Hit-and-run kills 127 pedestrians in the Campinas region and expert advocates reducing speed in cities

The Campinas region recorded 127 pedestrian deaths due to being run over between January and October 2026. The data are from Infosiga-SP.

A woman was injured this Thursday (5) and a man suffered injuries this Wednesday (4). Both were hit on highways.

Campinas recorded 11 pedestrian deaths between January and September 2026. The rate represents a drop of 31.3% compared to the same period in 2025.

Expert Ayrton Camargo e Silva defends the reduction of speed limits. According to him, city halls avoid discussing the measure in urban areas.

Ayrton suggests investments in elevated lanes and speed reducers. He proposes allocating resources from fines to educational programs.

The Campinas region recorded 127 pedestrian deaths due to being run over between January and October 2026, according to data from the Traffic Accident Information System in São Paulo (Infosiga-SP). The numbers reinforce the warning about the vulnerability of those who walk on the streets, avenues and highways that cross cities.

This Thursday (5), a 34-year-old woman was injured after being hit by a car at the intersection of Rodovia Heitor Penteado and Rua Ernesto Zigiatti, in Campinas. On Wednesday night (4), a man suffered serious injuries in a collision on the Francisco von Zuben Highway, between Campinas and Valinhos.

The numbers show that Campinas concentrates a significant part of these occurrences. Data from the Campinas Municipal Development Company (Emdec), responsible for traffic in the metropolis, indicate that the number of pedestrian deaths in the city has remained practically stable in recent years:

2023: 22 deaths

2024: 21 deaths

2025: 22 deaths

Despite this, the most recent scenario shows improvement. Between January and September 2026, Campinas recorded 11 pedestrian deaths, compared to 16 in the same period in 2025, a reduction of 31.3%.

Speed at the heart of the problem

For urban mobility professor and traffic specialist Ayrton Camargo e Silva, reducing speed limits is one of the most effective measures to reduce the number of pedestrian collisions and the severity of incidents.

According to him, many municipal administrations still avoid facing the debate on the need to reduce speeds in urban areas.

"Public authorities are often silent because they do not face the challenge of regulating lower speeds and, in parallel, adopting enforcement actions to ensure that this speed is respected."

The expert states that the combination of high speeds and insufficient enforcement increases the risk for pedestrians, especially at busy intersections and busy urban corridors.

Infrastructure and education

In addition to inspection, Ayrton defends investments in traffic engineering aimed at protecting the most vulnerable road users.

Among the measures highlighted are the implementation of speed reducers, raised pedestrian crossings and adjustments at intersections with a history of accidents.

Another front considered fundamental is traffic education. According to the expert, part of the resources collected from fines should be allocated to permanent awareness programs.

"The child needs to learn to understand the signs, to cross the lane and at the lights. When he becomes a driver, he will have already internalized the traffic laws, such as respecting the speed limits. The issue of education is fundamental", he states.