Racial Disparities Persist in D.C. Traffic Incidents

November 19, 2025

Washington D.C. is experiencing a troubling surge in traffic-related injuries and fatalities, particularly affecting predominantly Black communities in Wards 7 and 8, despite an overall decline in traffic deaths over the past decade. The D.C. Council is considering the Motor Vehicle Insurance Modernization Act, which would increase minimum insurance coverage from $25,000 to $50,000—the first update since 1986. Advocates argue that current coverage levels leave crash victims with inadequate financial protection, as medical costs from serious accidents often far exceed existing minimums.

Who is affected

Evan Barker, Howard University senior and crash victim
Samantha Trumbull, 2012 car accident victim and policy analyst
District pedestrians, drivers, and bicyclists experiencing increased crash injuries
Residents of Wards 7 and 8, which account for nine of D.C.'s 22 traffic fatalities this year and 1,600 of 5,000 traffic-related injuries
Congress Heights resident Ameen Beale
Black and Brown communities experiencing disproportionate traffic safety issues
Chris Figueras, legislative director at Trial Lawyers Association of Metropolitan DC
Insurance companies required to provide coverage
Trial lawyers and consumer advocates

What action is being taken

D.C. Council Chairman Phil Mendelson has introduced the Motor Vehicle Insurance Modernization Act
Metropolitan Police Department is conducting traffic safety compliance checkpoints twice a week
Trial lawyers and consumer advocates are seeking to improve road safety and increase insurance coverage through the proposed legislation
Mayor Muriel Bowser's Vision Zero initiative, which began in 2014, is ongoing

Why it matters

This matters because nonfatal crash injury rates nearly doubled from 2019 to 2023, and D.C. fatalities increased 41% between 2022 and 2023 while national rates decreased 3.6%. The current $25,000 minimum insurance coverage, unchanged since 1986, leaves victims with inadequate financial protection, as medical costs from serious accidents routinely exceed $100,000. The issue also reflects structural inequities, with Black and Brown communities bearing a disproportionate burden due to decades of disinvestment in quality infrastructure, high-speed roadways, and insufficient lighting. The District ranks as having the 10th largest increase in pedestrian fatalities over the past five years among major U.S. cities, demonstrating an urgent public safety and health crisis that extends beyond immediate physical injuries to create long-term financial hardship for victims.

What's next

The Motor Vehicle Insurance Modernization Act awaits confirmation and passage by the D.C. Council
If passed, insurance companies will be required to cover at least $50,000 in medical and auto costs

Read full article from source: The Washington Informer