Danger Zones No More: Las Vegas Puts Pedestrian Safety First

In a sharp and timely move, Las Vegas has turned its attention to pedestrian safety, launching targeted upgrades across multiple high-risk intersections. With flashing beacons, ADA-compliant designs, and better street lighting on the way, the city is placing protection at the heart of busy roads. From school zones to accident-prone corners like Sahara and Redwood, the enhancements are set to reshape how people walk the city. As Henderson joins the mission with similar improvements, both cities are stepping up to calm chaos and bring order to the fast lanes of urban life.

🔹 STORY HIGHLIGHTS 🔹

• Las Vegas launched pedestrian safety upgrades on July 13 across multiple intersections

• Focus areas include Nellis & Cedar, Sahara & Redwood, Rancho & Coran, and near Arbor View High School

• These intersections fall under the city’s “high-injury network” (11% of roads where 77% of serious crashes occur)

• Improvements include ADA upgrades, pedestrian flashing beacons, and new protective medians

• Sahara & Rainbow flagged as one of the top 15 collision-prone intersections this year

• Street lighting and signal visibility also being upgraded

• City aims to complete all projects by March 2026

• Henderson adds similar improvements at Pecos & Millcroft and along Water Street

As cities across the nation take a closer look at pedestrian safety, Las Vegas is stepping up with a targeted push to protect its walkers, commuters, and students. Beginning July 13, the City of Las Vegas officially launched safety improvement projects at multiple intersections identified as high-risk zones. These efforts come amid growing concern over pedestrian fatalities and serious injuries in high-traffic areas.

The safety initiative is part of the city’s broader transportation strategy, which places a sharp focus on areas known to experience frequent and severe crashes. Among the first locations to see upgrades is the intersection near Arbor View High School, located at Whispering Sands Drive and North Buffalo Drive. But city officials aren’t stopping there.

Three additional intersections—Nellis and Cedar, Sahara and Redwood, and Rancho at Coran—are also being prioritized for significant safety enhancements. All of these sites are part of what Las Vegas classifies as its “high-injury network,” a designation that refers to just 11% of streets but accounts for a staggering 77% of high-risk or fatal traffic collisions throughout the city.

These numbers underscore a troubling pattern—one that has prompted the city to act decisively.

“I feel like that it’s going to bring down the rate of accidents, and as far as pedestrians getting hit,”
— said Levi Worthington, a Las Vegas resident who regularly uses crosswalks and public transit.

Indeed, Worthington’s perspective mirrors the growing sentiment among many residents who rely on safe walking routes, especially in areas with heavy car traffic. He added:

“As a person that walks and takes the bus, you know, as long as I know that I can get from point ‘A’ to point ‘B’ safely, then that is great for me, and I feel like anybody else would feel the same, too.”

Recent data from the Las Vegas Metropolitan Police Department adds urgency to the initiative. A report published in May named the intersection of Sahara and Rainbow—just a half-mile from the improvement zone at Sahara and Redwood—as one of the top 15 most collision-prone intersections in the city since the start of the year.

To address these danger zones, the city is investing in a variety of structural upgrades. These include the installation of pedestrian-activated flashing beacons designed to alert oncoming traffic, construction of protective medians to aid crossing, and updates to meet Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) accessibility requirements. Enhancing driver visibility is also a priority, with planned upgrades to street lighting and traffic signals at each site.

“That is the most important thing, the next generation—so making sure their safety is above and beyond, that is the most important thing,”
— Worthington continued.
“So, I think that is a great thing for the community.”

According to city officials, these enhancements are not merely about infrastructure—they represent a shift toward people-focused planning. The goal is to create streets that prioritize safety for all users, including children walking to school, the elderly, and daily commuters.

Las Vegas aims to complete these safety upgrades by March 2026. In the meantime, the city is encouraging drivers and pedestrians alike to exercise caution in construction zones and newly upgraded areas as systems are installed and tested.

Meanwhile, the neighboring City of Henderson is mirroring Las Vegas’s approach with its own pedestrian safety rollout. At the intersection of Pecos and Millcroft, crews will install a new crosswalk and a solar-powered flashing beacon. This addition aims to provide safer access to nearby Green Valley Park. Henderson officials are also implementing improvements along Water Street, including refreshed pavement striping, curb ramp enhancements, and the addition of more flashing beacons at busy pedestrian crossings.

Both cities are moving in parallel toward a common goal: reducing accidents and building a more pedestrian-conscious infrastructure system. These steps, while technical in nature, represent a shift in how Southern Nevada’s urban planning is evolving to keep pace with its growing population and increasing traffic volumes.

As Las Vegas takes strategic steps to reengineer its most hazardous intersections, the city signals a clear shift toward safer streets and smarter urban planning. With pedestrian lives at the forefront, these upgrades—ranging from flashing beacons to ADA enhancements—reflect a growing urgency to tame traffic chaos and restore order in accident-prone zones. As Henderson mirrors these efforts, Southern Nevada’s commitment to street safety gains momentum. While the roads may still be busy, the message is now unmistakable: safety is no longer optional—it’s non-negotiable.