The Dallas County Sheriff’s Office is helping those experiencing homelessness stay safe from roadway accidents as a city council ordinance aimed to reduce pedestrian fatalities remains embroiled in a legal battle.
“What this is about today is getting out and talking to unsheltered people about not being in the intersections and being careful,” said Dallas County Sheriff Office Sr. Sgt. Christopher Dyer, per Fox 4 KDFW.
Dyer, along with three deputies, went out onto the streets of Dallas on Christmas Eve to give cookies to people experiencing homelessness and speak to them about staying safe near roads.
“I’ve identified 12 different locations this year where we’ve had a fatality accident involving pedestrians,” Dyer said. “We’re going to go to all 12 of those locations.”
Dyer explained that the most important thing about staying safe is being aware of surrounding vehicles.
“The main thing is awareness and just being aware of your surroundings,” Dyer said. “A lot of times they’re not, and I think that’s what is leading to a lot of these pedestrians being struck on the roadways.”
This year, the sheriff’s office has seen 58 fatalities from roadway accidents, with 13 of those including pedestrians.
As previously reported by The Dallas Express, the Dallas City Council passed an ordinance last year functionally prohibiting panhandling near roads in an effort to ensure safety and reduce pedestrian fatalities.
The ordinance banned standing on medians less than 6 feet wide, but the measure has been subject to a legal challenge over the past year as critics say it is targeted against homeless people.
Meanwhile, polling has found that Dallas residents remain frustrated with panhandling, homelessness, and vagrancy. In comparison, Haven for Hope’s partnership with local leadership in San Antonio has created a “one-stop-shop” that has been credited with reducing homelessness in the city by 77%.
Some local stakeholders are working to bring a similar “one-stop-shop” model to Dallas, but it remains to be seen whether the City of Dallas will support this effort.
