Sobering Stats Unveiled In West Hartford About Accident Victims

Town of West Hartford

WEST HARTFORD, CT — Local officials recently unveiled some sobering statistics locally about a category of accident victims who have been, more and more, injured or killed in West Hartford.

According to the Town of West Hartford, these folks are classified as "vulnerable roadway users" or VRUs.

While the acronym may sound complex, VRUs are simply folks traveling about on foot or on wheels without the benefit of a vehicle structure. (pedestrians/bicyclists/mobility scooters/motorcycles, etc.).

These folks have been victimized in most of the fatal accidents in West Hartford in recent years, officials said.

According to the town, between 2018 and 2024, there have been 10 crashes resulting in a fatality. Eight of these 10 crashes were pedestrian crashes.

"This further highlights the need to focus on vulnerable roadway users (VRUs) in the Vision Zero process," wrote the town.

"Vision Zero" is the massive, town-wide vehicle/pedestrian safety blitz adopted by the West Hartford Town Council last year.

In recent months, the town has been flooding cyberspace and the town with information about how folks can stay safe on roads and sidewalks.

Recently, the town discsused the issue of "vulnerable roadway users," who are defined as individuals who are at a higher risk of injury in the event of a crash because they are not protected by the structure of a vehicle.

"This includes pedestrians and cyclists, but also includes motorcyclists, micromobility users (e.g. e-scooters), and other non-motorized users such as skateboarders," wrote the town.

According to the town, there have been 71 crashes resulting in suspected serious injury between 2018 and 2024.

"These have predominantly been crashes only involving motor vehicles, but also included 16 crashes involving pedestrians and bicyclists (23 percent)," wrote West Hartford officials.

In 2024, there were four crashes involving pedestrians and two crashes involving bicyclists, making 2024 the worst year in terms of fatal and suspected serious injury to vulnerable road users between 2018 and 2024.

Overall, crashes resulting in fatality or suspected serious injury have increased from 6 per year in 2018 to 21 in 2024.

For more information on the town's 'Vision Zero' initiative, click on this link.

From Aug. 11: 'West Hartford Safety Push Utilizes YouTube'