A bumper sticker The New Mexican described in a story in October 1998 likely would still ring true to most Santa Fe drivers: “Pray for me, St. Jude. I drive Cerrillos Road.”

While drivers often lament what can feel like a culture of recklessness on Northern New Mexico roads, pedestrians and cyclists are even more at risk than those behind the wheel. According to a July news release from the New Mexico Department of Transportation, the state had the highest rate of pedestrian fatalities in the nation, despite a slight decrease in 2024 — a dubious distinction it has held since 2016.

Santa Fe is no stranger to pedestrian and cyclist deaths. Competitive cyclist Steven Ballinger was killed in a June 18 collision with a driver who ran a red light at the intersection of Cerrillos Road and Osa

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