VIDOR, Texas — The Vidor Police Department is crediting one of their policies for helping reduce auto-pedestrian crashes.
The City of Vidor has seen a 50% drop in auto-peds all thanks to a policy change, according to Vidor Police Chief Rod Carroll.
In 2019, police in Vidor saw multiple crashes involving pedestrians.
"One was a fatality. One was involving life-altering head trauma and the third one was a broken leg," Chief Carroll said.
That year, three auto-pedestrian crashes happened within 3 months.
"All of them involved pedestrians wearing dark clothing being struck in the roadway, either crossing the roadway or walking down the roadway," he said.
That's when Chief Carroll knew that change was needed.
"I met with the city council and the city attorney to see about a vest ordinance to assist in allowing people to see people at night as they are walking down the roadway," he said.
Since February 2020, anyone who walks on a road in Vidor between dusk and dawn must wear a reflective vest.
These vests give drivers better awareness and in turn, prevent life-changing tragedies.
"Just as any worker along the highway, it's basically the same type of vest," he said.
Chief Carroll says the darkness in the area of Main St. and I-10 is especially problematic.
"It's a heavy traffic area and people are crossing anywhere other than the crosswalk there at the intersection. I think that's what's caused a lot of the accidents is drivers couldn't see them," Carroll said.
Carroll says his policy is working and the numbers from Texas DPS prove it.
In 2018, there were five auto-pedestrian crashes.
in 2019, there were eight auto-pedestrian crashes.
After the policy took effect, the city has averaged three or four a year.
"If we eliminate one child, one human being from being killed or having lifelong head trauma then I think it shows the success of the program," the chief said. "It's a simple solution. It's a common sense solution. Increase visibility and you decrease the accidents."
Carroll tells 12News that violations of the ordinance can result in a citation and fine of up to $500, but people can get the citation dropped if they show proof they purchased a vest.