Shorter Days, Greater Danger
As the leaves change color and daylight shrinks, the simple act of walking home or jogging after work becomes riskier. In Virginia, pedestrian crashes continue to be a serious problem: the Virginia Traffic Crash Facts report recorded 1,747 pedestrian/motor vehicle crashes and 126 pedestrian fatalities in its most recent yearly summary. Shorter daylight hours — plus hurried drivers, poor lighting, and busy crosswalks — all add up to more dangerous conditions for people on foot.
Why fall is especially hazardous
Lower visibility at peak travel times. Fall brings earlier nights and longer periods of dusk — a time when drivers’ visibility is reduced but activity (commuters, students, and evening shoppers) remains high. Research has found a measurable increase in crash risk during transitions to darker hours, including after the time changes associated with daylight saving adjustments.
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