Environmental Services
Neighborhood 25 Overview
Studies show that pedestrian fatalities account for 25 percent of all traffic deaths in the Washington Metropolitan Area, and vehicle speed is often a key factor in those deaths. Research shows that the probability of pedestrian death is five percent when hit by a car travelling at 20 mph. At 30 mph, the probability of death spikes to 40 percent.
Arlington County is doing its part to help ensure pedestrian safety by launching the Neighborhood 25 initiative. The public awareness campaign is designed to remind motorists to slow down in neighborhoods where children play and walk to school.
Spring 2012 Campaign:
This Spring, motorists in the Nauck, Williamsburg, Madison Manor, and Dominion Hills neighborhoods will begin seeing signs that read “Keep Kids Alive, Drive 25.” These neighborhoods were selected for the program because of their measured, high traffic speeds and because they are located near an elementary school.
Click here or on the map below to see the four neighborhoods participating in the Spring 2012 Neighborhood 25 Initiative Program.
Spring 2012 Neighborhood 25 Neighborhoods Map |  |
Measuring Effectiveness:
Street segments in each neighborhood were identified for research purposes. Baseline traffic volume and speed data were collected last fall. After the initial data collection period, volunteers living on targeted streets will post “Keep Kids Alive – Drive 25” yard signs near the street for at least 30 days. The Arlington Police and Sheriff’s Departments will also place speed trailers and other electronic displays in the neighborhoods to let drivers know whether they are speeding. After the campaign period ends, the signs will be removed, and new traffic data will be collected and compared against the baseline data to see whether the awareness campaign had any effect on traffic speeds.
Similar awareness campaigns in other states have produced favorable results. In Oceanside, California, the first completed pre/post study citing effectiveness of “Keep Kids Alive – Drive 25” yard signs demonstrated a 16 percent decrease in average speed (6mph). The average speed in Oro Valley, Arizona dropped more than 13 percent after "Keep Kids Alive – Drive 25” yard signs were applied to all residential trash cans in a neighborhood of 1,000 homes. The average speed dropped from 29 mph to less than 25 mph.
Questions/Comments:
Email Jeff Sikes or call 703-228-3696 with questions or for more information.
