Pedestrian-Related Crashes See Increase In Prince William County

PRINCE WILLIAM COUNTY, VA — Pedestrian-involved crashes are on the rise in Prince William County in 2024, according to the police department.

Prince William County Police said pedestrian-involved crashes have increased despite the police department's education campaigns targeted at drivers and pedestrians. In 2024 up to Feb. 29, the county has seen 17 pedestrian-involved crashes, a 55 percent increase up to this time in 2022 and 2023 and nearly double up to this time in 2020 and 2021.

Three of the 17 pedestrian-related crashes in 2024 were fatal. On Feb. 24, a 27-year-old mother was killed walking in the westbound lane of Minnieville Road near Bobcat Court in Woodbridge. Another pedestrian died on Feb. 11 in a crash outside a crosswalk on Prince William Parkway approaching the Worth Avenue intersection in Woodbridge. On Jan. 30, a pedestrian crossing outside a crosswalk was struck by a car on Dale Boulevard near Queensdale Drive in Dale City.

A map of 2023 pedestrian crashes shows a concentration in density populated areas and busy corridors like Richmond Highway, Old Bridge Road and Sudley Road.

Pedestrian crashes make up about 1.6 percent of the 22,000 reportable crashes over five years (2019 to 2023) in Prince William County. But these types of crashes account for about 30 percent of crash fatalities, as pedestrians are more likely to be injured in a crash with a vehicle.

In 2023, the county had 87 pedestrian-involved crashes, up from 79 in 2022. Fatalities were down from 11 in 2022 to six in 2023, but the three fatalities so far in 2024 could be on pace to exceed last year's count. According to police, the largest share of pedestrian crashes in 2023 happened in the fourth quarter of the year — 15 in October.

Police say the pedestrian-involved crashes in 2024 have typically happened in the morning hours around 6 a.m. and the evening between 6 p.m. and 7 p.m. Crashes between the 3 p.m. and 7 p.m. hours in 2023 totaled 36, while 16 occurred between 6 a.m. and 8 a.m.

Drivers and pedestrians are encouraged to follow these tips to address the rise in pedestrian-involved crashes:

• Follow all traffic laws.
• Plan a time and a route ahead of leaving your home.
• Obey all posted signs and signals.
• Limit phone use and other distractions.
• Avoid impairments such as alcohol and drugs.
• For pedestrians, dress to be seen visibly by drivers.
• Keep out of the roadway unless legally crossing in a designated area such as a crosswalk.

SEE ALSO: Speed Cameras In School Zones To Begin In Prince William County