James Miller, a Virginia Tech Student, crosses Price's Fork Road on the crosswalk where a student was hit by a car in late October.
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The start of the spring semester at Virginia Tech began with four crashes on campus.
Even though it was fewer crashes than had happened in January the past three years, there were more injured pedestrians.
Every year, the Tech Police Department distributes reports to their officers with an analysis of the traffic incidents of the year. The reports include the total numbers of accidents, the type of accidents and what areas have had the most incidents that year.
The Collegiate Times took a look at these police reports as well as trends around Virginia.
Accidents Happen
At approximately 9:00 a.m. on Jan. 30, the Blacksburg Police Department was called to investigate a traffic incident on Draper Street outside the Kent Street parking garage.
The incident involved a female driver crashing into a bicyclist. The driver was charged with failure to yield the right of way, and the bicyclist only suffered minor injuries.
Later that same day, at approximately 5:45 in the afternoon, another vehicle hit three students in a pedestrian crosswalk on West Campus Drive near the Harper Lot. According to the driver, the windows were fogged up, and they couldn’t see the students in the crosswalk. All of the students were released with minor injuries.
For 2012, the police department reported a total of 66 accidents on campus. Fourteen of the accidents involved bicyclists — some of which did not involve an additional vehicle — and six involved pedestrians.
“Pedestrians and bikes are our two high risk activities in terms of traffic,” said Lieutenant Deborah Morgan with Tech Police.
Over the past three years, there has been an average of 65 accidents on campus every year. Ten percent of the accidents involve pedestrians and 24 percent involve bicycles.
“I always make sure I follow all of the rules when biking, even the ones that most people aren’t aware of,” said Nadia Doutcheva, a freshman in Industrial Systems Engineering.
The number of accidents decrease during the summer months and spike during the fall and spring semester months, especially at the beginning of fall semester.
“We work traffic enforcement a lot — it hasn’t changed because we do it often," Morgan said. "We do target (certain areas), and that information goes out monthly to the officers, and that does modify our enforcement based on where, historically, we’ve had the highest pedestrian, bike or vehicle crashes.”
Despite the increase during the fall and spring semesters, there has been an average of five accidents per month for the past three years.
“The speed limit on the Drillfield is 15 for a reason — because of the number of pedestrians," Morgan said. "We have so much that goes on in such a tight area of campus, and it all contributes to traffic crashes in one way or another.”
Last October, there were a record number of incidents in one month with a total of 11 accidents, two of which were pedestrians and five of which were bicyclists.
“There's a direct relationship between the number of cars on the road and the number of accidents that occur, so it's no surprise that there's an increase during the semester," said John Sangster, a graduate student in Civil Engineering who did a TedX talk on traffic — his studies are focused in traffic engineering. "However, there's usually more going on than one simple factor.”
In 2012, the most accidents occurred on West Campus Drive with 12 accidents out of the total 66 accidents on campus. West Campus Drive was also listed as the top crash location for both bicyclists and pedestrians with three and two accidents respectfully. Other hot spots from 2011 and 2012 include Washington Street, Southgate Drive and Drillfield Drive.
“I always stop at crosswalks and for people crossing the road," said Angelica Melara, a junior Animal Science major. "I have to make sure that people aren’t crossing because some walk out into the middle of the road and some wait.”
A version of this article appeared in the Feb 26 issue of the Collegiate Times.
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From the photo cutline: "...where a student was hit by a care in late October"
Up until that point, that person didn't have a care in the world.
