Keeping Our Streets Safe as Days Grow Shorter

Published on October 30, 2023

The arrival of fall brings shorter daylight hours, leading to higher risk of crashes on our roads. As more people drive, bike, and walk to different seasonal events and activities, everyone should keep safety in mind when traveling around Arlington.

With Halloween and the end of daylight saving time this week, it’s especially important to be aware of high-risk behaviors – Arlington’s Vision Zero traffic safety team notes that alcohol, speeding, and not wearing a seatbelt are the most common factors contributing to high-injury crashes post-COVID-19 pandemic. According to the data:

• 20% of severe or fatal crashes in Arlington involved alcohol as a contributing factor.
• A person not wearing a seatbelt is five times more likely to be in a fatal or severe injury crash in Arlington than someone wearing a seatbelt.
• 18% of recent critical crashes involved someone who was not wearing a seatbelt.
• 30% of severe or fatal crashes in Arlington involve speeding.
• Speeding-related crashes in Arlington have increased 6%.

The County Board has prioritized safety improvements to the transportation network since the adoption of the five-year Vision Zero Action Plan in 2021. While the County continues to deliver safety infrastructure to Arlington neighborhoods, severe and fatal crashes can be reduced by:

• Slowing Down: Adhere to posted speed limits.
• Buckling Up: Always wear a seatbelt.
• Driving Sober: It is illegal to operate a vehicle under the influence of alcohol (or drugs).
• Encouraging Safe Decisions: Advocate for safe driving behaviors among family and friends.

The Arlington County Police Department encourages the community to follow a few tips for getting to a destination safely:

• See above: Drive sober. Even if you’ve had only one alcoholic beverage, use a designated driver or public transportation or a ride-hailing service to get home safely.
• If you see a suspected impaired driver on the roadway, report the vehicle to local law enforcement. To report a suspected impaired driver in Arlington County, call the Emergency Communications Center at 703-558-2222 or 9-1-1 in an emergency.
• Have a friend who is about to drink and drive? Take the keys away find a reliable way to get that person home safely.

To ensure the safety of all travelers on our roadways, the Arlington County Police Department and law enforcement agencies throughout the region will take part in the Metropolitan Washington Council of Government’s Fall Street Smart Campaign from October 25 – November 19. Using education and enforcement, the Street Smart campaign aims to identify and change unsafe behavior patterns amongst travelers with the goal of reducing the number of traffic related collisions and injuries on our roadways. No matter how you travel, the Arlington County Police Department encourages the community to follow a few tips for getting to a destination safely.

Learn more about Vision Zero improvements by subscribing to the monthly newsletter and reading the Annual Progress Reports.