The number of pedestrians and cyclists killed in traffic crashes in Fairfax County have doubled this year, one study says.
A total of 19 pedestrians have died this year through November — a substantial increase from the 10 tallied in 2023, according to data compiled by the advocacy group Northern Virginia Families for Safe Streets (NOVA FSS). In addition, a bicyclist was killed on West Ox Road in October, the county’s first cyclist fatality since 2021.
However, this year’s numbers are expected to come in below the county’s four-year peak, which came when 33 pedestrians died in 2022.
For its report, NOVA FSS primarily relied on data from the Virginia Department of Motor Vehicles’ online TREDS database, but there are some discrepancies, since TREDS doesn’t include some roads, like the Dulles Toll Road, founding member Mike Doyle noted. TREDS, for instance, reported 32 pedestrian fatalities in 2022.
“Each pedestrian fatality and serious injury is preventable,” Doyle said. “Our local and state elected leaders along with transportation and enforcement officials need to demonstrate a greater level of commitment and urgency in implementing comprehensive and effective solutions.”
Between January 2021 and July 2024, the Mason District saw 200 crashes involving pedestrians or cyclists, including 17 that were fatal, the highest count of any Fairfax County magisterial district, according to the data. The district also has the highest number of crashes per capita, registering nearly 160 per 100,000 residents.
Most injuries in the Mason District were concentrated around Bailey’s Crossroads and Annandale, according to the data.
The study also compiled data on the locations of crashes and road and light conditions.
- Between January 2021 and July 2024, Richmond Highway had, by far, the most crashes of any road with 66, including 11 with fatalities and 18 with “severe” injuries.
- Leesburg Pike (Route 7) followed with 43 crashes, 23 with severe injuries or fatalities, and Route 29 ranked third with 42 crashes, 19 of them severe or fatal
- Afternoon rush hour, roughly between 5-7 p.m., is the most frequent time for crashes. Nearly 100 crashes were tallied around 6 p.m. during the 41 months observed in the data.
- A majority of casualties (injuries and deaths) have occurred during the day, compared to 41.4% that came from crashes at dawn, dusk or night
According to NOVA Families for Safe Streets, from 2021 through this past July, Fairfax County saw more than twice as many pedestrian and bicyclist crashes as its neighbors Arlington County and Alexandria City combined. However, Arlington and Alexandria both have more crashes than Fairfax on a per capita basis.
