For many Annandale residents, crossing the street shouldn’t feel life-threatening. Yet, it is. After multiple pedestrian fatalities in the past few months, nearby intersections have raised serious concerns over the town’s traffic safety.

According to an article by Annandale Today, a pedestrian was struck and killed in late Feb. while crossing the intersection between John Marr Drive and Ravensworth Road, just a mile away from AHS. This is not an isolated incident, but part of a growing pattern of pedestrian crashes in Annandale that demand urgent attention from residents.

Sophomore Karina Simone, who is obtaining her license, grieves these incidents: “It’s a very tragic way to pass away,” she said. “People, especially students who are learning how to drive, should be very careful and make sure they’re aware of their surroundings so that doesn’t happen to any more civilians.”

Safety and security assistant Omar Perez who regulates AHS’s crosswalks states that distracted driving largely threatens the safety of others.

“The ultimate distractions [are] the phones, as well as having another person in the car talking and not focusing on the road,” Perez said.

Perez’s work as one of the crossing guards has ensured pedestrian safety, but similar measures that incorporate improved street design and increased regulation should be applied to other high-risk intersections for the safety of Annandale’s pedestrians and drivers.