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Information & Laws
www .policies.vt. edu/5005.pdf
police.vt. edu/VTPD_v2.1/bicycles.html
leg1.state.va. us/cgi-bin/legp504.exe?000+cod+46.2-906.1
§ 46.2-906.1 Local ordinances may require riders of bicycles, electric personal assistive mobility devices, and electric power-assisted bicycles to wear helmets.
leg1.state.va. us/cgi-bin/legp504.exe?000+cod+46.2-100
§ 46.2-100 Definitions Motor Vehicle
leg1.state.va. us/cgi-bin/legp504.exe?000+cod+46.2-800
§ 46.2-800. Riding bicycles, electric personal assistive mobility devices, electric power-assisted bicycles, or mopeds; riding or driving animals.
leg1.state.va .us/cgi-bin/legp504.exe?000+cod+46.2-833
§ 46.2-833 Traffic lights; penalty.
leg1.state.va. us/cgi-bin/legp504.exe?000+cod+46.2-924
§ 46.2-924 Drivers to stop for pedestrians; installation of certain signs; penalty
leg1.state.va. us/cgi-bin/legp504.exe?000+cod+46.2-1015
§ 46.2-1015 Lights on bicycles, electric personal assistive mobility devices, electric power-assisted bicycles, and mopeds
leg1.state.va .us/cgi-bin/legp504.exe?000+cod+46.2-915.2
§ 46.2-915.2 Ordinances providing for certain safety equipment for mopeds; effect of violation; penalty
leg1.state.va .us/cgi-bin/legp504.exe?000+cod+46.2-1078
§ 46.2-1078 Unlawful to operate motor vehicle, bicycle, electric personal assistive mobility device, electric power-assisted bicycle, or moped while using earphones.
leg1.state.va. us/cgi-bin/legp504.exe?000+cod+46.2-1300
§ 46.2-1300 Powers of local authorities generally; erection of signs and markers; maximum penalties.
leg1.state.va. us/cgi-bin/legp504.exe?000+cod+15.2-2028
§ 15.2-2028 Regulation of traffic
library.municode. com/HTML/10159/level3/CO_CH12MOVETR_ARTIINGE.html
Blacksburg Ordinance Chapter 12 Motor Vehicles & Traffic
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library.municode. com/HTML/10159/level2/CO_CH15.5PARE.html#CO_CH15.5PARE_S15.5-105BI
Blacksburg Ordinance Chapter 15 Park Regulations
library.municode. com/HTML/10934/level3/CO_CH6MOVETR_ARTIINGE.html
Montgomery County Ordinance Chapter 6 Motor Vehicles & Traffic
leg1.state.va. us/cgi-bin/legp504.exe?000+cod+TOC46020000008000000000000
Title 46.2 MOTOR VEHICLES
Chapter 8 Regulation of Traffic
leg1.state.va. us/cgi-bin/legp504.exe?000+cod+TOC4602000
Code of Virginia Title 46.2 - MOTOR VEHICLES
leg1.state.va. us/cgi-bin/legp504.exe?000+cod+TOC46020000013000000000000
Code of Virginia Title 46.2 MOTOR VEHICLES
Chapter 13 Powers of Local Governments
leg1.state.va. us/cgi-bin/legp504.exe?000+cod+TOC15020000020000000000000
Code of Virginia Title 15.2 COUNTIES, CITIES AND TOWNS.
Chapter 20 Streets & Alleys
virginiadot. org/programs/bk-laws.asp#Definitions
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§ 46.2-833
Notwithstanding any other provision of law, if a driver of a motorcycle or moped or a bicycle rider approaches an intersection that is controlled by a traffic light, the driver or rider may proceed through the intersection on a steady red light only if the driver or rider (i) comes to a full and complete stop at the intersection for two complete cycles of the traffic light or for two minutes, whichever is shorter, (ii) exercises due care as provided by law, (iii) otherwise treats the traffic control device as a stop sign, (iv) determines that it is safe to proceed, and (v) yields the right of way to the driver of any vehicle approaching on such other highway from either direction.
§ 46.2-800
Every person riding a bicycle, electric personal assistive mobility device, electric power-assisted bicycle, moped, or an animal or driving an animal on a highway shall be subject to the provisions of this chapter and shall have all of the rights and duties applicable to the driver of a vehicle, unless the context of the provision clearly indicates otherwise.
