Virginia Beach leaders launch traffic safety plan to reduce fatal crashes

The Local Traffic Safety Plan for Virginia Beach, approved in November, marks a significant step forward in improving traffic safety in the city. This innovative plan, spanning more than 100 pages, is designed to address critical safety issues on local roadways.

Its four main objectives focus on the following areas:

reduce fatal and serious accidents
maximize financing opportunities
raise public awareness
create an affordable approach

Work on the road safety plan began in 2023 in response to an alarming trend of increasing road deaths, even as the overall number of accidents fell. This initiative was further spurred by the city’s efforts to obtain federal safety grants, which often require a comprehensive local road safety action plan.
Katie Shannon of Virginia Beach Public Works and Engineering noted that merging these two initiatives resulted in a strong, actionable plan to improve traffic safety in the city.

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“Our overall goal is to halve accidents, serious and fatal, by 2055,” Shannon said.

Shannon says she is aware of the increase in at-fault pedestrian/cyclist accidents announced by Virginia Beach police in November. The plan will eventually focus on law enforcement and infrastructure, but he wants to address education first.

“We’re looking at, in 2025, working with our communications department…and putting out public safety announcements and some education of both…basically everyone who uses the road,” she added.

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Some key roads the city is potentially considering to review and make safety adjustments:

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“Education is a big thing,” said Jim McElligot of Drive Safe Hampton Roads. His biggest goal for everyone who uses the roads is to know what they can and cannot do.

Another project aimed at ensuring the safety of pedestrians and cyclists is the Virginia Beach Trail program. The $14.9 million, 12-mile-long project will provide a path connecting Newtown Road to downtown and include an elevated pedestrian bridge over Independence Blvd. Right now, officials say it’s actively being designed. The first phase is tentatively scheduled to end in 2029.