VDOT seeks input on roadway safety
The Virginia Department of Transportation is asking the public to provide input on their experiences and concerns about roadway safety.
The results will help guide VDOT’s update of its five-year Virginia’s Strategic Highway Safety Plan.
A statewide survey is now open and will remain available through Aug. 23.
The survey asks Virginians to identify the most pressing safety issues within such areas as speeding, pedestrians, bicyclists, occupant protections, impaired driving, aging road users, safe vehicles, and safe roads.
Survey takers are also asked to provide insight on which countermeasures, actions, or strategies they believe would be most effective in reducing or eliminating those concerns.
Related story: Four fatal pedestrian crashes in a 48-hour period
The number of traffic-related deaths and serious injuries in Virginia decreased in 2025, but they remain at pre-pandemic levels.
The Strategic Highway Safety Plan provides direction and focus for road safety efforts in the commonwealth. The steering committee that provides oversight to the update is made up of VDOT, Virginia State Police, Department of Motor Vehicles, Department of Health, and other state and local agencies and partners.
The updated plan is expected to be released in early 2027.
VDOT installed a modular mini roundabout on Ravensworth in 2018. I believe VFOT and the Federal Highway Administration were to study this installed roundabout to see if promises to provide safety and traffic benefits to residents and drivers. Has the study been concluded? Was there any improvement to traffic and safety? Was this a better use of taxpayer money versus installing a traffic light? If there is an overall benefit, consider placing them in other areas. See Carmel, Indiana’s use of roundabouts as an example and the benefits they provide. Less electricity use and efficient, improved safety, but a learning curve for drivers. This is why the mini roundabout was installed right?
Does VDOT belong to any organizations that it can learn best practices from? e.g. Germany has a one man operated pot hoe repair machine that fills the hole to grade rather than a Swiss mountain? How does VDOT vet its contractors that replaced macadam roads. Lincoln’s Road in FFC is worse off bc the pavement around man hole covers is too high creating a permanent pothole. Several in the south bound lanes are enough to jar your brain. Evidently VDOT has given the approval of streets signs to every hamlet, which has resulted in cutesy rather than effectiveness. We want signs that are readable on a dark rainy winter night. More rubber pylons are needed on almost every road to prevent early/late exits/entries into main traffic’s. Has VDOT considered AI in moving traffic more effectively? Why does it take so long to repair guardrails? Why are the most dangerous inspections in NVA that have been identified as such years in end STILL the most dangerous intersections in NVA? Why is it going to take 40 years to complete the 7 corners project. In 40 years if completed will be obsolete? Stop constructing bike lanes that are 2 blocks long and do not connect to another bike lane. Has traffic calming worked? It certainly hasn’t calmed the affected motorists. You keep squeezing a gallon of water into a lint jar and in my opinion are a waste of money.
Please complete the survey–don’t just write about it here!