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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.
BUILDING SAFER STREETS, TOGETHER
Walking is one of the easiest ways to stay healthy, connect with your community, and reach local destinations. Every person deserves to travel safely, whether walking, biking, taking transit, or driving.
Crosswalk Conversations is an initiative launched by the Office of Community Safety that brings residents together to promote pedestrian safety, share resources, and identify opportunities to make our streets safer for everyone.
Together, we can keep our roads safe & secure.
WHY IT MATTERS ?
Between 2021 and 2024 in Prince William County:
- 🚶 315 pedestrians were injured
- ⚠️ 32 pedestrians lost their lives
- 📈 Pedestrian injuries increased 53% since 2021
95 pedestrian injuries occurred in 2024, the highest annual total in the past four years
Virginia Department of Transportation Crash Analysis Tool by Traffic Operations Division, Highway Safety Section
JOIN US - CROSS WALK CONVERSATIONS
We're meeting you where you are. Tell us what you believe would help make walking, biking, and getting around our community safe & secure.
October 20, 2026, at 5:30 p.m.
Crosswalk: Sudley Manor and Business Route 234
October 22, 2026, at 5:30 p.m.
Crosswalk: Old Bridge Road and Harbor Drive (Minnivelle Road)
October 27, 2026, at 5:30 p.m.
Crosswalk: Hoadley Road and Dale Blvd
October 29, 2026, at 5:30 p.m.
Route 15 (James Madison Highway) and Route 55 (John Marshall Highway / Washington Street)
November 3, 2026, at 5:30 p.m.
U.S. Route 1 (Fraley Boulevard / Jefferson Davis Highway) and Main Street / Dumfries Road (Route 234)
November 5, 2026, at 5:30 p.m.
Occoquan Road and Horner Road in Woodbridge
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.
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.
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STATE PEDESTRIAN SAFETY TIPS AND EDUCATIONAL MATERIALS
https://www.dmv.virginia.gov/safety/programs/pedestrians
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TRANSPORTATION PROJECTS, ROADWAY IMPROVEMENTS, PEDESTRIAN INFRASTRUCTURE
https://www.pwcva.gov/department/transportation
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COUNTYWIDE VISION ZERO AND ROADWAY SAFETY INITIATIVES
https://pwcworks.pwcva.gov/traffice-safety-action-plan
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PRINCE WILLIAM PARKS AND RECREATION WALKING TRAILS, PARKS, AND OUTDOOR
https://www.pwcva.gov/department/parks-recreation
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LOCAL BUS ROUTES, COMMUTER SERVICES, FARE-FREE LOCAL TRANSIT
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STATE ROADWAY MAINTENANCE, CROSSWALK AND SIDEWALK PROJECTS, AND 511 TRAVELER INFORMATION
