News Archive

March 26, 2007
Operation Air, Land & Speed VI Nets 3,560 Violations & Arrests on Interstate 64

Lights, camera, ticket: Kaine OKs traffic monitoring systems

March 24, 2007
Va. Road Safety Bills Become Law
Teen Drivers' Phone Use Cut; Child Restraint Rules Expanded

March 21, 2007
Kaine signs car-seat law for children up to 8
Under Va. law, which takes effect July 1, violators get a $50 fine; age had been 6

March 5, 2007
Laws Prove to Be Effective in Protecting Child Passengers
New research shows that booster seat and primary enforcement seat belt laws increase age-appropriate restraint use among children

February 20, 2007
Operation Air, Land & Speed V: Enforcement Initiative Yields 1,810 Summonses & Arrests

February 16, 2007
Nation's Top Transportation Official Urges Manufacturers to Provide Free or Discounted DOT Certified Helmets or Rider Safety Training with the Purchase of Every New Motorcycle

February 15, 2007
House committee backs cell phone ban for novice drivers

February 14, 2007
Unbelted drivers killed in two Valentine's Day crashes
Speed, icy roads also contributing factors

February 12, 2007
Operation Air, Land & Speed V Enforcement Initiative Coming to Richmond & Tri-Cities

January 2, 2007
Child safety seats not installed properly
Many parents are confused about the right way to install a child safety seat despite a rule to simplify the process

Cameras free police to patrol other crimes
Chesapeake police officers have been forced into a low-tech, cat-and-mouse game with motorists who run red lights, staking out intersections in the hopes of catching somebody

December 30, 2006
Area road deaths decline in 2006
Based on statistics provided by local law enforcement agencies, 22 people died this year on area roads — which include Staunton, Waynesboro and Augusta County — compared with 26 last year.

December 17, 2006
Culpeper County Sheriff's Office educating students about traffic safety

December 13, 2006
Drunk Driving Targeted During Holidays
Community groups, police offer alternatives and warnings to combat drinking and driving

December 1, 2006
One Year After Primary Seat Belt Law Passage: Fatalities are down, compliance is up
Males still least likely to buckle up, most frequently cited for no seat belt use

December 1, 2006
Dip in seat belt use brings push for laws

November 21, 2006
Bedford Police conduct safety seat checks

Winchester area police increasing DUI patrols for holidays

November 9, 2006
Distractions add to traffic dangers
Cedar Bluff Police Chief says there were indications that cell phone use may have contributed to the crash that killed 24-year old Joseph Vencill and led to the death a day later of four-month old Laken Vance.

October 17, 2006
Lane Departure Warning Systems Help Drowsy Drivers Avoid Crashes

October 11, 2006
Danger: Drivers who type
Text-messaging is a rising cause of auto accidents

October 5, 2006
Christiansburg aims for safer ride for tots
Town police are first in the state among similar-sized departments to train all officers to install child seats.

October 4, 2006
OPINION: Photo red
Readers are clear about what they think: Use cameras at intersections

October 1, 2006
Valley View event drives home traffic safety message
Teens were the prime target at Saturday's hands-on event, hosted by law enforcement.

September 28, 2006
DMV Announces Added Safety Grant Accountability
Collaboration with Partners is Key to Safer Roads

September 18, 2006
Final "Operation Air, Land & Speed" nets 5,231 summonses & srrests on Interstates 81 & 95
2006 Virginia traffic crash fatality rate slows

September 10, 2006
Study: Helmet law has an effect
Motorcyclists can lessen dangers

September 5, 2006
Labor Day Weekend traffic deaths exceed 2005

Bush Taps Peters for Transportation
President Bush on Tuesday picked Mary Peters to be the nation's new transportation secretary, a Cabinet position that took on more prominence after the Sept. 11 terrorist attacks

August 23, 2006
Traffic Fatalities Increased
Already this year, Virginia has seen more motorcycle accidents than any other year prior — early half the riders were not wearing helmets — and statistics show more than half of passengers killed in car accidents were not wearing seat belts.

August 18, 2006
Troopers To Saturate I-81 Today, Saturday
Second Phase Of Operation Air, Land & Speed Commences

August 16, 2006
Campaign Hopes to Reduce DUIs
The new campaign -- "Drunk Driving. Over the Limit. Under Arrest." -- will include TV, radio and online ads in English and Spanish. They will primarily target male drivers ages 21 to 34, the segment of the population most likely to get behind the wheel drunk.

