Alexandria, Virginia Intersections See 318 Near-Miss Incidents in Safety Report

Safety Report Highlights Dangerous Alexandria Intersections After 318 Near-Miss Incidents

A new report from Northern Virginia Families for Safe Streets (NoVA FSS) shines a spotlight on the hidden dangers of Alexandria’s busiest roads. Between January 2024 and July 2025, residents documented 318 near-miss incidents involving pedestrians and cyclists at city intersections. These are moments when a serious crash was narrowly avoided — a car racing through a crosswalk, a driver failing to yield, or a distracted commuter ignoring flashing signals.

The findings echo a larger trend: America’s intersections are where most traffic conflicts happen, and without better infrastructure and driver awareness, those “near misses” can quickly turn into tragedies.

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Who Is at Risk

One of the most alarming statistics from the report is how often children are involved. Nearly half (47%) of all near-misses in Alexandria happened to kids walking to and from school. The vast majority of cases — more than 85% — involved pedestrians, with cyclists accounting for the remainder.

This paints a clear picture: our most vulnerable road users are bearing the brunt of unsafe intersection design and poor driver behavior.

When the Danger Spikes

The data shows clear patterns in timing. Incidents happen most often:

• Morning (6–9 a.m.) as students and workers head out.

• Afternoon (3–6 p.m.) when schools let out and rush hour begins.

These “bookend” windows around the workday are when children are on foot and traffic volume is highest.

Where the Hotspots Are

NoVA FSS identified six particularly dangerous intersections in Alexandria. Each one demonstrates how small design flaws or weak enforcement can create daily risks:

Intersection	Common Issues
Hickory St. & Kennedy St.	Roundabout where drivers speed and fail to yield, confusing for pedestrians.
Duke St. & South Fayette St.	Flashing beacons ignored by drivers, pedestrians forced to wait dangerously in medians.
Radford St. & W. Braddock Rd.	Painted crosswalk only — no signal, no stop sign, no rapid flashing beacon.
East Braddock Rd. near Metro	Drivers blow past crosswalks despite flashing lights.
Mt. Vernon Ave. & Herbert St.	Visibility problems from trees, drivers ignore warning lights.
King St. & S. Henry St.	Left-turning cars cut off pedestrians with the right-of-way.

These locations aren’t unique — nearly every city has intersections just like them. Which is why connecting local findings to national resources is so important.

Why Near Misses Matter

A “near miss” isn’t just bad luck. It’s a warning sign.

Safety experts stress that each narrowly avoided collision is part of a larger pattern. If ignored, those patterns lead to real injuries and fatalities. For Alexandria, the report connects near-miss data to grim outcomes: two pedestrian and cyclist deaths already this year.

That’s why documenting incidents, analyzing patterns, and fixing infrastructure is so critical.

Root Causes: Infrastructure and Behavior

The data points to two broad problem areas:

1. Infrastructure

• Lack of signals or stop signs: Almost 30% of near misses happened where there was no traffic light or stop control.

• Visibility issues: Overgrown trees, poor lighting, or blocked sight lines contributed to 27% of reports.

• Insufficient crossing time: In more than 11% of incidents, pedestrians simply didn’t have enough time to cross.

2. Driver Behavior

• Failure to yield was the number one problem, reported in 66% of cases.

• Speeding factored into 35% of incidents.

• Distracted driving, such as looking at phones, showed up in another 35%.

The overlap of weak infrastructure and careless driving creates the perfect storm.

Recommendations from Advocates

The report doesn’t just diagnose problems — it offers solutions:

1. Lower speed limits on major corridors like King Street.

2. Add more signals and flashing beacons at uncontrolled crossings.

3. Improve visibility by trimming trees, enhancing lighting, and relocating obstructions.

4. Increase enforcement, including expanding speed camera use in school zones.

5. Redesign streets using “complete streets” principles, where walking and biking are prioritized alongside cars.

6. Promote near-miss reporting tools so more residents document incidents and help identify trouble spots.

How This Connects to BadIntersections.com

While Alexandria’s safety report zooms in on six specific intersections, the same types of problems occur nationwide. That’s where BadIntersections.com comes in.

BadIntersections is a crowdsourced national database where drivers, pedestrians, and cyclists can log dangerous intersections in their own cities. By combining hyper-local near-miss data (like the Alexandria study) with nationwide reporting, city planners, researchers, and everyday road users get a clearer picture of where intervention is most urgent.

