October 2020 is Pedestrian Safety Month

The Department of Motor Vehicles along with NHTSA recognizes October as Pedestrian Safety Awareness month.  The Virginia crash data indicates pedestrian crashes, fatalities and injuries trended higher for three consecutive years. Therefore, there is a need to educate our communities on pedestrian safety. Pedestrian crash data totals in the Commonwealth of Virginia are as follows:

However, messaging, education and enforcement initiatives by all partners' has assisted in reducing fatalities and serious injuries. See the comparison from 2019 – 2020 preliminary data through September 15 of each year:                                                   

Knowing the data and using the available resources below will be important as we all work to decrease the pedestrian related crashes, fatalities, and injuries. The following resources are included for our partners to use to educate our communities. 

• Everyone is a Pedestrian
  
  
• Pedestrian Safety Tool Kit for Hispanics
  
  
• DMV pedestrian safety
  
  
• Toward Zero Deaths
  
  
• See and Be Seen  (Drive Smart Virginia)
  
  
• shareVAroads  (Northern Virginia Regional Commission)
  
  
• Street Smart Safety Campaign

Contact Dwight Jenkins, Pedestrian/Bicycle Coordinator if there are any questions or concerns related to making Pedestrian Safety Awareness Month a priority in your local community.

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Ten Cities Recognized with "Walk Friendly" Designation by Walk Friendly Communities (WFC) Program
Charlottesville earned Gold-level designation; Portsmouth earned Bronze-level

CHAPEL HILL, N.C., May 13, 2020— The Walk Friendly Communities program (WFC) recognized ten U.S. cities for their commitment to prioritize pedestrians and create safe, comfortable and inviting places to walk. The Walk Friendly Community designations include Gold-level recognition for Boulder, Colorado; Charlottesville, Virginia; Evanston, Illinois; and Somerville, Massachusetts. Read more