RICHMOND, Va. (CBS19 NEWS) -- Nearly three dozen pedestrians have been killed on Virginia roads so far this year.

The Virginia Department of Motor Vehicles also says there have been 453 crashes involving pedestrians across the Commonwealth for 2024.

According to a release, there have been 442 pedestrians injured in these crashes.

“We cannot ignore these numbers,” said DMV Commissioner Gerald Lackey, the Governor’s Highway Safety Representative. “But more importantly, we have to start thinking of the numbers we share as what they really are: human lives. Every single one of the 477 pedestrians injured or killed so far this year in Virginia are someone’s child, parent, spouse, best friend and whole world. We need to value and protect each other on the roadways. That means slowing down and keeping our eyes on the road. Every second counts when it comes to keeping our friends and family safe inside and outside of our cars.” 

So the DMV is asking drivers to help keep pedestrians safe by slowing down and looking up.

The release says speed plays a major factor in a pedestrian’s chances of surviving a crash.

The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration says that a pedestrian hit by a vehicle traveling 32 miles per hour has a 25 percent risk of death.

By adding 10 mph, the risk of death doubles, and if a vehicle is going 50 mph, the risk jumps to 75 percent.

And drivers are encouraged to keep their eyes on the road, especially in neighborhoods, shopping centers and other locations were more people are likely to be sharing the road.