7,000 Plus Traffic Violations Cited on Interstates 81 & 95 During Operation Air, Land & Speed
Zero Traffic Fatalities on Either Interstate During Safety Enforcement Effort

RICHMOND – Thousands of speeders and hundreds of reckless drivers and seat-belt violators were cited during the weekend as part of Virginia State Police’s Operation Air, Land & Speed traffic-safety enforcement effort on Interstates 81 and 95. During the two-day initiative, there were no fatal traffic crashes reported on either interstate. Read more

Virginia Seatbelt Violators Beware!
Last week, the Virginia Senate agreed to the House's version of a bill to require anyone under 18 to wear a seat belt in a vehicle. Anyone riding in the front seat already must wear a seat belt. Now, if you're under 18, even if you're in the back seat, you must buckle up. Read more

Gretna students receive lesson in driving safety
On Feb. 18, a figure dressed in black from head to toe walked the halls of Gretna High School. Carrying a scythe, Amber Moser, who portrayed the grim reaper, "claimed" 25 of the 650 students at Gretna.

The Grim Reaper Day was sponsored by the school's Youth of Virginia Speak Out About Traffic Safety (YOVASO) organization in an effort to promote car safety. Read more

Despite fatal crashes, seat belts don't click with all police
There's an open secret about seat belts at police departments. Many officers killed in line-of-duty car crashes aren't wearing them.

Dozens of officers across the country have died in crashes while not wearing seat belts in recent years — at least 64 between 2004 and 2008 alone, according to National Highway Traffic Safety Administration data analyzed for the Houston Chronicle. About 40 percent of officers killed in wrecks during that time period weren't buckled up, the analysis showed.

“The average police officer thinks most cops get killed by felons, and that's not true. Cops are getting killed in traffic accidents,” said Richard Ashton, who studies traffic safety for the International Association of Chiefs of Police. “Officers don't think it can happen to them.” Read more

March 15 is Deadline for Transportation Safety Grant Applications
Submissions Accepted Through DMV Website
RICHMOND - DMV's Virginia Highway Safety Office (VAHSO) is accepting applications to support programs throughout Virginia that strive to reduce traffic deaths and injuries. The deadline for transportation safety grant submissions is March 15, 2010.

The funding period for approved applications is October 1, 2010 through September 30, 2011. Applicants selected for the program participate on a cost-reimbursement basis. Interested applicants are required to make submissions online. To receive access to the online application, applicants should contact the project monitor assigned to their area. Visit http://www.dmv.virginia.gov/webdoc/safety/resources/contacts.pdf for a list of project monitors. Project monitors can answer specific questions about the guidelines for grant applications. Read more

Nomination Forms for 2010 Governor's Transportation Safety Awards Now Available
The Governor’s Transportation Safety Awards recognize individuals and organizations who have made contributions to transportation safety in Virginia. The awards recognize accomplishments in the public and private sector by individuals, state and local governments, federal agencies, the military, businesses and
organizations that promote transportation safety. The awards are open to any person or organization who performs an outstanding transportation safety activity or program during the previous calendar year. This program is sponsored by the Virginia Board of Transportation Safety, comprised of citizens appointed by the Governor of Virginia.

Awards will be presented from nominations submitted in each category for individual and/or group accomplishments, major projects and outstanding programs. Nominations must be postmarked by March 12, 2010 — DOWNLOAD FORM.

VDH Announces Unintentional Injury Prevention Mini-Grants for FY2010
Funding is now available for local organizations throughout Virginia to prevent unintentional injuries at the local level among high risk groups through the implementation of proven or promising unintentional injury prevention strategies. Organizations selected will receive funding of up to $1,000 to purchase safety devices and other supplies to support and implement a prevention project. Click here to download the mini-grant guidance and application.

For more information, contact the Va. Department of Health Division of Injury and Violence Prevention at (804) 864-7732 or injury@vdh.virginia.gov