August 15, 2006
Beach Officials Want To Revive Red-Light Cameras

Waynesboro police awarded for traffic safety

July 24, 2006
OPINION: Pull 'em over
As traffic and behavior get worse, enforcement offers hope

July 22, 2006
Police crack down on speeding near work zones

July 20, 2006
States Boost Speed Limits On Major Highways
Moves Come Despite Concerns Over Safety, High Gas Prices; 80 Miles Per Hour in Texas

July 19, 2006
VA, MD, PA, DC launch crackdown targeting aggressive drivers

July 18, 2006
How to prevent backover deaths of kids?

July 17, 2006
U.Va. Study: Car Crashes Are More Deadly for Seniors

Grounds for a ticket for no seat belt?

July 13, 2006
Federal money available for school bike routes
The federal program aims at curbing both traffic and obesity

July 11, 2006
Operation Air, Land & Speed Nets 9,316 Total Summonses and Arrests on Interstates 81 & 95

Traffic programs get results
Stafford County Sheriff Charlit Jett is proud of traffic safety record

VDOT Studying Optical Illusions To Slow Speeders
New pavement markings being tested by the Virginia Department of Transportation have been proven to make some motorists think they're going faster than they really are - and in turn, drivers have let up off the accelerator.

July 10, 2006
Road deaths up 13% in Virginia
Richmond area has a 40% rise in traffic fatalities in first half of year

July 8, 2006
State Police to step up enforcement on I-81

July 7, 2006
State police to step up patrols following high holiday fatalities

Interstate speeding crackdown coming to I-81
Drivers on two Virginia interstate highways will see a lot of state troopers the next four days.

July 6, 2006
Penalties stiffened for illegal alcohol purchases
New law imposes one-year license suspension for purchasing alcohol for minor

July 5, 2006
21 Traffic Deaths On Virginia Highways During July 4 Holiday Weekend
State Police to Launch Four-Day Interstate Safety Effort on I-81 & I-95

July 2, 2006
Nearly 1,000 new state laws
Statutes on matters that range from death to taxes now in effect

Celebrate Your Independence Responsibly: DRIVE SAFE. DRIVE SOBER.
Virginia State Police Step Up Patrols for DUIs During Fourth of July Weekend

June 27, 2006
Motorcycle riders get a safety lesson
Had the Pittsburgh Steelers’ star quarterback been riding his motorcycle in Virginia, he would have been wearing a helmet - and his injuries would undoubtedly have been far less severe.

Law targets underage drinking
A new law aims to close a loophole that allows underage drinkers to consume alcohol in private homes across Virginia.

June 23, 2006
U.S. Transportation Secretary Norman Y. Mineta resigns from post

June 19, 2006
Seatbelt Use Up In Portsmouth, Police Say

State driving laws questioned
Critics says graduated license system in Va. could be strengthened

June 18, 2006
UNEASY RIDER: For bikers, safety is more than wearing a helmet
Despite the risks, the thrill of the open road draws many to motorcycles

June 16, 2006
Big Ben apologizes, pledges he'll ride wearing helmet

Virginia State Police Cite Thousands For Restraint Violations as Part of 2006 Click It or Ticket Enforcement Wave
47 Percent of 2006 Traffic Crash Fatalities Unbuckled

June 13, 2006
Roethlisberger possibly didn't have motorcycle license

COLUMN: Roethlisberger's next ad? Wear a helmet

'Click It or Ticket' success in Richmond

June 12, 2006
Steelers QB Ben Roethlisberger in serious condition after motorcycle accident
Ben Roethlisberger was in serious but stable condition following seven hours of surgery to repair multiple facial fractures he sustained in a motorcycle accident Monday morning. Roethlisberger was not wearing a helmet at the time of the crash.

June 4, 2006
Safer boating without tougher laws?

June 3, 2006
Paying the Price for Drinking and Driving

June 2, 2006
Holiday weekend's crashes killed 10 in Va.

June 1, 2006
DC, MD and VA law enforcement cracking down on aggressive driving

City of Hampton, Virginia to Use Nestor Traffic Systems' Automated Red Light Solution
City will employ patented Collision Avoidance™ safety feature at one intersection

May 31, 2006
2006 Governor's Transportation Safety Awards Announced

Click It or Ticket
Police Agencies Crack Down on Seat Belt Use

Eye on the road: New devices alert drowsy drivers when it's time to pull off

Memorial Day Weekend Traffic Crashes Claim Ten Lives on Virginia Roadways
2006 Holiday Traffic Deaths Down from 2005

May 30, 2006
With ticket on the line, some pulling a fast one
When Dana Schrad's son got a speeding ticket several years ago, she knew they needed to get the car's speedometer calibrated.

