New data shows pedestrian, bicyclists fatalities doubled in northern VA in 2024
ARLNIGTON, Va. - New data shows pedestrian and bicyclist fatalities have doubled in northern Virginia in the past year and it’s bringing attention to some of the most dangerous roads in the region.
Columbia Pike near Glebe Road in Arlington is one of the roadways on the new list of most dangerous streets in northern Virginia — and there are plenty of them out here.
Richmond Highway south of the Beltway is the most dangerous stretch of roadway in northern Virginia, according to the newly released survey.
A 57-year-old man was struck and killed here in this hit-and-run crash in September.
"Clearly it's the worst road corridor in Northern Virginia. Perhaps even in the state of Virginia. It is what I call a killing road,’" said Mike Doyle.
Mike Doyle is the founder of Northern Virginia Families for Safe Streets.
One night last week, a 14-year-old Lake Braddock Secondary School student was struck and killed crossing Old Keene Mill Road.
"There are a lot of fatalities along Duke Street," Doyle said.
Doyle’s group conducted the survey. Doyle says he started advocating for better road safety in 2017...a year after he was crashed into and nearly killed crossing a street in Old Town.
Doyle says that's when he learned of Alexandria's Vision Zero and its long-range plans to eventually eliminate fatal pedestrian and bicycle crashes.
"But implement it by 2028?" Doyle said. "I'm going ‘why the heck would you want to wait that long? This is awful. It's a nightmare.’"
Doyle says his group now has 1,500 members.
"So that was the beginning of our Near Miss/Dangerous Locations survey app that we use today. It's a crowd-sourcing application. We take that data and use that for advocacy to try to get changes done on the streets," Doyle said.
The stretch of Duke Street near Whole Foods is near the top of the new survey's list. It’s not surprising to the people who live and work in this area and cross these intersections on a regular basis.
"This intersection is very dangerous. There are so many people who run the first red light there. I'm surprised somebody else hasn't been hit here," one resident told FOX 5.
"I'm dodging at times and I'm a calm person. I take my time but if I have to get somewhere it can be a little stressful," said another.
According to Doyle's survey, Fairfax County has the highest number of fatal and near-miss crashes while Arlington County has the highest rate per capita.
Doyle says some of the fault is with people crossing the street but for the most part, it's distracted and speeding drivers. That's why his group advocates for more speed cameras.