Crash on Patrick at Wilkes Street in Alexandria

[creadinger]

Goddamnit…. I’m sorry to see this. I drive through there most days on the way to and from PG County and from my perspective on patrick St. it seems relatively tame. The speed/red light cameras there are a huge factor.

But because of this and Bobco’s recent incident I’m going to look into getting a couple of rear-view cameras. I have a front camera already (Contour), but it’s not the most user friendly. I like the over-writing features of some of the other ones. Anyone have any cameras they like? Cameras can provide that key evidence to getting any $$ back from these things. And it helped that you guys both dealt with apologetic and helpful drivers, even though they were completely clueless while driving. It would have been a hassle if they were a-holes or just drove off. What if they did? Would Alexandria PD care then?!

Glad you are ok, and really happy to hear that everything will be covered by his insurance!

[CaseyKane50]

@dasgeh 144498 wrote:

So glad it wasn’t worse.

It’s ridiculous that Alx PD wouldn’t take a report. Arlington PD’s policy is to take a report if (1) there is injury; (2) there is at least $1,500 in damage (but couldn’t it always be that much?) OR (3) if any party involved asks for it. Not all officers follow this policy, so, unfortunately, you have to be ready to insist, and if necessary take the officer’s information.

Alexandria seems to be misreading VA law — VA requires that a report be taken in situations 1 and 2 above, but does not restrict reports in other situations.

I sent an email to the mayor, vice mayor and city council asking them to have the police take reports if asked, like Arlington does. Said it should be part of the developing Vision Zero program to track all crashes involving people who walk and bike regardless of injury or value of property. I further suggested it didn’t have to wait for the Vision Zero program.

[AlexandriaBiker]

@CaseyKane50 144499 wrote:

I might have gotten them to come take the report if I had called at the scene of the crash.

BPAC asked for some additional changes at this intersection, but they have yet to be agreed to, though getting a Leading Pedestrian Interval (LPI) might happen.

BPAC asked for the LPI nearly a year ago. I think we got our answer from T&ES.

[peterw_diy]

@CaseyKane50 144598 wrote:

I sent an email to the mayor, vice mayor and city council asking them to have the police take reports if asked, like Arlington does. Said it should be part of the developing Vision Zero program to track all crashes involving people who walk and bike regardless of injury or value of property. I further suggested it didn’t have to wait for the Vision Zero program.

Did you get any response to your email?

[CaseyKane50]

@peterw_diy 169424 wrote:

Did you get any response to your email?

Timely question! There will be a discussion at tonight’s BPAC meeting on improving the reporting for bike and pedestrian crashes. BPAC continues to pursue improved reporting and data collection within the upcoming Vision Zero Action Plan.

As to responses, I did hear from Mayor Silberberg and Vice Mayor Wilson who said they would check with APD.

Here is the response I got from APD

The Police Department follows the statutory requirements of the Code of Virginia Section 46.2-373(A) which requires law enforcement officers to complete crash reports in cases where there is an injury reported or there appears to be more than $1,500 worth of property damage. The Code of Virginia only requires drivers to report accidents involving injury or death to a law enforcement officer. In crashes that do not meet these requirements, citizens may, and often do, clear the roadway and exchange information without police intervention. The Police Department has no way of determining how many of these non-injury of crashes occur, nor do they have a way to mandate the reporting of such events to law enforcement under current state law. There are instances when officers are requested to respond to the scene of the crash where there are no injuries to provide traffic control and/or facilitate information exchange between the parties where a report is not required. While deemed “non-reportable” these types of crashes are logged into our Computer Aided Dispatch (CAD) system. Information from the CAD system, while not as detailed as what is found in a state required crash report, is available to help paint a more complete picture as to location and type of “non-reportable” crashes.
The Chief of Police has reviewed the Police Department’s current practices and has determined that the Department will continue to document crashes described above. As part of our continuing education and outreach efforts, we will encourage bicyclists, motorists and pedestrians to contact the Police Department to report crashes so that they will be entered into the CAD system.

[consularrider]

@CaseyKane50 169490 wrote:

Timely question! There will be a discussion at tonight’s BPAC meeting on improving the reporting for bike and pedestrian crashes. BPAC continues to pursue improved reporting and data collection within the upcoming Vision Zero Action Plan.

As to responses, I did hear from Mayor Silberberg and Vice Mayor Wilson who said they would check with APD.

Here is the response I got from APD

Ok then, in every crash the cyclist should report an injury, like a scrape, road rash, or hang nail. Note the COP doesn’t mention the severity of the “injury” as he does with the level of property damage. :rolleyes:

[Author]

Posts