Pedestrian Safety in Henrico

Watch Out Ahead Henrico Initiative

Public Works and the Police Division launched the Watch Out Ahead Henrico (WOAH!) campaign in 2023 to remind community members that every traveler has a responsibility to make safety a priority.

Henrico employees have handed out more than 10,000 free safety vests since beginning this initiative. Vests are available at all county government centers, police stations, libraries and recreation centers, and come in sizes for adults and children.

Arrive Alive Henrico

Arrive Alive Henrico is the county’s plan to improve transportation safety for all road users, regardless of how they travel. Henrico received a grant from the U.S. Department of Transportation’s Safe Streets and Roads for All program, which provides funding to localities to reduce roadway fatalities and serious injuries.

County employees from multiple agencies are developing an action plan. In 2025, the Arrive Alive team will host public engagement meetings again to present the action plan. Follow the Arrive Alive website or Public Works on social media for updates.

At public engagement meetings held in the spring, the county asked participants to commit to roadway safety actions. Here are some of the responses as well as safety tips.

Virginia Department of Transportation

Some roads in Henrico County are maintained by VDOT instead of Public Works, as detailed on this map. The major VDOT-maintained roads include:

• Chamberlayne Road (Route 301)
• Brook Road (Route 1)
• Patterson Avenue (Route 6)
• Williamsburg Road (Route 60)
• Nine Mile Road (Route 33)
• West Broad Street (Route 250)
• Staples Mill Road (Route 33)

Henrico collaborates with VDOT to explore additional pedestrian safety measures on these roads. Some VDOT projects that involve pedestrian accommodations include safety enhancements on the Virginia Capital Trail, West Broad Street improvements (Forest/Willow Lawn area, Pemberton/Parham area) and a sidewalk on Patterson Avenue. All projects, including studies and surveys, are available from VDOT’s Richmond District.

Safety Tips

Infrastructure improvements, including an expansion of sidewalks and crosswalks, are only part of the solution.

Stay alert on the roads, no matter how you’re traveling. Here are tips and resources from the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration on pedestrian safety:

Tips for Drivers

1. Look out for pedestrians everywhere, at all times.
2. Use extra caution when driving in hard-to-see conditions, such as nighttime or bad weather.
3. Slow down and be prepared to stop when turning or otherwise entering a crosswalk.
4. Yield to pedestrians in crosswalks and stop well back from the crosswalk to give other vehicles an opportunity to see the crossing pedestrians so they can stop too.
5. Never pass vehicles stopped at a crosswalk. There may be people crossing where you can’t see.
6. Never drive under the influence of alcohol and/or drugs.
7. Follow the speed limit, especially around people on the street, in school zones and in neighborhoods where children are present.
8. Be extra cautious when backing up and look for pedestrians.

Tips for Walkers

1. Follow the rules of the road and obey signs and signals.
2. Walk on sidewalks whenever they are available.
3. If there is no sidewalk, walk facing traffic and as far from traffic as possible.
4. Cross streets at crosswalks or intersections. Look for cars in all directions, including those that may be turning.
5. If a crosswalk or intersection is not available, locate a well-lit area where you have the best view of traffic. Wait for a gap in traffic that allows enough time to cross safely; continue watching for traffic as you cross.
6. Watch for cars entering or exiting driveways, or backing up in parking lots.
7. Avoid alcohol and drugs when walking; they impair your abilities and your judgment.
8. Embrace walking as a healthy form of transportation – get up, get out and get moving.