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Pedestrian Safety Awareness

Pedestrian Safety tips promote awareness, encourage safer behaviors, and help prevent injuries and crashes throughout our community. Pedestrian safety is a shared responsibility, and small, intentional actions by pedestrians, drivers, cyclists, and other road users can make a meaningful difference. Through education, prevention, and community engagement, OCS is helping build a safer, more connected, and informed community.

BE SEEN

  • Wear bright or reflective clothing when out at dawn, dusk, or night.
  • Carry a flashlight or use reflective gear in low-light conditions.
  • Make eye contact with drivers when possible before entering a crosswalk.
  • Use sidewalks, crosswalks, and pedestrian signals where available.
  • No sidewalks? Walk on the shoulder or as far to the left as possible facing oncoming traffic.

STAY ALERT

  • Look left, right, left before crossing the street. Continue looking until you cross safely.
  • Avoid distractions. Put your phone and devices down, remove headphones or turn off the volume so you can see and hear approaching traffic.
  • Watch for vehicles backing up and turning —even when you have the right-of-way.
  • Hold hands with young children near traffic and cross together.
  • Avoid crossing between parked vehicles.

DRIVE SAFELY

  • Keep an eye out for cyclists, walkers, and runners!
  • Slow down in neighborhoods and school zones.
  • Yield to pedestrians at marked crosswalks.
  • Never pass vehicles stopped for pedestrians.
  • Eliminate distractions while driving.
  • Leave enough following distance to react safely.

Explore current PWC transportation projects, pedestrian resources, and safety initiatives:

TRANSPORTATION PROJECTS & SAFETY IMPROVEMENTS

Prince William County continues to invest in safer and secure pathways through roadway improvements, pedestrian infrastructure, traffic safety initiatives, and community partnerships.

The County's Transportation Safety Action Plan supports the national Safe Streets and Roads for All Initiative. It is focused on reducing roadway deaths and serious injuries through engineering, education, engagement, and data-driven planning.

 

COMPREHENSIVE TRAFFIC SAFETY ACTION PLAN

The Comprehensive Traffic Safety Action Plan (TSAP) is a planning document which identifies a community’s most significant roadway safety risks and proposes strategies to address them. The TSAP will outline two safety programs in Prince William County:

  • Vision Zero for cities and urbanized areas
  • Towards Zero for suburban and rural areas

RESOURCES FOR PEDESTRIANS & CYCLISTS

Helping residents navigate our community safely, access available services, and make informed choices when walking, biking, or rolling is key. Connecting residents with practical tools, safety information, and community resources supports OCS’s commitment to prevention, education, and accessible community safety. Explore these resources, use what is helpful to you, and share them with others to help make safety a shared community responsibility.

PEDESTRIAN & TRAFFIC SAFETY - WHAT YOU SHOULD KNOW?

The police department’s primary goal for traffic enforcement is focused on those violations that impact the safety of motorists, bicyclists, and pedestrians traversing county roadways.

PWC Police: Traffic Safety Information

LOCAL RESOURCES

Safety starts with being informed. Here are some helpful resources to support pedestrians, cyclists, drivers, families, and community partners in making safer choices on and around our roadways.

Explore safety information, educational tools, transportation resources, and community services designed to help you stay informed, navigate our community safely, and know where to turn when you need support.