Traffic fatalities in Virginia up while total number of crashes has slightly decreased

The number of motor vehicle crashes in Virginia are lower so far this decade compared to the previous one, but the number of people killed each year has increased over the same period. 

That is one of the takeaways from an annual report from the Virginia State Crime Commission released last week. The civilian agency is responsible for reviewing public safety policies and outcomes. 

“This increase in fatalities has been observed across the United States and cannot be attributed to one particular factor, but may be affected by a combination of factors, including the impacts of COVID-19 pandemic and an escalation in risky driving behaviors, such as speeding, impaired driving, and not wearing a seat belt,” reads the executive summary of the report. (download the document)

In 2017, there were 716 fatalities where either a driver or a passenger was killed and 114 pedestrian fatalities. The numbers rose to 823 people killed who were the vehicles and 171 people who were on foot. The total number of crashes has decreased slightly from 127,375 in 2017 to 122,434 in 2022. 

Other reasons in the report include other factors such as heavier vehicles, roadways maximized for vehicular throughput, increased road uses, and speed limits set too high. There’s also a claim that motor vehicles laws are not being enforced.

“A variety of criminal justice measures could be adopted in Virginia to promote roadway safety, including enacting a primary seat belt law, expanding the use of photo speed monitoring devices, using technology to aid in the detection of drugged driving, creating a penalty for criminally negligent maiming, and completely prohibiting the use of earphones while driving,” the executive summary continues. 

Virginia allows people operating a vehicle to wear an earphone in one ear, but prohibits all people on wheels from wearing them in both ears. The number of charges brought up against violators was 1,311 in 2017 and that figure dropped to 235 in 2022. 

The report also summarizes data from the Virginia Department of Transportation presented at the November 2023 Crime Commission meeting that provided statistics related to why pedestrians are killed. Most happen either at night and between an intersection. More than four-fifths occur in urban areas. 

There is also data in the report from all the six localities represented on the Thomas Jefferson Planning District Commission. That agency is spearheading a project called Move Safely Blue Ridge that is funded through the federal Safe Streets for All program. The following are totals and include all types of deaths. 

• Albemarle County: There were 12 people killed in motor vehicle crashes in 2017, increasing to 18 in 2022 for a total of 89. 
• Charlottesville: A total of 13 people were killed from 2017 to 2022 with 2020 being the deadliest year with six fatalities. 
• Fluvanna County: There were six fatalities in 2017 and none in 2022 for a total of 19 over the period.
• Greene County: The number of fatalities in any given year did not surpass three for a total of 13. 
• Louisa County: With a total of 56, Louisa is the second most dangerous of the six localities with 7 in 2017 and 12 in 2022. 
• Nelson County: An average of six people were killed in the period from 4 in 2017 to 5 in 2022. 

After a series of Move Safely Blue Ridge meetings this summer, staff at the TJPDC have been working to identify areas of high rates of injuries and will hold site visits.

“During the site visits, data will be gathered and reviewed in collaboration with each jurisdiction to identify the safety priorities,” said Gorjan Gjorgjievski, a regional planner with the TJPDC. “Once these priorities are established, we will engage the public for feedback during our Round II Public Engagement, which is expected to occur by late October.”

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