Safety officials and legal experts in Bryan-College Station are issuing warnings to drivers following a significant increase in collisions involving pedestrians and riders. Data from the College Station Fire Department indicates that auto-pedestrian incidents in the city rose by 432% between 2020 and 2025. Observers note that this trend aligns with the increased use of electric scooters, e-bikes, and other micromobility devices in the community.
Texas A&M University Police have highlighted similar risks on campus. During the spring semester, nearly one-third of all traffic accidents they responded to involved a pedestrian, bicycle, or scooter. Specifically, crashes between vehicles and micromobility riders made up 23% of incidents, while collisions with pedestrians accounted for another 7%.
Lieutenant Jonathan Blythe, the department’s public information officer, advised pedestrians to assume drivers may not see them, even when they have the right of way. "If you’re a pedestrian at a crosswalk and you notice the driver isn’t making eye contact with you, just assume they do not see you," Blythe said. "Even if you have the right of way, go ahead and stop."
To address these hazards, Texas A&M Transportation Services has reduced speed limits across campus for the current semester. Will Davis, a partner at Daniel Stark Injury Lawyers, emphasized the need for drivers to adjust their routines as students return. "When our kids are out of school, we settle into a different routine," Davis said.
"When school starts again, we all have to adjust. It may take a little longer to drop the kids off or get through traffic on the way to work, but those extra few minutes are worth it."
Drivers are also facing delays due to ongoing infrastructure projects. Construction associated with the "Big 6" project is disrupting several local routes, prompting commuters to plan ahead. Long-term improvements are planned for the intersection of George Bush Drive and Wellborn Road, which Texas Department of Transportation data shows handles more than 60,000 vehicles daily.
