These are the most dangerous Hilton Head intersections for cyclists & pedestrians
Walking and cycling are popular pastimes in Hilton Head Island, but they can sometimes be deadly.
The Town of Hilton Head Island released data this week on pedestrian and bicycle crashes from January 2020 to December 2025.
Over the six-year period, 126 bicycle and 71 pedestrian crashes were logged, and those figures including 10 fatal crashes and 46 that resulted in serious injury.
Town staff will present the data, along with several maps showing where crashes are concentrated, at an upcoming Community Development and Public Services Committee meeting on March 9 at 1 p.m.
Here are the key takeaways from the data, and what town officials said they’re doing to make intersections safer.
Where do bike and pedestrian crashes happen the most?
Heat maps created by the Town of Hilton Head show where pedestrian and cyclist crashes happen most frequently.
Areas between Sea Pines Circle and Coligny Circle stand out on the maps, as well as the area around Sea Turtle Marketplace on Hilton Head.
With its proximity to the beach, the Coligny area is a central destination for Hilton Head tourists, and is home to dozens of restaurants, shopping centers, gas stations and bike rental shops.
While both pedestrian and cyclist collisions in this area are frequent, only one fatal crash has occurred in the past six years, according to the data.
Pedestrian and cyclist crashes are logged frequently on William Hilton Parkway between Beach City Road and Dillon Road, according to the data. The area is home to Sea Turtle Marketplace, Northridge Plaza and multiple affordable housing communities. Four fatal crashes have been recorded in this area in the past six years, according to town data.
A third key area is the mid-island section of William Hilton Parkway, where the entrances to Wexford, Long Cove, Shipyard, Palmetto Dunes and Chaplin Community Park can be found. Many cyclist crashes were logged along this stretch of highway, but few pedestrian crashes.
Multiple fatal crashes have also been logged in the Squire Pope neighborhood, according to the data. The exact number of crashes in each neighborhood was not included in the data.
What’s being done about it?
According to the presentation, several safety improvements in key areas have either already been completed or are underway.
The bulk of the improvements denoted in the presentation include improved signage and visibility.
Crosswalks and warning signs were implemented at all mid-block crosswalks on Squire Pope Road, Wild Horse Roads and Gum Tree Road, as well as in intersections along William Hilton Parkway between Dillon Road and Beach City Road.
The town installed new rapid-flashing pedestrian lights last year on William Hilton Parkway new Northridge Drive and Palmetto Parkway. The speed limit in that area was reduced to 40 mph.
On South Forest Beach Drive, new signs were installed on the High Intensity Activated Crosswalk Beacon, located south of the Coligny Beach Parking lot.
Future improvements will focus on upgrading fading and deteriorating pavement markings in the Squire Pope neighborhood and along William Hilton Parkway. Drivers may see more rapid-flashing pedestrian lights at more intersections, as well as “traffic-calming” measures such as speed feedback signs and raised intersections.
At the intersection of Pope Avenue and Lagoon Road, town officials are considering two options to improve the flow of pedestrians in the area The high-traffic junction connects people from the Coligny Beach Parking lot and Lowcountry Celebration Park to shops and restaurants east of Pope Avenue.
One option is to implement a pedestrian “scramble” phase, where all car traffic is stopped and pedestrians can cross in any direction. A second option is to implement a “leading pedestrian interval,” where pedestrians get a 3-7 second head start before cars get a green light.