For example:

• If residents in Alexandria report Hickory Street & Kennedy Street to both the local near-miss tool and BadIntersections.com, that intersection becomes visible to not only city officials but also researchers tracking national trends.

• Comparing local near-misses with the wider crowdsourced dataset can reveal whether issues are unique to Alexandria or common across other U.S. cities.

• Planners can identify systemic flaws (e.g., roundabouts that confuse drivers, flashing beacons ignored by motorists) rather than treating each incident as isolated.

Together, Alexandria’s official near-miss data and the national BadIntersections.com platform form a powerful feedback loop: local reports feed into national awareness, and national trends help justify local changes.

The Bigger Picture

This isn’t just an Alexandria issue. Across the United States, the majority of urban pedestrian and cyclist crashes happen at or near intersections. Crowdsourced data tools — whether run by city governments or independent platforms — are becoming critical in filling the gap between reported crashes and unreported near misses.

Why? Because most near misses are never filed with police or included in crash databases. That means official numbers only capture a fraction of the danger on our streets. Tools like the Alexandria reporting system and BadIntersections.com capture the “invisible data” that would otherwise go missing.

What Comes Next

Alexandria has already taken a first step by funding its near-miss reporting system through a grant. Now, the question is whether city leaders will use the data to redesign streets and expand enforcement.

The larger challenge is cultural: drivers must slow down, yield more consistently, and treat pedestrians and cyclists with respect. Meanwhile, cities need to invest in infrastructure that makes safe choices the easiest choices.

As NoVA FSS has shown, 318 near misses in 18 months is not just a number — it’s a call to action.

Conclusion

The safety report on Alexandria’s intersections highlights a troubling reality: too many residents are dodging cars daily, and too many children are at risk. But it also provides a roadmap for change.

By addressing infrastructure flaws, curbing reckless driving, and encouraging more reporting, cities can dramatically reduce risks. And when this local effort is combined with national crowdsourced data from BadIntersections.com, communities get the best of both worlds: local precision and national perspective.

If Alexandria acts decisively, its model could inspire other cities to merge official near-miss studies with open crowdsourced tools, building a safer future for pedestrians and cyclists across the country.

Reckless Driving Definition & State Laws Explained

Reckless driving is one of the most serious traffic violations on the books. Unlike routine speeding or minor moving violations, reckless driving carries criminal consequences in most states. It reflects behavior on the road that shows a willful or wanton disregard for the safety of others. Drivers charged with reckless driving face harsh penalties, including jail time, large fines, license suspension, and a permanent criminal record. Understanding the definition of reckless driving, how states interpret it, and what actions typically lead to charges is essential for every driver.

What Is Reckless Driving?

Top 10 Causes of Death Ages 15–29

Young adulthood is often considered a healthy stage of life, but people between 15 and 29 still face serious health and safety risks. The World Health Organization (WHO) and national health agencies show that many of these deaths are preventable, often tied to behavioral choices, environmental hazards, or gaps in healthcare access. One of the most striking insights is that many tragedies occur in everyday environments—on the road, in schools, in communities—where better planning, awareness, and intervention could save lives. Below are the top 10 causes of death in this age group, with an emphasis on prevention strategies.

1. Road Traffic Injuries

Road traffic injuries remain the leading cause of death for people ages 15–29. Young drivers, passengers, cyclists, and pedestrians are disproportionately represented in crash statistics due to inexperience, speeding, distraction, and impaired driving. A large portion of these accidents occur at road intersections, where multiple lanes of traffic meet and decision-making must be fast and precise. Poorly designed intersections without adequate signals or pedestrian crosswalks increase the risks even further. In cities worldwide, intersections account for a high share of serious crashes, making them a critical focus for traffic safety. Preventing these deaths requires stricter enforcement of seat belt and helmet laws, effective intersection design (roundabouts, protected left turns, pedestrian signals), and education campaigns that emphasize safe driving habits.

2. Suicide

Suicide is one of the top causes of death among young adults, often linked to stress, depression, anxiety, and social pressures. The late teenage years and twenties are a time of major transitions—college, employment, financial independence, and relationships—that can intensify emotional strain. Stigma surrounding mental health prevents many from seeking help. Prevention strategies include improved access to mental health care, school- and workplace-based counseling, crisis hotlines, and campaigns to normalize seeking support. Friends and peers also play a role by recognizing warning signs and encouraging intervention.

