Fort Bend County Pedestrian Safety Forum Program – September 19, 2025

In this opening segment, we will review some of the local context and wider issues affecting pedestrian safety in Texas. We all have a right to be Safe to Live Free, and that starts with the right to walk, bike, run and be outside without fear of losing your life or suffering devastating injury.

Texas ranks among the top 15 states in the U.S. for pedestrian deaths, according to the Fatality Reporting System (FARS) – a nationwide census provided to the National Highway Traffic Administration (NHTSA), Congress and the American public yearly. The Texas Department of Transportation (TXDOT) reported that pedestrian fatalities increased by 30 percent in Texas from 2018 through 2022 and now account for one in five of all roadway deaths. According to data from the GHSA and TXDOT, there were at least 808 pedestrian deaths in Texas and 1,456 serious injuries in 2023.

Longstanding impunity for pedestrian injury and death has contributed to the proliferation of pedestrian fatalities and injuries across Texas – as has road and intersection design and acceptance of reckless driving.

According to federal statistics, the Houston and Fort Bend County area ranks among the top most dangerous places in the United States for pedestrians and other vulnerable road users. According to the Governors Highway Safety Association, pedestrian fatalities in the Houston and Fort Bend area remain higher than historical counts, even after decreasing in 2023.

We CAN change this.

In the opening segment, we will hear from Brian Middleton, Fort Bend County District Attorney, who wrote the new Texas Crosswalk Law, the Lisa Torry Smith Act, Gina Torry, the sister of Lisa Torry Smith and the lead advocate behind the passage and implementation of the Texas Crosswalk Law, and the Texas Department of Transportation.

The Lisa Torry Smith Act is the new Texas crosswalk law. It requires drivers to STOP AND YIELD to pedestrians—or other vulnerable road users—lawfully using a crosswalk. This session will provide an overview of the new Texas crosswalk law and discussion with Fort Bend County leaders and Texas pedestrian safety advocates who made Texas history, including Fort Bend County D.A. Brian Middleton and Robin Stallings of Bike Texas.

Discussion on how the new Texas Crosswalk Law should be implemented by police and district attorneys and how charges can be brought against those that violate the crosswalk law – whether through citation or criminal charges. Speakers: Fort Bend County District Attorney Brian Middleton, Fort Bend County Sheriff Eric Fagan and pedestrian safety lawyer Charlie Thomas.

Stories from those impacted by pedestrian death and injury in crosswalks in Texas and change they are advocating for. Speakers: Mabel Wong, daughter of Shuet Ling Wong, author of the Houston Chronicle Article – “Do not call what happened to my mother an Accident”, Karla Molina, mother of Emmanuel Molina, Zachary Martin, son of Patricia Martin and family members of other victims of crosswalk death and injury in Texas.

Open townhall discussion with Forum participants, moderated by Gina Torry. Participants invited into an open floor format to discuss problematic intersections and pedestrian safety concerns in Fort Bend County, Harris County and other parts of Texas and to discuss actions to be taken forward to make an impact on pedestrian safety and prevent pedestrian injury and death.

Discussion with Fort Bend County leaders that have taken action to advance the implementation of the new Texas crosswalk law and making real improvements to pedestrian infrastructure and safety. Speakers: Fort Bend County Precinct 4 Commissioner Dexter McCoy, Former U.S. Congressman Pete Olson, Missouri City Mayor Robin J. Elackatt, and other Fort Bend and Harris County Leaders.

“Compassion is not a soft emotion – it is a powerful force, born from feeling another’s suffering as one’s own and taking mindful action to end that suffering” – Kailash Satyarthi

Kailash Satyarthi won the Nobel Peace Prize in 2014, along with Malala Yousafzai. Kailash Satyarthi and his colleagues have saved over 100,000 children from slave labor and exploitation. He was awarded the Nobel Peace Prize for focusing attention on the grave exploitation of children for financial gain. In 1998, Mr. Satyarthi led a global march again child labor. This march helped spur the United Nations International Labour Organization (ILO) to adopt a convention protecting children again exploitation and hazardous work. He founded the Save the Childhood Movement (BBA) and the GoodWeave organization which certifies carpet manufacturers that do not use child labor in their production.

Mr. Satyarthi is working to globalize compassion for justice, equality, peace and sustainability in the world.

The founder of Citizens for Road Safety, Gina Torry, has taken inspiration and lessons learned from Mr. Satyarthi in her work to build safer, more compassionate communities. #SafeToLiveFree

“A huge fire broke out in the forest. All the animals were running away, including the lion, the king of the forest. Suddenly, he saw a tiny bird rushing straight towards the fire. He asked the bird, ‘What are you doing?’ To the lion’s surprise, the bird replied, ‘I am going to extinguish the fire.’ The lion laughed and said, ‘How can you do it keeping just one drop of water in your beak?’ But the bird was adamant, and said, ‘I am doing my bit.’” – Kailash Satyarthi, Nobel Acceptance Speech, Oslo, 2014