Heciel Nieves Bonilla, News Editor
Maeve Bauer, Spectrum Editor
VCU issued nearly as many traffic summons from Jan. 12 – Mar. 24 as it did in the entirety of the 2024-25 academic year as it increased traffic enforcement through Operation Safer Streets.
The increase has revealed “dangerous behaviors” from many drivers on the roads in and around campus, according to VCU Police spokesperson Jake Burns. He asked drivers to put away distractions like phones and slow down on the roadway.
“When drivers attempt to cut time off of their commute, it can potentially have life altering consequences for other travelers,” Burns said. “VCU Police hope this operation serves as an educational opportunity for those who display unsafe driving practices.”
A plurality of the citations VCU PD has issued since January have been for speeding violations. Many others have come from a failure to obey highway signs, red lights and seat belt laws.
Despite a relative drop in traffic-related deaths over time, Richmond remained an area with riskier drivers than the national average as of last year, according to Axios.
Nationally, car crashes are a leading cause of death, according to the CDC. Recent pedestrian deaths in Richmond match a national gradual increase in such fatalities since 2009, according to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration.
Burns said VCU’s new installations to reduce speeds and injuries — specifically modular curbs and turn-hardening bumps — have helped slow drivers down on VCU’s campus. However, he warned pedestrians and cyclists that they cannot count on driver behavior or assume their own safety.
“Assume drivers do not see you until they prove you wrong, always cross at intersections or crosswalks, put your phones down and take off headphones,” Burns said. “A person’s senses are their most important safety tool. Since we know not all drivers are doing the right thing, attention and alertness while traveling are essential to safety.”
Frequent cyclist Andre Codrington rides in the VCU and downtown Richmond areas often and said he hopes more bike lanes or designated areas for cyclists are installed in the city.
“I honestly feel the same, not 100% safe,” Codrington said. “I think it really depends on the cyclist because you have to drive defensively as a cyclist and as opposed to waiting for cars to look out for you.”
Third-year anthropology student Michael Schmidt has noticed the traffic enforcement measures that VCU has taken throughout the last year. As someone who both drives and walks he feels like more should be done to teach upcoming students about street safety — as opposed to measures like the curb extensions, which he said makes it harder for him to navigate the streets.
“I think that having infrastructure that penalizes the driver isn’t the answer but upcoming students should be taught pedestrian safety,” Schmidt said.
VCU School of Dentistry student Jack Reichling witnessed a near-miss at the corner of North 9th Street and Turpin Street on MCV Campus. He said a car dropping someone off arrived at high speed and “literally almost blew through the crosswalk,” nearly hitting two pedestrians.
“That’s the first time I’ve seen that, but it’s not the first time I’ve heard of people almost getting hit in the crosswalk,” Reichling said.
Reichling has noticed speed bumps and other infrastructure have slowed him down as a driver on campus and finds he is able to avoid hitting pedestrians. He has not noticed a recent difference in his own safety, but believes all parties have a role in reducing incidents.
“There’s always a lot of people walking across the street on their phones, with headphones in — I mean, I’m guilty of that myself,” Reichling said. “Yeah, people need to pay more attention. Drivers need to pay more attention. People are always on their phones, for sure.”
VCU police chief Clarence Hunter said the operation’s primary goal is not to issue more tickets, but an attempt to address driver behavior such that they “slow down and stay alert” around campus.