§ 15.2-2028
Every locality may regulate and control the operation of motor and other vehicles and the movement of vehicular and pedestrian travel and traffic on streets, highways, roads, alleys, bridges, viaducts, subways, underpasses and other public rights-of-way and places, provided such regulations shall not be inconsistent with the provisions of Chapter 13 (§ 46.2-1300 et seq.) of Title 46.2.
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§ 46.2-924
A. The driver of any vehicle on a highway shall yield the right-of-way to any pedestrian crossing such highway:
1. At any clearly marked crosswalk, whether at mid-block or at the end of any block;
2. At any regular pedestrian crossing included in the prolongation of the lateral boundary lines of the adjacent sidewalk at the end of a block;
3. At any intersection when the driver is approaching on a highway or street where the legal maximum speed does not exceed 35 miles per hour.
B. Notwithstanding the provisions of subsection A, at intersections or crosswalks where the movement of traffic is being regulated by law-enforcement officers or traffic control devices, the driver shall yield according to the direction of the law-enforcement officer or device.
No pedestrian shall enter or cross an intersection in disregard of approaching traffic.
The drivers of vehicles entering, crossing, or turning at intersections shall change their course, slow down, or stop if necessary to permit pedestrians to cross such intersections safely and expeditiously.
Pedestrians crossing highways at intersections shall at all times have the right-of-way over vehicles making turns into the highways being crossed by the pedestrians.
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§ 46.2-1015
A. Every bicycle, electric personal assistive mobility device, electric power-assisted bicycle, and moped when in use between sunset and sunrise shall be equipped with a headlight on the front emitting a white light visible in clear weather from a distance of at least 500 feet to the front and a red reflector visible from a distance of at least 600 feet to the rear when directly in front of lawful lower beams of headlights on a motor vehicle. Such lights and reflector shall be of types approved by the Superintendent.
In addition to the foregoing provisions of this section, a bicycle or its rider may be equipped with lights or reflectors. These lights may be steady burning or blinking.
B. Every bicycle, or its rider, shall be equipped with a taillight on the rear emitting a red light plainly visible in clear weather from a distance of at least 500 feet to the rear when in use between sunset and sunrise and operating on any highway with a speed limit of 35 mph or greater. Any such taillight shall be of a type approved by the Superintendent.
§ 46.2-1078
It shall be unlawful for any person to operate a motor vehicle, bicycle, electric personal assistive mobility device, electric power-assisted bicycle, or moped on the highways in the Commonwealth while using earphones on or in both ears.
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Blacksburg ordinance(s)
Section 15.5-105 Bicycles
Bicycles are prohibited except on vehicular roads or paths designated for that purpose. A bicyclist shall be permitted to wheel or push a bicycle by hand over any grass area or wooded trail or any paved area reserved for pedestrian use.
Section 12-106.1 Safety equipment required, moped operators and passengers.
(a)Every person operating a moped on a public street or highway of the town shall wear a face shield, safety glasses or goggles approved by the superintendent of state police, or shall have the moped equipped with safety glass or a windshield at all times while operating it; and any operator and any passengers thereon, if any, shall wear protective helmets of a type approved by the superintendent of the state police.
(b)Any person who knowingly violates this section shall be guilty of a traffic infraction and shall be subject to a fine of not more than fifty dollars ($50.00)
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Section 12-107. - Bicycle trails and operation of other vehicles thereon.
(a)The use of off-street bicycle trails by any person operating a vehicle other than a bicycle is prohibited. The prohibition of this subsection shall not apply to public vehicles entering off-street bicycle trails for maintenance, rescue, fire or police patrol purposes.
(b)The use of off-street bicycle trails by persons guiding, accompanying or riding animals of any kind is prohibited; provided, any person may guide or accompany a dog or cat on a leash. Any person who brings a dog or cat on an off-street bicycle trail must immediately remove any deposit made by the animal.
(c)Whenever a person rides a bicycle on a bicycle route, he or she shall yield the right-of-way to any pedestrian and shall give an audible signal before overtaking and passing any pedestrian or bicycle.
