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The Arkansas State Police Highway Safety Office is running a road safety campaign through Saturday aimed at the start of the school year, when more children are walking and biking near traffic.
The “Extreme Safety” campaign began Monday and runs through Aug. 16. It targets drivers, pedestrians and cyclists alike.
The numbers behind it are steep. Arkansas recorded 73 pedestrian and bicyclist deaths on its roadways in 2024, along with 178 serious pedestrian injuries and 50 serious bicyclist injuries, according to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration.
Those deaths made up 12 percent of the 603 traffic fatalities in the state that year.
“Back-to-school means more children walking to bus stops, more families crossing streets and more bicycles on our roads,” Arkansas Public Safety Secretary Col. Mike Hagar said.
“Every driver has a responsibility to slow down, eliminate distractions and stay alert, especially in school zones and residential neighborhoods,” he said.
The campaign asks drivers to obey posted speed limits, put the phone down and stop for pedestrians in crosswalks. It also asks them to expect foot and bike traffic in school zones and neighborhoods.
Cyclists are urged to wear a helmet, check the bike before riding, use lights and reflective gear after dark and follow traffic laws.
Pedestrians are asked to use sidewalks, cross at marked crossings and make eye contact with drivers before stepping off the curb.
More information on bicycle and pedestrian safety is available at nhtsa.gov/road-safety/bicycle-safety and nhtsa.gov/road-safety/pedestrian-safety. The Arkansas Highway Safety Office can be reached at 501-618-8136.