May 26, 2006
Holiday travel: 700,000 Virginians expected to drive

Motor vehicle fatalities up in Richmond area

May 24, 2006
50 Ways to Save on Gas

Police to Crack Down on Seat Belt Violators

May 23, 2006
Click It or Ticket
With a grant from the Department of Motor Vehicles, the Augusta County Sheriff's office and surrounding localities increased their patrols on the road Monday as part of the national Click It or Ticket campaign.

Petersburg police ticket first round of seat belt violators

Virginia State Police Encourage Motorists to Cruise Through the Summer Safely
Increased police patrols begin Memorial Day Weekend

May 20, 2006
Buckle up; National "Click It or Ticket" campaign begins Monday
PETERSBURG—Starting Monday, if you're driving be sure you're buckled up because the national Click It or Ticket mobilization campaign kicks off.

May 19, 2006
Sheriff's Office stepping up efforts
Buckle up, Culpeper. The Culpeper County Sheriff’s Office is joining more than 12,000 state and local law enforcement agencies for an aggressive national “Click It or Ticket” mobilization set to begin May 22.

Virginia State Police Encourage Motorists to Buckle Up for Every Ride, Every Time
Click It or Ticket Enforcement Mobilization – May 22 thru June 4, 2006
All-American Buckle Up Week – May 22 thru May 26, 2006

May 17, 2006
Newport News police to enforce 'Click It or Ticket' law

Click it or get a ticket
Local police warn motorists that they are stepping up enforcement now through Memorial Day weekend to enforce safety belt laws. Berryville Police, the Clarke County Sheriff’s Department, and Virginia State Police are joining other law enforcement agencies across the state in the “Click it or Ticket” program to enforce the commonwealth’s safety belt and child safety seat laws.

May 16, 2006
OOPS! She did it again!: New Britney Spears Baby Photo Sparks Controversy

Spears draws scowls with baby ... one more time

May 15, 2006
Law Enforcement Agencies Nationwide Crack Down on Safety Belt Violators As New Report Details the 18 Percent Who Still Fail to Obey the Law
Report Profiles One Out of Five Who "Still Don't Get it" — Young Males, People who Live in Rural Areas, and Pick-up Truck Drivers

May 12, 2006
Police focus on seat belt safety

May 8, 2006
A rash of bike fatalities
But the toll so far this year is running well behind last year's rate in the state

April 30, 2006
Safety first at Foxfield Races
Large police force yields tenfold increase in arrests

April 28, 2006
Will all autos some day have breathalyzers?

April 20, 2006
Findings released on real-world driver behavior, distraction, crash factors

Virginia Tech Transportation Institute (VTTI) releases findings on driver behavior and crash factors
Driver inattention leading factor in most crashes and near-crashes, according report released today by NHTSA and VTTI

April 11, 2006
Sprint Nextel Joins with Virginia State Police, Virginia DMV, NASSP and NASCAR NEXTEL Cup Series™ Driver Kyle Busch to Tell Teens: "Focus on Driving"
Virginia Kickoff of Focus on Driving Education Program Follows Successful Orlando, Fla. Pilot; Busch and Fellow Driver Kasey Kahne Star in Focus on Driving Public Service Announcements

March 30, 2006
Major change in crashworthiness evaluations for consumer information, based on 10+ years of success of the frontal crash test program
Frontal offset crash tests conducted by the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety since 1995 have prompted huge improvements in how vehicles protect people in frontal crashes. Now this consumer information program is undergoing a major change.

March 29, 2006
Hold on to your wallet - driving costs hit 52 cents a mile
The folks at the AAA issued the results of their annual "Your Driving Costs" study Tuesday, and the bottom line isn't pretty - the overall average cost of owning and operating your late model ride in the U.S. is about 52.2 cents per mile, or $7,834 per year, if you drive 15,000 miles.

March 28, 2006
Traffic light for safety
New signal may be erected at Massaponax High School's main entrance.

March 22, 2006
Dangerous stretch of I-81 focus of safety study

Program aims to curb pedestrian accidents
Local officials, worried about an increase in traffic fatalities, yesterday kicked off the annual Street Smart campaign to urge pedestrians to use sidewalks and crosswalks and to obey traffic signals.

