The Alexandria Police Department announced on Tuesday that it will focus enforcement efforts on speeding and distracted driving as part of the city’s Vision Zero initiative, which aims to eliminate traffic fatalities and serious injuries on local roads.
The department is targeting three intersections where crashes have clustered over the past three years: Duke Street and Washington Street, King Street and Interstate 395, and Duke Street and Van Dorn Street. Those areas account for a significant portion of the 73 injury crashes recorded in Alexandria during October over the past three years, according to police data.
“When we look closely at the data, a small number of Alexandria streets account for most of the serious crashes we see each year,” the department said in a news release. “These ‘crash corridors’ are where drivers, walkers, and bikers face the highest risks.”
The heightened enforcement comes as shorter fall days reduce visibility for drivers and pedestrians during evening commutes.
Police emphasized that even small increases in speed — as little as five miles per hour — can significantly increase stopping distances and the likelihood of serious injuries in crashes. Officers from the APD Traffic Safety Section and patrol division will conduct high-visibility enforcement in the targeted areas throughout the month.
The department is also reminding drivers to avoid distractions, such as mobile phones and GPS devices, while driving.
“It only takes a few seconds of looking down at a phone, adjusting a GPS, or reaching for something in the car to cause a life-changing event,” police said in the release.
The city launched its Vision Zero initiative to reduce traffic fatalities and serious injuries through a combination of enforcement, engineering improvements, and education. More information is available at alexandriava.gov/VisionZero. Residents can report traffic concerns by calling 311 or visiting ALEX311.
