Since the beginning of the year, the city of Rochester has had two fatalities involving a crash with a pedestrian or cyclist.

According to Rochester Police Department Chief David Smith, there's been a slight decline in overall crashes, but an increase in the seriousness of the injuries victims sustained.

Officials say there have been more than 25,000 crashes in the city of Rochester from 2019 to 2022.

Mayor Malik Evans says from 2017 to 2021, there were 62 deaths involving pedestrian-related crashes and more than 2,400 injuries.

“I’m here to ask drivers in our city, whether you live here or not, to do few things," Evans said. "Number one, slow down. We know that driving at reduced speeds improves your ability to react and when the speed climbs, so do deaths.”

Evans also stressed the need for drivers to obey the rules of the road, and stay off their phones and for pedestrians to be alert, use crosswalks and look both ways.

"Residents have a right to walk their dogs, take a trip to the corner store, jump on their bikes or head out with their family to a park or trail without fear of crossing the street or road,” Evans said. “This is not only a life or death issue, but a quality of life issue."

Evans says there is a number of open hit-and-run cases in the city, and anyone with information on these incidents should call 311, 911 or Crime Stoppers.

“Progress is a community effort and I need everyone’s help to irradiate some of the senseless tragedies the city has dealt with, particularly in the last few months,” Evans said.

“Enforcement is important, but education is really the key,” Smith said. “Public safety is a partnership. It depends on a partnership with the public. And the public needs to be aware, be cautious, slow down [and] be aware of your surroundings.”