Section 12-108. - Bicycle helmets.
(a)Every person fourteen (14) years of age or younger shall wear a protective helmet that at least meets the Consumer Product Safety Commission standard, whenever that person is riding or being carried on a bicycle on any highway, sidewalk, or bikeway in this town.
(b)Violation of this section shall be punishable by a fine of twenty-five dollars ($25.00). However, such fine shall be suspended (i) for first-time violators and (ii) for violators who, subsequent to the violation but prior to imposition of the fine, purchase helmets of the type required by this section.
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Section 12-107. - Bicycle trails and operation of other vehicles thereon.
(a)The use of off-street bicycle trails by any person operating a vehicle other than a bicycle is prohibited. The prohibition of this subsection shall not apply to public vehicles entering off-street bicycle trails for maintenance, rescue, fire or police patrol purposes.
(b)The use of off-street bicycle trails by persons guiding, accompanying or riding animals of any kind is prohibited; provided, any person may guide or accompany a dog or cat on a leash. Any person who brings a dog or cat on an off-street bicycle trail must immediately remove any deposit made by the animal.
(c)Whenever a person rides a bicycle on a bicycle route, he or she shall yield the right-of-way to any pedestrian and shall give an audible signal before overtaking and passing any pedestrian or bicycle.
Section 12-108. - Bicycle helmets.
(a)Every person fourteen (14) years of age or younger shall wear a protective helmet that at least meets the Consumer Product Safety Commission standard, whenever that person is riding or being carried on a bicycle on any highway, sidewalk, or bikeway in this town.
(b)Violation of this section shall be punishable by a fine of twenty-five dollars ($25.00). However, such fine shall be suspended (i) for first-time violators and (ii) for violators who, subsequent to the violation but prior to imposition of the fine, purchase helmets of the type required by this section.
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I didn't know car was spelled with an e. (hint, photo caption on 2nd page) And was there supposed to be more after the "pedestrians and bikers" heading?
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Why do the Jocks (mainly football players) walk ever soooooo slowly across the street to the coliseum? Can they not move like they are going somewhere? Also, why are cars still allowed to park at the crosswalks there (parking spaces have been removed near crosswalks everywhere else). I guess because Beamer parks in one of those spaces.
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"No pedestrian shall enter or cross an intersection in disregard of approaching traffic."
This is a key piece of the Code of Virginia that doesn't get enough emphasis ("Yield, it's worth the wait" is directed at drivers). What this sentence means is that someone plugged into his iPod and glued to his smartphone can't just stroll into a crosswalk and expect a car to stop on a dime. "Look both ways before crossing the street" is just a good for VT students as it is for kindergarten students. You are not that important that you can't wait 10 seconds for that car to pass -- especially when there isn't any traffic behind it. Studiously avoiding any eye contact with an oncoming driver doesn't get you off the hook either. Yeah, if you have entered the crosswalk while a car is enough distance away, then that car must stop. But stepping out in front of a moving vehicle just because you believe you have the right of way is a hard way to prove your point -- the VT Rescue Squad guys probably won't be happy about having to scrape you off the hood.
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I have noticed that at night, the lighting at cross walks SUCK!. I really like the 'period' lamp posts; but on dark, adverse weather nights, it's really hard to see people in dark clothing approaching the cross walks. VT might consider putting more powerful lights at the cross walks to illuminate the area much better. Just a thought.
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Oops
I didn't realize the same thing got posted more than once especially the Blacksburg ordinances.
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leg1.state.va .us/cgi-bin/legp504.exe?000+cod+23-9.2C3
§ 23-9.2:3. Power of governing body of educational institution to establish rules and regulations; offenses occurring on property of institution; state direct student financial assistance; release of educational records.
To provide parking and traffic rules and regulations on property owned by such institution.
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Virginia Tech Parking and Traffic Regulation
www .parking.vt. edu/documents/procedures.pdf
www. bov.vt. edu/minutes/12-11-05minutes/attach_e_11-05-12.pdf
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