Frequent Collisions near an Alexandria school: Who’s to Blame?

Some parents of students at Alexandria’s George Washington Middle School have gone online to complain that traffic along Mount Vernon Avenue near the school is dangerous.

But for others, the road itself may not be the real problem; the school’s drop-off line might be.

“Lots of parents just stop in the middle of the road without any warning to drop off and pick up their kids,” Emma B., whose daughter attends the school, wrote in a recent NextDoor post about Mount Vernon Avenue.

Hannah B., another parent, said the school’s drop-off area is the real source of the problem.

“The line for the pick-up and drop-off gets too crowded in the back, especially on the one-way road,” Hannah B., wrote. “When in a rush, I will say it’s simpler to drop on Mount Vernon Avenue. Maybe the school can figure out a better system. I agree, speeding drivers is a major problem.”

Their online posts point to a growing problem at the start of the new school year: a drop-off procedure that parents find too slow, an impatience with waiting, and a major congested roadway used as a shortcut, despite not being designed for student drop-off.

George Washingon Middle School, at 1005 Mount Vernon Avenue, sits along a busy corridor linking Alexandria to Arlington. According to Alexandria Police Officer Aaron Harrell, a school safety resource officer assigned to the school, families are supposed to use a specific drop-off curb to unload at the back of the school, not the avenue out front.

Signs at the main entrance of the school point parents to the drop-off, which is located across from the community-run Braddock athletic fields.

The signs direct parents to Door #8, which is located behind the building. Door #8 is also where school buses unload in the morning and afternoon.

But Harrell said that procedure is often times ignored when the school line gets backed up.

“They are not supposed to drop off on Mount Vernon Avenue, but when the drop-off area, which is behind the building gets backed up, you know, they don’t want to wait,” Harrell said. “Most people are in a rush.”

A school official, who spoke on condition of anonymity because they were not authorized to speak publicly, said the school has a detailed system for drop-off and pick-up, with staff stationed to direct traffic and manage backups, even though there are no crossing guards. The official noted the school has no authority over what happens on the public street.

“The school cannot enforce parents to not drop off on a public street, but we do have a detailed system for parents to drop off and pick up their children safely from school,” the official said.

The safety concerns carry significant weight as George Washington Middle School is back in session. According to a safety report released this month by Northern Virginia Families for Safe Streets, Mount Vernon Avenue was the most frequently reported street in Alexandria for near miss incidents between January 2025 and June 2026.

Citywide, children were present in 52% of reports, the group found. On Mount Vernon Avenue alone, 12 of the 26 near miss reports involved children.

Mike Doyle, founder of Northern Virginia Families for Safe Streets, said the group focuses on data-driven solutions rather than relying on changing driver behavior alone.

“It’s hard to change human behavior, but we’re really big proponents of new technology to make the streets safer,” Doyle said.

Other Alexandria residents posting in the same Nextdoor thread suggested ideas for improving safety on the avenue.

Elise R. suggested adding speed bumps along Mount Vernon Avenue to slow drivers down. Robert C. said a crossing guard could help during drop-off and pick-up hours, specifically near the intersection of Braddock Road, which he described as a busy crossing point for students and pedestrians headed to the Braddock metro station.

Alexandria has enforced a Vision Zero Initiative, which aims to eliminate traffic fatalities in the city by 2028. Because of this, Alexandria has had school zone speed cameras on Mount Vernon Avenue since 2023.

Enforcement for the current school year began on Aug. 24, with fines up to $100 for drivers speeding in the school zone.

Doyle said his group had successfully worked with Alexandria in the past to implement speed camera zones near schools, and other trafficked areas. The organization is now pushing for the implementation of stop sign cameras as a potential next step.

Everyone-the politicians-everyone, is going to be supporting children,” Doyle said. “So we’re continuing to work on new technology every day to improve road safety here.”

Residents who want to report additional incidents on Mount Vernon Avenue, or the greater Alexandria, can do so through the organization’s website.

The City of Alexandria Public Schools did not respond to interview requests.