By Allison Bertsche, Corporate Responsibility Director

Whether we're driving, walking or biking, roadway safety depends on the choices each of us makes every day.

Our State Farm research on pedestrian safety reveals that whether we're behind the wheel or on foot, staying focused is something we all have a role in¹.

A recent survey found that:

• 66% of pedestrians often see distracted drivers.
   
• 64% often see distracted pedestrians.

These concerns affect neighborhoods across the country, from large cities to mid-sized communities and small towns alike.

When we asked people what would help prevent crashes and near-crashes, they didn't point to one solution. According to the survey, people believe drivers, cyclists and pedestrians all can help reduce crashes by:

• Slowing down
   
• Staying alert
   
• Putting phones away
   
• Respecting crosswalks

Also cited as ways to help reduce crashes:

• Improving roadway design
   
• Embracing technology that helps prevent crashes

The latest pedestrian safety report from the Governors Highway Safety Association (GHSA) offers encouraging news. Pedestrian fatalities declined in 2025 by the largest amount since GHSA began tracking them 15 years ago.

While that progress is worth celebrating, 6,732 pedestrians still lost their lives on U.S. roads in 2025. The data is an important reminder that creating safer roads remains a shared responsibility.

The Biggest Risks Often Look Ordinary

When many people hear "distracted driving," they immediately think about texting. In reality, distraction can come from everyday habits, whether it's adjusting the GPS, changing the music or responding to someone in the back seat.

Each of those moments may feel insignificant, but every time our attention leaves the road, the risk increases for everyone around us, including pedestrians, bicyclists and fellow drivers.

Years ago, one of my daughter’s friends was involved in a crash caused by a distracted driver. Thankfully, she wasn't seriously injured, but the experience reminded me how quickly one distracted moment can change someone's life.

As both a parent and someone who has spent years working alongside safety organizations, that moment stays with me.

Every decision we make behind the wheel has the potential to protect not only ourselves, but also the people who share our roads and our communities.

Safer Roads Take All of Us

I've come to believe that safer roads are built the same way stronger communities are built – one person, one family and one partnership at a time.

That same belief continues to shape how State Farm invests in communities. In 2025 alone, we donated nearly $50 million to support communities across the United States, including organizations and initiatives focused on auto safety. Whether we're supporting research, educating new drivers or helping families keep children safe in their vehicles, those investments reflect our long-standing commitment to helping prevent crashes.

Since the early 1990s, State Farm has also sponsored the Lifesavers Conference, bringing together highway safety professionals from across the country to share research, innovation and proven strategies for reducing crashes and saving lives.

Our partnership with Students Against Destructive Decisions (SADD), which began in 1985, continues to help young drivers develop safer habits through education focused on distraction and other risky driving behaviors.

Each of these efforts reflects the same philosophy: meaningful change happens when organizations, communities and individuals work together to help people make safer choices before a crash ever happens.

Looking Ahead

As a longtime associate member of GHSA, State Farm is proud to support state and territorial highway safety offices and the organizations working every day to reduce dangerous driving behaviors, set new drivers up for a safe driving experience and improve roadway safety for all. Our shared commitment has allowed us to combine research, share insights and help communities better understand the risks on our roads.

We're learning more than ever about what prevents crashes. Communities are redesigning intersections, automakers are adding advanced safety technology, researchers continue identifying risky behaviors, and families are having more conversations about safe driving. The opportunity now is to make sure our everyday habits evolve just as quickly.

Every safe trip begins with the decisions we make on the road – choosing to stay focused, slow down and look out for one another. When enough of us make those choices, they can add up to meaningful change.

For more than a century, State Farm has been proud to work alongside customers, community organizations and safety partners to support that shared effort. As our roads, vehicles and technology continue to evolve, our commitment remains the same: helping more people arrive safely.

Learn more about safe driving tips and find auto safety resources at statefarm.com/safedriving.

From Car Seat to Driver’s Seat™, State Farm® is committed to being a good neighbor by focusing on your family's safety on the road. Our relationships, programs, and research help promote child passenger safety, teen driver safety, seat belt use, and distraction-free driving.

[1] State Farm. (2026). Pedestrians & Distraction – A Consumer Survey. Bloomington, IL.