St. Thomas, USVI – October 29-30, 2024
In a collaborative effort to improve pedestrian safety, the Virgin Islands Police Department (VIPD) and the Virgin Islands Office of Highway Safety (VIOHS), alongside federal partners from the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA), recently conducted a Walking Safety Assessment of Veterans Drive on St. Thomas. This initiative brought together a diverse group of community stakeholders, including government agencies, advocacy organizations, and local residents, to identify and address pedestrian safety concerns along the busy roadway.
The assessment took place on the afternoon of October 29 and the morning of October 30, with participants walking the stretch of Veterans Drive from the VI Legislature Building to Seaborne Airlines and back. Equipped with safety vests, participants observed various issues, including obstacles like parked vehicles, utility poles, and planters blocking sidewalks, forcing pedestrians to walk in the street. They also noted uneven and muddy sidewalks, which posed trip hazards, and a lack of adequate pedestrian crossing signals, which provided only a brief 10-second window to cross the four-lane road.
One wheelchair-bound participant experienced difficulty navigating several curbs, where ramps ended at an unsafe height above street level. “Our roads must be safe for everyone, regardless of their mode of transportation or ability,” said VIOHS Director Daphne O’Neal. “This initiative gathered valuable input from a range of professionals and community members, ensuring that we take a holistic approach to finding solutions.”
Participants in the Walking Safety Assessment included representatives from the Offices of the Governor and Lieutenant Governor, the Disability Rights Center, Bureau of Motor Vehicles, Departments of Police and Public Works, the State Office of Emergency Medical Services, the Methodist Training and Outreach Center, the University of the Virgin Islands, the VI Source, and DaVybe Radio Station 107.9FM.
Data presented during the event highlighted a concerning trend in pedestrian safety. Over the past three years, 143 pedestrians on St. Thomas and St. John were involved in motor vehicle crashes, resulting in 5 fatalities and 118 injuries. Across the territory, there were 193 pedestrian-related crashes during the same period, with 9 fatalities and 152 injuries. In fiscal year 2024 alone, there were 7 pedestrian-involved crashes on Veterans Drive.
NHTSA will assist in preparing a detailed report of the Walking Safety Assessment, which will be shared with key decision-makers and used as a model for future assessments in other high pedestrian-crash areas throughout the Virgin Islands.
For more information on pedestrian safety or to get involved in efforts to improve traffic safety in the territory, please contact the Virgin Islands Office of Highway Safety at (340) 473-7383 or by email:
– Director Daphne O’Neal: [email protected]
– Occupant Protection Program Manager Denise Gomes: [email protected]
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