New law will allow localities to reduce speed limits on Virginia highways to try and reduce pedestrian fatalities

RICHMOND, Va. (WRIC) — You may soon be slowing your roll on the road in Virginia after Governor Glenn Youngkin signed a bill into law allowing localities to cut speed limits on certain state roads to keep pedestrians safe.

“There is a national epidemic of pedestrian fatalities due to speeding,” Delegate Betsy Carr (D-Richmond) told 8News.

Carr’s bill, which was signed into law earlier this month, allows localities to reduce speed limits to as low as 15 miles per hour on state-owned highways which go through residential and commercial areas.

“This law gives communities some options and it gives them a chance to recognize that [with] traffic safety, there is not always one size fits all, it gives them another option to try and make those roads safer,” Morgan Dean with AAA explained.

Carr said that, previously, only the state could authorize a speed limit reduction.

“In places like Richmond, a lot of our streets may be local, but something like Cary Street and Main [Street] are actually state routes,” said Carr.

Dean said speed is a factor in almost half of the traffic-related fatalities in Virginia and, oftentimes, people don’t realize how devastating speed can be — especially if they hit a pedestrian.

“When we look at the potential for death and the average risk of death, at a speed of 23 miles per hour, it’s about 10%, but by the time it’s at 42 miles per hour, it’s at 50%,” Dean explained. “So, it can be very very dangerous for a pedestrian who is doing everything right and is crossing at a light when a driver is moving too fast and isn’t paying attention, strikes that person.”

As part of the law, which takes effect on July 1, localities will have to post signs indicating the change in speed limit.

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