With all the new growth and development on the corridor, Route 1 has become much more walkable in recent years, but more could be done, especially to make streets safer for pedestrians and bicyclists.

A recent analysis from AAA Mid-Atlantic found that Prince George’s County is the most dangerous place to walk in Maryland.

Almost four in 10 pedestrian deaths in the greater Washington area were in Prince George’s County in 2020, according to the report.

Since 2015, the county has had the highest number of traffic fatalities every year, according to data from the Fatality Analysis Reporting System.

Some of the most dangerous stretches of roadway are along the Route 1 corridor, according to county data.

The two worst spots may be fixed soon by street work being done for the Purple Line: University Boulevard, west of Adelphi Road, and Kenilworth Avenue and River Road, just east of the Discovery District.

Two other hotspots: East West Highway, near the University Town Center and near Riggs Road, west of the Mall at Prince George’s.

One common problem: Wide roadways with empty sidewalks, which subtly encourage drivers to go fast.

Adding protected bike lanes, dedicated bus lanes, wider tree-lined sidewalks, landscaping strips and even on-street parking will make the roadway narrower and make pedestrians feel safer, slowing traffic and reducing fatalities.

Combine this with other upgrades like light-rail transit, high-speed bus lanes, easily accessible bike rentals and more street-level retail and there will be fewer reasons for people to drive.

As part of the county’s Vision Zero initiative, which was implemented in 2019 and aims to eliminate traffic fatalities and serious injuries by 2040 in the county, an interactive map was created showing data from 2015-2019 of where people have been seriously injured or killed while walking, biking or driving on roads in Prince George’s County.

Like many places in the U.S., roadways like Route 1 were designed for cars, not people, but that doesn’t mean they have to stay that way.

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