Macon-Bibb County Pedestrian Safety Review Board holds annual walk to remember pedestrian victims

The death of a 3-year-old on Monday was the sixth pedestrian death in Macon-Bibb County in 2024.

MACON, Georgia (41NBC/WMGT) — The Macon-Bibb County Pedestrian Safety Review Board held a walk on Monday to honor pedestrians who have died in the county.

Zakiya Muhammad joined members of the board in their annual walk. Muhammad says her twin brother Daniel Muhammad was hit and killed while walking in Macon in 2013.

“I think the biggest thing is, when you’re a twin, you don’t realize that you may not have your twin anymore,” Muhammad said. “It’s affected me a lot because he came in this world with me, and I always thought he would be in this world with me.”

Muhammad uses every opportunity she can to remind people to be safe.

“In honor of him, I just want people to be more cautious when they’re driving,” Muhammad said. “Look both ways. Me, personally, I’m always looking. I look everywhere, because I don’t want to hit anyone’s child.”

The board gave out lighted armbands, bright safety vests and pedestrian safety tips to shoppers at Macon Mall.

The honorary walk took place just hours after a 3-year-old was killed on Riverside Drive Monday morning. Board chair Greg Brown says education is the key to avoiding these types of tragedies.

“Education really goes a long way,” Brown said. “We may think it’s simple, just walking the roads. But we really like to do this, because it’s an important factor of the Pedestrian Safety Review Board initiative.”

The board encourages pedestrians to utilize sidewalks and crosswalks and avoid wearing dark colors at night as much as possible. Brown says that while the board is looking to the future, and constantly working to identify hot spots in Macon where pedestrians are most at risk, remembering those whose lives were already lost is important.

“The county and the state are doing tremendous work to improve our infrastructure,” Brown said. “So, we just want to make sure that we’re doing our part in the community by continuing to show how much we care for those who have been hit on our roadways.”

Brown says hearing the news about the most recent pedestrian death in Macon was devastating, but it served as another reminder of the need for more awareness.

“Our heart goes out to the family of that child that was hit this morning,” Brown said. “That just goes to show how important it is to educate the community about pedestrian safety.”