Raleigh is taking a closer look at how and why serious car crashes happen, and what it will take to prevent them. In April, the Raleigh City Council adopted the city’s Safe Streets for All Comprehensive Safety Action Plan, creating a long-term roadmap for reducing serious injuries and fatalities on local roads.
As traffic increases across North Carolina, especially in fast-growing areas like Wake County, local leaders are shifting toward proactive safety strategies rather than reacting after crashes occur. For drivers, pedestrians, and cyclists, the plan represents a broader effort to reduce risk and improve road design and use.
But what does this plan actually change, and how could it affect car accidents and pedestrian safety in Raleigh? The urgency is clear. Raleigh recorded 185 fatal crashes and more than 900 serious injury crashes between 2019 and 2023, and in recent years, one in three traffic deaths involved a pedestrian or cyclist.
To address those risks, the city developed a comprehensive safety strategy focused on areas where crashes are most likely to occur.
What Raleigh’s Safe Streets Plan Includes
Raleigh’s Safe Streets for All plan is part of a nationwide initiative supported by federal funding and guided by Vision Zero principles, which aim to eliminate traffic deaths and serious injuries.
At its core, the plan focuses on identifying high-risk areas, which are often referred to as “high-injury networks,” where crashes are more likely to occur. From there, the city can prioritize targeted improvements, such as redesigning intersections, enhancing crosswalk visibility, improving lighting, and introducing traffic-calming measures, including lane reductions and speed-management strategies.
Rather than relying on a single solution, the plan takes a layered approach to safety, recognizing that roadway design, driver behavior, and enforcement all play a role in whether a crash happens and how severe it may be.
The plan has moved from planning into implementation, with several projects underway. In July, Raleigh announced completion of a Reduced Conflict Intersection at Forestville Road and Louisburg Road, an intersection with a history of serious and fatal crashes.
Will Raleigh’s Safe Streets Plan Reduce Car Accidents?
Raleigh’s plan is designed to reduce crashes by improving road design, slowing traffic speeds, and making pedestrians more visible. These changes can lower the likelihood of serious collisions, particularly in high-risk areas.
However, infrastructure improvements alone can’t eliminate driver negligence. Risky behavior behind the wheel remains one of the leading contributors to serious crashes in North Carolina, and city data shows that an estimated 85% of fatal crashes in 2023 were linked to dangerous driving actions.
Even on safer roads, those behaviors can still lead to serious accidents. The final plan sets measurable targets, including a 50% reduction in fatal and serious-injury crashes by 2040, with the goal of eliminating them by 2055. Achieving that will depend not just on infrastructure improvements, but also on changes in driver behavior.
What This Means for Drivers in Raleigh
For many North Carolina drivers, pedestrians, and cyclists, the risk of being involved in a crash is an everyday reality. Increased traffic volume, speeding, and distracted driving continue to contribute to serious accidents across the state.
Raleigh’s safety plan is designed to address the risks at their source by changing how roads function. When intersections are reconfigured, visibility is improved, or speeds are naturally reduced through design, it can lower the likelihood of high-impact collisions.
From a legal standpoint, many of the crashes we see show familiar patterns, often involving missed right-of-way decisions or delayed reactions to hazards. These are exactly the types of risks the city is trying to reduce through safer design.
And while many crashes involve vehicles alone, some of the most serious consequences affect people outside of them.
Why Pedestrian Safety Is a Key Focus
Pedestrian safety is a central part of the Safe Streets initiative. In Raleigh and across North Carolina, pedestrian fatalities have remained a serious concern, particularly in areas with heavy traffic and limited crossing infrastructure.
The plan emphasizes changes that make pedestrians more visible and reduce their exposure to traffic by incorporating shorter crossing distances, improved crosswalk design, and better lighting.
Many pedestrian accidents occur at night. In fact, nearly 90% of pedestrian fatalities in Raleigh in 2023 occurred after dark. Studies have shown that improved street lighting alone can significantly reduce nighttime pedestrian injuries.
These updates reflect how cities now approach safety. Rather than placing the burden solely on pedestrians or drivers, the focus is on creating an environment that enables safer driving behavior.
Even small reductions in speed can significantly decrease the severity of injuries in a crash, especially when drivers fail to slow down around pedestrians.
Common Questions About Raleigh’s Safe Streets Plan
As Raleigh starts implementing the plan, you may be wondering what this means for everyday travel on North Carolina roads. Here are answers to some common questions about what the plan could mean for drivers and pedestrians.
How much impact will these changes really have on crash rates?
The city is aiming for measurable reductions, including a 50% reduction in fatal and serious-injury crashes by 2040 and a 100% reduction by 2055.
That said, no plan can eliminate negligence. Drivers still have a responsibility to follow traffic laws, stay alert, and operate their vehicles safely. From what I’ve seen handling North Carolina car accident cases, many crashes stem from preventable mistakes behind the wheel, such as speeding, distraction, or failure to yield.
How could these changes impact pedestrian accident cases?
Safer infrastructure can reduce risk, but when a pedestrian is hit, the legal analysis doesn’t change as much as people might think. The focus is still on fault and whether a driver followed traffic laws, was paying attention, and responded appropriately to the situation.
In some cases, roadway design may also come into play, particularly if there are known safety concerns or a history of similar incidents in that area. But in many situations, liability still comes down to driver behavior.
Does improved infrastructure mean fewer car accident claims?
Not necessarily. Ideally, it reduces the number of severe accidents, which is a positive outcome for everyone. But accidents will still happen, even in areas designed to be safer.
When they do, the key question remains what caused the crash and whether someone acted negligently. In my experience, early investigation and the preservation of evidence, such as witness statements or crash reports, can make a significant difference in how a case develops.
What should North Carolina drivers and pedestrians keep in mind as these changes roll out?
Drivers should expect adjustments, including new traffic patterns, lane configurations, and a more pedestrian-focused design. Staying alert and adapting to those changes is important.
For pedestrians, safer infrastructure can help, but it’s still important to remain cautious and aware of your surroundings. Even well-designed roads can’t fully prevent accidents if drivers aren’t paying attention.
What Raleigh’s Safe Streets Plan Means After an Accident
Even with these improvements, not every crash can be prevented. When one happens, the focus quickly shifts to what comes next.
From a legal perspective, many of the same factors will continue to drive car accident injury claims. In some cases, roadway design or known safety concerns may also contribute to the issue.
If you or a loved one is injured in a car or pedestrian accident, the steps you take early on can make a difference. Seeking medical attention, documenting the scene, and preserving evidence are all important. Speaking with an attorney can also help you better understand your rights, evaluate potential claims, and navigate the insurance process.
The Whitley Law Firm works with individuals and families across North Carolina who have been affected by serious accidents. If you have questions about your situation, you can contact the firm online, via live chat, or by calling 919-785-5000 for more information or a free case evaluation.