Villa Park drivers will share the road with more pedestrians in October, and the police department is urging them to slow down.
The Villa Park Police Department's safety notice, published Sept. 30, marks October as National Pedestrian Safety Month and flags Halloween night as a particular concern. Children trick-or-treating may dart into streets without checking for traffic, the department warned, and families will be walking in areas where drivers don't expect them.
The notice cites 2024 data from the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA). In 2024, 7,080 pedestrians were killed nationwide and an estimated 71,635 were injured. That works out to one death every 74 minutes and one injury every seven minutes.
Seventy-six percent of those fatal crashes happened after dark. Alcohol played a role in 43% of fatal pedestrian crashes that year, according to NHTSA. Pedestrian deaths accounted for 18% of all U.S. traffic fatalities in 2024. The total did represent a 4% drop from 2023, but the department noted the count remains high.
The department listed several NHTSA-recommended steps for drivers: obey the speed limit near schools and neighborhoods where children are present, always stop for pedestrians in crosswalks, never pass a vehicle already stopped at a crosswalk, and drive sober. The notice also urged extra caution in low-visibility conditions, given how many fatal crashes occur after sunset.
Villa Park Police have made traffic safety a recurring focus in 2026. The department participated in Illinois Speed Awareness Day on July 22, citing 423 speed-related traffic deaths statewide in 2024. It also promoted Child Passenger Safety Week in late September, offering free car-seat inspections through its two certified child car seat technicians.
The department's pedestrian safety tips apply to walkers, too: use crosswalks, stay visible with reflective clothing or a flashlight, and make eye contact with drivers before stepping into the street. For families heading out on Oct. 31, the message is straightforward: dress children in bright or reflective gear and stick to well-lit routes.