3. Homicide and Violence

Violence is another leading killer of young people, especially males. Causes range from gang conflicts and community violence to domestic disputes. Firearms are involved in a large share of homicides among this age group, particularly in regions with high crime rates. Prevention strategies must combine stronger law enforcement with community programs that address root causes such as poverty, lack of education, and unemployment. Safe public spaces, after-school programs, and mentorship opportunities also reduce risk by giving youth alternatives to violence.

4. Drug Overdoses

Drug use—particularly opioids—has emerged as one of the fastest-growing threats to young adults. Experimentation often begins in late adolescence, but misuse of prescription painkillers, fentanyl, heroin, and stimulants leads to thousands of deaths annually. In the U.S., overdose has become one of the top three causes of death in this age range. Public health strategies focus on awareness campaigns, harm reduction programs (like naloxone distribution), treatment access, and stricter monitoring of prescription drugs. Addressing underlying issues such as unemployment, trauma, and mental illness is also essential.

5. HIV/AIDS and Infectious Diseases

Despite medical advances, HIV/AIDS continues to be a major cause of death among people aged 15–29, particularly in sub-Saharan Africa. Many young people lack access to testing, treatment, and prevention tools. Tuberculosis and other infectious diseases also claim lives in areas with weak healthcare infrastructure. Education about safe sexual practices, expansion of antiretroviral therapy, and vaccination campaigns can significantly reduce deaths. Global programs that target young populations specifically have already demonstrated progress, but continued investment is needed.

6. Drowning

Drowning is a preventable but persistent cause of death among young adults. Risk factors include poor swimming ability, alcohol consumption near water, and unsafe recreational practices. In many regions, natural bodies of water lack signage, lifeguards, or barriers to prevent accidents. Education in water safety, teaching swimming from an early age, and enforcing rules on alcohol use around water are effective preventive measures. Urban planning also plays a role—better lighting and fencing around canals, lakes, and reservoirs can reduce risks.

7. Non-Communicable Diseases

While often associated with older adults, non-communicable diseases (NCDs) like heart disease, diabetes, and certain cancers are increasingly affecting young people. Risk factors include sedentary lifestyles, poor diet, smoking, and excessive alcohol consumption. In some countries, obesity rates among young adults are rising rapidly, leading to earlier onset of chronic conditions. Prevention depends on education about nutrition and exercise, access to affordable healthcare, and public health policies like restrictions on tobacco and sugary drinks.

8. Maternal Conditions

For women ages 15–29, pregnancy-related complications remain a leading cause of death worldwide. Many fatalities result from inadequate prenatal care, unsafe abortions, or lack of skilled attendants during childbirth. In low-income countries, maternal mortality is especially high due to weak healthcare systems. Expanding access to reproductive healthcare, ensuring safe deliveries, and promoting family planning services can save thousands of young women each year.

9. Cancer

Certain cancers disproportionately affect young adults, including leukemia, lymphoma, testicular cancer, and cervical cancer. Lack of early detection and delays in diagnosis often worsen outcomes. Prevention includes HPV vaccination programs, cancer screening for high-risk groups, and education about recognizing symptoms. Expanding affordable access to treatment is also critical, as many young adults struggle with the costs of care.

10. Respiratory Infections

Lower respiratory infections, such as pneumonia, remain deadly for young adults in some regions, particularly where malnutrition and poor living conditions are prevalent. Limited access to antibiotics and healthcare facilities increases mortality rates. Vaccination, improved sanitation, and stronger health systems can greatly reduce these deaths. Although more common among children and older adults, respiratory infections still rank in the top causes for young people in vulnerable populations.

Regional Variations

The leading causes of death vary across regions. In high-income countries, suicide, overdoses, and road traffic injuries dominate. In lower-income nations, infectious diseases, maternal conditions, and road accidents (especially at poorly managed intersections) are more prevalent. Recognizing these differences allows policymakers to prioritize resources and interventions effectively.

Policy Implications

Governments play a central role in reducing mortality among young adults. Stronger traffic laws, intersection redesigns, public health campaigns, and improved access to mental health services all contribute to lowering death rates. Collaboration between public health agencies, law enforcement, and education systems creates stronger prevention frameworks. International partnerships also matter, as many causes—like infectious diseases and drug trafficking—cross borders.

