With the return of the school year and fewer daylight hours, the Virginia Department of Transportation (VDOT) is urging both drivers and pedestrians to exercise caution on the roads. The agency highlights that pedestrians are particularly vulnerable because they do not have the protection a vehicle provides.
Pedestrian-involved crashes in Virginia have risen by 43% between 2020 and 2024. Over the past ten years, more than 39,000 such incidents have been recorded, resulting in over 1,300 fatalities. VDOT notes that about 45% of pedestrian deaths occur at or near intersections, with most happening while individuals are crossing the roadway and during periods of darkness. Fatalities occurring between intersections also tend to involve people crossing outside designated areas, with many taking place at night.
Research funded by VDOT’s Virginia Transportation Research Council and conducted by Old Dominion University found that pedestrians often choose to cross mid-block instead of walking to a nearby intersection or marked crosswalk due to factors like speed limits, number of lanes, traffic conditions, and perceived time savings. The council’s recent study examined these decisions and identified possible measures to improve safety.
In response to the rise in serious pedestrian crashes, VDOT has directed federal and state funds toward upgrading intersections with crosswalks, adding new crossings where people are likely to cross mid-block or at stop-controlled intersections, and incorporating features such as median refuge islands and curb ramps when necessary. Additional funding supports projects for new pedestrian facilities, traffic calming measures, and improvements aimed at making intersections safer for those on foot or bicycle.
VDOT offers several reminders for motorists: anticipate pedestrians at crossings; stop and yield at crosswalks; check all directions before turning; avoid distractions like mobile phones; obey speed limits; and be extra careful when passing stopped vehicles that may block your view of someone entering the road.
For pedestrians, VDOT recommends using intersections or marked crosswalks when crossing streets; following signal instructions; making eye contact with drivers before crossing; staying on sidewalks or walking facing traffic if no sidewalk exists; remaining alert by limiting device use; and wearing visible clothing—especially at night—to increase visibility.