March 19, 2006
Va. Might Raise School Bus Speeds
If Kaine Approves, Law Will Increase Limit to 45 MPH

March 16, 2006
Safety-corridors fines vary widely
Motorists rarely pay the full $500 for traffic infractions in these special highway zones

March 16, 2006
No More Red-Light Cameras
House ensures traffic safety devices not coming back

March 9, 2006
Road program may be reducing crashes
2005 figures show a decrease in wrecks in I-95 and I-81 zones

March 8, 2006
Teens can chat and drive at the same time

March 4, 2006
Traffic-camera bill remains alive
Reprieve may be short-lived as House expected to reject red-light enforcement plan

Delegates will take another look at red-light cameras

March 1, 2006
Teen driving bill shot down

February 21, 2006
Red-light-camera bill's flash hasn't been put out yet

Senator Stolle Seeks House Vote On Red-Light Cameras
Moves Would Add Program to Bills

February 16, 2006
Crackdown: Not your father's Foxfield

February 10, 2006
National Survey Says Seat Belt Use Up Slightly

February 3, 2006
In autos, size does matter

February 1, 2006
Henrico Police Join Forces Against Drunk Driving This Super Bowl Weekend

January 28, 2006
Speed limits important to boating safety at SML

January 26, 2006
Panel kills proposed repeal of radar detector ban

January 25, 2006
Bill banning cell phone use by teen drivers passes Senate committee

January 19, 2006
Children won’t be required to buckle up on buses

Study: Risky to ride with teen driver
In Virginia, 675 people died in accidents between '95 and '04 involving drivers aged 15-17, AAA says.

January 8, 2006
Motorist Legislative Issues

December 27, 2005
Police want 'Photo Red' back

December 10, 2005
Kaine fills Virginia public safety positions
Secretary of Public Safety John W. Marshall will stay on for another term; Marshall's former

December 9, 2005
Albemarle intersections are most dangerous

December 6, 2005
DMV Supports Local Safety Initiatives
Buena Vista, Glasgow, Lexington, and Rockbridge County Receive A Total Of $25,000 In Federal Funds

November 30, 2005
Fairfax County seeks tougher controls on teen drivers

November 29, 2005
At Least 17 Killed on Virginia Roadways Over Thanksgiving Holiday

November 28, 2005
Fatal bike-vehicle accidents rise in Hampton Roads, across state

November 27, 2005
Carpooling increases with gas prices
Jenny Hill remembers how in high school she wanted more than anything to drive her own car to school rather than take the school bus. Now she and coworkers in her vanpool joke about how their lives have come full circle when it comes to their preferred mode of transportation.

'Drive Safer Sunday'
The parents of a student killed in a car accident during the busy Thanksgiving weekend traffic work to promote driver safety.

November 22, 2005
Prince William County Police Department gets awards

November 21, 2005
Drunken driving laws need support of judges

November 20, 2005
Arrive Wednesday, avoid traffic
VDOT's data show that an early departure is your best bet to beating holiday jam

November 19, 2005
Transportation task force tries to chart course
Lawmakers and Gov.-elect Tim Kaine have identified transportation as the top priority for the upcoming General Assembly session but note a shortfall of $108 billion over the next 20 years.

November 17, 2005
SUV hits school bus; students unhurt
Twenty-five elementary kids were on the bus at the time of the accident. The SUV driver is cited with reckless driving.

Fall Badges, Buckles, Belts & Beyond Newsletter available for download

November 16, 2005
State DMVs Offer Consumers Refuge from Flooded Vehicles, Recommend Solutions to Combat Motor Vehicle Fraud
-- Alternate news link: In the Market for a Used Car? Beware of Flood-Damaged Vehicles; DMV Offers Tips to Spot Water-Damaged Automobiles (Va DMV Press Release)

Mandatory education a key to boating safety

November 15, 2005
Knights in DayGlo armor keep roads clear
The new service is part of a VDOT strategy to help motorists move more smoothly on local interstates. That involves everything from clearing away road debris and stalled vehicles to helping State Police control traffic during accident investigations.

Military Traffic Workshop Focuses on Mishap Prevention
Keeping Sailors safe behind the wheel was a focus of the 37th Virginia Military/Civilian Transportation Safety Workshop, held at Fort Eustis in Newport News, Va., Nov. 2 and 3.

November 11, 2005
Death by car
Penetrating teens' sense of invincibility challenges parents

November 9, 2005
Legislators split on ways to halt unlicensed drivers

Cities across America grappling with red-light cameras

Make sure seat is safe
It’s an all too common sight on Maui roadways, small children’s lives put at risk because of neglect or ignorance on the part of adults.