What Young Adults Can Do

Personal responsibility is just as important as public policy. Young adults can:

• Drive carefully and avoid distractions, especially at intersections where crashes are most likely.

• Reach out for help if experiencing mental health struggles.

• Avoid risky behaviors like unprotected sex, binge drinking, or drug experimentation.

• Prioritize exercise, healthy eating, and preventive checkups.

• Learn life-saving skills such as CPR, first aid, and water safety.
  Making safer choices empowers individuals to reduce risks while broader systems continue to improve.

Conclusion

The top 10 causes of death among people ages 15–29 show that youth does not guarantee immunity from health risks. Road traffic injuries—especially those occurring at intersections—lead the list, followed by suicide, violence, overdoses, and infectious diseases. Most of these deaths are preventable with stronger policies, better healthcare access, and informed personal choices. By combining infrastructure improvements, mental health support, substance abuse prevention, and education, societies can protect young lives. For individuals, awareness and proactive action provide the best defense. A healthier, safer future for young adults is possible when both communities and governments treat these risks with urgency.

Can You Report Dangerous Driving?

If you witness a dangerous driving incident on the road, you should take the following steps:

100's of Dangerous Train Intersections To Be Upgraded or Eliminated

Dangerous Train Intersections Map

The Biden administration has taken a significant step towards improving safety at railroad crossings throughout the United States by awarding $570 million in grants. Recognizing the importance of safeguarding public welfare and minimizing the potential risks associated with railway intersections, these grants will address critical issues to enhance overall safety measures.

Do Speed Ramps and Road Bumps Work? Where Are They Used?

Speed ramps and road bumps are traffic calming measures designed to slow down vehicles and improve safety in certain areas, such as residential neighborhoods, school zones, or areas with high pedestrian activity. Their effectiveness can vary depending on various factors:

Using A Phone While Driving Law May Change

The current UK law makes it an offense to use a hand-held mobile phone while driving. This means that drivers cannot pick up a mobile phone in their hand and use it while driving. (The offense also applies to motorcycle riders who pick up and use a mobile phone; this consultation will use the word "drivers" to cover both drivers and motorcycle riders.) It is also an offense to use a hand-held mobile phone while supervising a learner driver. The law also covers "other hand-held interactive communication devices" such as tablets but until it becomes important to discuss specific types of devices in any detail, this document uses the term "mobile phone" to cover those similar devices.

15 Facts About Vehicle Collisions at Intersections

Distribution of Type Crashes at Intersections

An intersection is where two or more roadways meet, cross or overlap is an intersection. In other words, functionally, an intersection is where everything comes together with traffic traveling in different directions. You navigate intersections hundreds of times a day if you live in an urban area. And if you take a road trip, you'll come across vast labyrinths of intersections that look different and very complex.

In a variety of distinct configurations and sizes, intersections can be constructed. Intersections in traffic design may include as many as six streets that converge. For instance, the crossing of two perpendicular streets and yet another street that crosses them diagonally may require a six-way intersection. With as many as eight or ten roadways converging, highway intersections may become extremely complex.

Here are some factual details to help you think about the safety of intersections. 

1. Approximately 40 percent of motor vehicle collisions take place at an intersection or are connected with an intersection. 
2. 21% of all fatal accidents happen at an intersection. 
3. 49 percent of collisions occur at an intersection in urban areas. 
4. Every year, over 32,000 individuals are killed in motor vehicle wrecks. 
5. Car collisions, an additional 2.2 million Americans are injured annually. 
6. Two out of three people say they see someone running a red light a couple of times a week. It is claimed by many that they see this happen once a day. 
7. Each of the three Americans knows that someone was killed or wounded as a result of a red-light running crash. 
8. Out of 1.9 million intersection collisions, the outcome of red-light running was 219,000.
9. 21% of people were killed in car accidents were at  intersection-related car collisions
10. 92% of motor vehicle crashes that occur at an intersection occur in dry weather. 
11. On undivided roadways, 61 percent of intersection accidents occur; on divided roads, 37 percent happen. 
12. 21 to 34, 35 to 39, and 65 + years are the age ranges with the highest number of intersection injuries. 
13. 78% of Americans think that street intersections are unsafe and should be made safer. 
14. The cost of car collisions to society is more than $96 billion a year.
15. Fatalities at intersections (25 percent) involved older persons, while older persons only make up 12.4 percent of the resident U.S. population.

