ReportWire

Tag: jonathan perok

  • ‘Pedestrians don’t win in crashes’: Prince William Co. police hope to quell deadly crashes – WTOP News

    ‘Pedestrians don’t win in crashes’: Prince William Co. police hope to quell deadly crashes – WTOP News

    [ad_1]

    Three deadly crashes involving pedestrians in the first two months of 2024 have prompted Prince William County, Virginia, police to remind walkers and drivers to more safely coexist.

    Three deadly crashes involving pedestrians in the first two months of 2024 have prompted Prince William County, Virginia, police to remind walkers and drivers to more safely coexist.

    “Pedestrians don’t win in crashes,” said Lt. Jonathan Perok, with Prince William County police.

    In January and February, county police investigated 17 pedestrian-related crashes — three of them were deadly.

    “Our numbers right now are significantly higher than what we’ve seen in the past four years,” Perok said. “In 2022, we had a historic number of 11 fatal pedestrian crashes, and we certainly don’t want to reach that milestone this year.”

    In an analysis of 2023 data, Perok said there was a concentration of crashes “in the more densely populated areas that mirror traditional rush hour times in the morning and in the evening.”

    Perok said there was a “considerable concentration” of crashes in busy corridors — Route 1, Richmond Highway, Sudley Road and Old Bridge Road.

    “It’s hard to explain why they’re occurring because they’re often and every single one of them is preventable,” Perok said.

    While pedestrians being distracted by smartphone activity has been a problem for years, Perok said improving technology is exacerbating the problem.

    “Headphone technology is becoming much more advanced,” Perok said. “Headphones now offer the ability to block out sounds,” and a person wearing noise canceling headphones may be unable to hear oncoming traffic or horns.

    Police suggest pedestrians and drivers follow similar safe practices by:

    • Following all traffic laws.
    • Planning time and a route ahead of leaving your home.
    • Obeying all posted signs and signals.
    • Limiting phone and other distractions.
    • Avoiding impairments, such as alcohol and drugs.
    • For pedestrians specifically, dressing to be seen and keeping out of the roadway unless legally crossing in a designated area, such as a crosswalk.

    Get breaking news and daily headlines delivered to your email inbox by signing up here.

    © 2024 WTOP. All Rights Reserved. This website is not intended for users located within the European Economic Area.

    [ad_2]

    Neal Augenstein

    Source link

  • Virginia State Police say there’s been an ‘alarming uptick’ in pedestrian fatalities – WTOP News

    Virginia State Police say there’s been an ‘alarming uptick’ in pedestrian fatalities – WTOP News

    [ad_1]

    Over the past 15 days, Virginia State Police say 11 pedestrians were killed in crashes across the state, as of Monday.

    Over the past 15 days, Virginia State Police say 11 pedestrians were killed in crashes across the state, as of Monday.

    Matthew Demlein, a public relations manager with Virginia State Police, told WTOP that Prince William, Fairfax and Loudoun Counties are among those that have recorded pedestrian fatalities. There have been 20 pedestrian deaths recorded so far this year.

    “There really hasn’t been a pattern,” Demlein said. The crashes have occurred “in all types of conditions.”

    Lt. Jonathan Perok, with the Prince William County Police Department wrote in an email to WTOP that there have been three pedestrian deaths on county roads since the start of the year. Two involved pedestrians “wearing all-dark clothing and crossing outside of a crosswalk during night or dim hours,” Perok said.

    None of the Prince William County fatalities were in parking lots, and all were on state-maintained roads, according to Perok.

    In Fairfax County, two fatal crashes involving pedestrians took place on the Richmond Highway corridor. In both cases, the pedestrian who was fatally struck was outside of the crosswalk, according to an email to WTOP from Fairfax County police.

    Virginia State Police urged drivers to exercise caution in areas where they can expect to see pedestrians, like school zones or crosswalks, said Demlein.

    “Never pass another car near a crosswalk because you don’t know why that car is stopped. There may be someone in the crosswalk,” Demlein said.

    If there’s a pedestrian crossing, Demlein said a driver looking to overtake another car wouldn’t see that pedestrian “until the last moment.”

    Demlein said Virginia State Police recommends that pedestrians dress in lighter colored clothing so they’re visible at night, but that they should not assume that drivers see them. Police also say pedestrians should cross in the crosswalk at intersections and check for turning vehicles.

    In 2023, according to what Virginia State Police say is “preliminary data,” 118 pedestrians died in crashes in Virginia.

    Get breaking news and daily headlines delivered to your email inbox by signing up here.

    © 2024 WTOP. All Rights Reserved. This website is not intended for users located within the European Economic Area.

    [ad_2]

    Kate Ryan

    Source link