasizing that slowing traffic in school zones helps protect children and other pedestrians.
At the same time, Chattanooga installed five smart streetlights at mid-block crosswalks. The upgraded crossings improve nighttime visibility while providing real-time video coverage and laying the groundwork for connected transportation technology intended to improve roadway safety.
Transportation officials say such improvements are part of a long-term strategy to create streets that are safer for all users rather than focusing solely on motorists.
Residents can learn more about Chattanooga’s pedestrian safety efforts, view crash data and report concerns through the city’s Pedestrian Safety Hub.
As the city continues implementing safety improvements, officials say public participation and safe behavior by both drivers and pedestrians remain important parts of reducing crashes.