Crashes are usually caused by a driver's lack of attention or improper maneuvers while crossing over at intersections with traffic signals or stop signs. Since their vision is obstructed or they misjudge the speed of an oncoming car, drivers turning left at intersections with traffic signals or stop signs are likely to become involved in accidents. Crashes involving right turns at stop signs are often attributed to a false assumption by a driver about the actions of another vehicle.

Several age distinctions are noted in the study of intersection crash factors: collisions involving drivers aged 24 and younger at intersections of traffic signals are likely to be triggered by internal or external distraction of a driver, a mistaken perception of the behavior of another car, or speeding / aggressive driving. Drivers 25 to 54 at intersections operated by traffic signals are usually involved in accidents because of “ critical non-performance error ” (such as from exhaustion or medical impairment), illegal maneuvers, inattention, or aggressive driving. Crashes at intersections where there are stop signs appear to be caused by insufficient monitoring or misjudging the speed of another vehicle among drivers 55 years old and older.

Female drivers involved in traffic signal-controlled intersection collisions are likely to have misjudged the conduct of other drivers or to have been disturbed by an internal situation. Male drivers, on the other hand, due to crucial non-performance mistakes, improper movements, or reckless driving/speeding, are more likely to have been involved in traffic signal intersection collisions.

This is Why LAX Traffic is Such a Mess!

Southwest Terminal 1 Construction & Drop-Off Bottleneck

Look at the satellite image picture above.  When is the last time you saw no traffic during the day when dropping off at LAX?   LAX drop-off traffic is a complete mess and has been ever since Southwest Airlines embarked on their new terminal 1 construction.  It now takes passengers up to 30 minutes just to get into the airport once you are nearby.  On several occasions, it has taken me 20 to 30 minutes just to get from underneath the tunnel to the drop-off gate at terminal one.  It doesn't matter if it's noon in the middle of the workweek or 4:30 am.  The delays of getting into the terminal are ridiculous and caused by a poorly designed construction plan.

The wall you see in red is consolidating traffic from 6 lanes down to 4.  Traffic merging and Southwest drop-off are causing the bottleneck that backs up for almost a mile outside of the airport. I have been flying out of the Southwest terminal for two decades and traffic never used to be this bad even during the busiest rush hour periods.  Cars used to be able to flow in and out of terminal 1 drop-off freely without a bottleneck.

LAX Southwest Terminal Traffic Congestion

No police officer or traffic manager is capable of managing or correcting the flow after the light.  It doesn't take a genius to see that cars are getting stuck trying to drop off passengers because they now are forced to drive a few hundred yards further.

What is this wall protecting and why does it have to stick out and cut off 2 lanes of drop-off traffic?  The wall looks to be useless has caused hundreds of thousands of passengers to miss their flights who don't arrive 2 before their flight.  Can they simply remove it or push it back until the end of the construction project?

You can thank these companies for the $500M 4 year construction plan & ridiculous mess that looks to be with us until 2018:  AvAirPros, ODEMCO, PGAL and Hensel Phelps Construction Company.

LAX Terminal One Construction Managers

It is obvious that nobody from any of these companies above did any traffic studies on the impact of cutting off 2 lanes from 6 down to 4 that feed into the terminals.  I am also surprised to see very little news coverage on the topic.  The news seems to attribute the problem to the increased traffic volume of passengers but I know this is a completely false excuse.

Are any executives from LAX doing anything about the problem?

Have any other airlines thought about taking legal action against these companies or LAX for the miss-management?

Flying out of other regional airports is becoming a more viable option these days even though I live 10 minutes from the airport.  It now takes me just as long for me to get to John Wayne Airport (40 miles away) as it does to LAX (5 miles).

I would love to hear your comments below.  Please send this blog post to your friends, politicians, and LAX officials.  Let's get this problem solved quickly.

Listening to the Republican National Convention speech about Donald Trump fixing an ice rink years in a few months and millions of dollars cheaper than the Government inspired me to write this lengthy blog post.  My gut tells me this is just incompetence and not an oversight because nothing is being done to fix the obvious problem.  I think LAX is a prime example of bureaucracy getting into the way of fixing things quickly and efficiently.   Hopefully, this blog post will be read by the people in charge and take action.