Stay safe out there: Stop-Look-Wave

By Colleen Cranna and Phil Kemelor of Fairfax Families for Safe Streets 

As winter months approach and days are significantly shorter, crossing the street is a lot more dangerous with limited hours of light. 

Drivers and walkers alike should be aware that darkness reduces visibility and range of sight and extra care is needed to avoid collisions. 

Staying engaged and focused when crossing the street is of vital importance. To help walkers accomplish this, Fairfax Families for Safe Streets (FFX FSS) created a handy flyer to spread awareness of a practiced technique for pedestrians: the Stop-Look-Wave method.  

To cross a street safely, pedestrians should: 

• Stop and wait before crossing;
• Look both ways and make eye contact with any drivers present; and
• Wave to drivers before you cross to solidify your right of way.

FFX FSS created a flyer in English and Spanish to spread awareness of these important safety steps. The flyer can be downloaded from the FFX FSS website.

Related story: Let’s make our streets safer for walking and biking

Fairfax Families for Safe Streets is a community-based volunteer organization that seeks to make streets safe for walking and biking by preventing crashes with motor vehicles. This is accomplished through working with public policymakers and carrying out community crash prevention activities.

Traffic accidents in Fairfax County have been rising. As of early October, there were 25 injuries and 10 fatalities, the Virginia Traffic Records Electronic Data System reports. 

According to crash data in Fairfax County’s draft Safe Streets For All Program Plan, published in June, some of the most dangerous corridors for pedestrians are in Mason District, including sections of Little River Turnpike, Columbia Pike, and Leesburg Pike. 

This isn’t an isolated local issue, however. Safety for walkers and bikers is also receiving national attention. During 2020, the United States experienced the highest levels of pedestrian deaths in 30 years, according to the Fairfax County News Center.

Related story: Safe Streets for All program could save lives of pedestrians

This Sunday, Nov. 21 – on World Day of Remembrance for Road Traffic Victims – FFX FSS will host a virtual event, 5-6 p.m., featuring crash survivors, local and state officials, and community members working to improve street safety. Sign up for the event here. 

The goal is to turn stories of tragedy into productive conversations with local and state politicians for developing solutions to save lives. 

Before the Remembrance event, FFX FSS will place awareness signs at these locations where there were pedestrian fatalities over the last two years:

• 6981 Industrial Road, Springfield.
• Backlick Road and Villa Park Road, Springfield.
• 4003 Hummer Road, Annandale.
• Northwest corner of Loisdale Road and Springfield Mall Road, Springfield.
• 5236 Backlick Road, Springfield.
• The north side of Lee Highway and Bisvey Drive, Falls Church.
• The southeast corner of Arlington Boulevard and Graham Road, Falls Church.
• The southeast corner of Little River Turnpike and Backlick Road, Annandale.
• 7306 Maple Place, Annandale.

When you’re crossing the street, please be engaged and aware of your surroundings. The Stop-Look-Wave method will be extremely helpful for you – especially as we enter the dark days of winter. For more information on this issue and pedestrian and driver educational resources, click here.