Vehicle-related Deaths Drop 29% in Richmond, VA

The seventh year of the city's Vision Zero strategy also cut the number of people killed in alcohol-related crashes by half.

1 minute read

June 17, 2025, 5:00 AM PDT

By Diana Ionescu @aworkoffiction


Two people walking away from camera through pedestrian plaza in street in Richmond, Virginia with purple and white city bus moving in background.

Pedestrians in downtown Richmond, Virginia. | City of Richmond / Vision Zero

Richmond, Virginia saw a drop of 29 percent in vehicle-related deaths between 2023 and 2024, signaling that the city’s Vision Zero efforts, now in their seventh year, are working. Deaths dropped from 24 to 17, while the number of people killed in alcohol-related crashed dropped by half.

“As part of the initiative, Richmond has installed more speed cameras throughout the city in an effort to enhance school safety,” explains Drew Covington in an article for WRIC. “Pedestrians killed by car crashes went down from nine deaths to six.”

U.S. cities have had varying levels of success with Vision Zero initiatives as traffic deaths rose sharply during the early years of the pandemic and have remained high. According to NHTSA data, traffic deaths nationwide fell below 40,000 for the first time since 2020 in 2024. 

Thursday, June 12, 2025 in WRIC

Young Professional

I love the variety of courses, many practical, and all richly illustrated. They have inspired many ideas that I've applied in practice, and in my own teaching. Mary G., Urban and Environmental Planner

I love the variety of courses, many practical, and all richly illustrated. They have inspired many ideas that I've applied in practice, and in my own teaching.

Mary G., Urban and Environmental Planner

Get top-rated, practical training for planners

"Planetizen federal action tracker" logo superimposed over black and white image of US Capitol dome.

Planetizen Federal Action Tracker

A weekly monitor of how Trump’s orders and actions are impacting planners and planning in America.

October 28, 2026 - Zachary Whalen

A car drives through a puddle, making a large splash. Rain pours down.

California plans to bury El Niño’s downpour

If the state plays its cards right, it may be able to store a billion acre-feet of El Niño’s water in aquifers.

October 28, 2026 - Grist

A pencil rendering of Foundry Park, which shows skyscrapers and public green spaces.

Chicago breaks ground on $3 billion megadevelopment

The new neighborhood, titled Foundry Park, will one day host 3,700 residences.

October 23, 2026 - Chicago Sun Times

A swamp in South Carolina with tall pale trees and Spanish moss in the water.

Satanic Place Names

From streams and lakes to valleys and canyons, I mapped more than 1,000 places named after the Devil.

October 31 - The Daily Yonder

A rendering of a high speed rain station in California, with wide platforms and a sleep train with yellow highlights.

California High-Speed Rail Authority CEO resigns after $600,000 scandal

Under Ian Choudri, the authority used taxpayer dollars to fund first class flights and trips to nightclubs.

October 30 - Cal Matters

 A bridge stretches across the Missouri River at Chamberlain, South Dakota.

Want to study the Missouri River? Soon, you may need unanimous approval from 10 states

Legislation would require 10 governors’ permission to study or build projects moving water outside the basin.

October 30 - South Dakota Searchlight