November 8, 2005
Child passenger safety class ’eye-opening’
Bob Wall was a police traffic officer in Fairfax, Va., when he began noticing that many children were being injured in minor traffic collisions because they weren’t properly secured in car seats

November 7, 2005
Child car seat advice questioned
Toddlers should face the rear longer, some experts say

November 3, 2005
Make a winter safe driving checklist

October 29, 2005
Halloween a scary time on the roads

October 28, 2005
Fatal school bus accident was traumatic for students

AAA calls for return of red light program

October 27, 2005
Don't Let Halloween Turn to Terror: Designate a Sober Driver
Majority of Halloween Weekend Fatalities Involve Alcohol

Free child safety seat inspections offered Saturday, October 29

October 26, 2005
Strength is standard in school bus construction

October 23, 2005
Police pound pedals
A mountain bike and an officer nicknamed Chico continue to woo downtown Blacksburg

October 15, 2005
VDOT creates wildlife crossings to lure bears away from traffic

October 14, 2005
Sleepy Onley on the Eastern Shore gets a traffic light

October 13, 2005
Eastern Shore needs more state troopers

October 10, 2005
Targeting fraud on wheels
Authorities bust rings tied to swoop and squat accident scams

Harvest of death on the Eastern Shore

Migrant workers cited in fatalities
Data: About 25 percent of Eastern Shore highway deaths involved Hispanics

October 6, 2005
Study: Indians' Seat Belt Use Off Average

September 30, 2005
Nation's seat belt use reaches all-time high

September 28, 2005
An encouraging sign for student drivers
Bedford County high school students have begun checking up on one another. The cause could not be a better one... They are checking to see that classmates are buckling up their seat belts.

September 24, 2005
Buckle up for safety, and to party
A Bedford County Sheriff’s Deputy and two classmates, pen and papers in hand, greeted students as they drove away from Staunton River High School at the end of the day Wednesday. The reason? To make sure students are buckled up.

September 20, 2005
Child car seat safety pushed
A crash test dummy for a 10-year-old has been proposed

Feds Want Cell Phone Ban for Teen Drivers

September 14, 2005
Virginia Department of Health Offers Child Safety Seats To Assist Children Displaced By Hurricane Katrina
The Virginia Department of Health (VDH) is offering free child safety seats for eligible children relocating to Virginia due to Hurricane Katrina

September 13, 2005
Henrico Police Implement Teen Distracted Driving Campaign
“Smart Drivers Just Drive” Asks Young Adults to Put the Brakes on Distracted Driving

September 8, 2005
City Police Score First in Traffic Safety
Fairfax City Police win first place honors from statewide police group

September 6, 2005
Towing reforms in motion
Statewide study commission considers proposing new regulations for towing operators.

September 2, 2005
Police Stop Drivers For Checkups
Officials Ask To See License, Registration

August 8, 2005
Correcting overcorrecting
Driving instructors and the police are searching for ways to prevent overcorrection, a common cause of car accidents.

August 5, 2005
Speed Limit Increase Causes Spike In Tickets
Eight to 12 tickets are issued per night per officer

August 2, 2005
17-Minute Traffic Stop Too Short to Violate Rights

Deadly Crash Spotlights Classic-Car Safety

August: Top Vacation Month
Summer travel tough on cars, gas, lives

Three died on buses this school year
Deaths could reflect the hazards that come with increasing traffic

July 28, 2005
Supervisors delay action on rural speed limits
Bedford County's supervisors want to hear from the public before they decide whether to ask the state to lower the default speed limit on rural secondary roads.

ICE could save your life
'In Case of Emergency' initiative turns cell phones into lifelines

Study: HOV lanes faster, but not safer
Dallas data shows increase in accidents when carpool lanes added

Carfax Expands Vehicle Damage Information
New Frame Damage Data Helps Identify Potential Problems

July 27, 2005
Speed limits on the rise
Traffic on U.S. 29 is legally accelerating to 60 mph

July 21, 2005
"Click It or Ticket" Is a Success in Virginia

DOT Launches New Website to Assist Persons with Disabilities for Emergency Preparedness

July 20, 2005
Virginia Safety Belt Use Hits All Time High
Success Attributed to Click it or Ticket Campaign

July 15, 2005
Spring/Summer 2005 Badges, Buckles, Belts & Beyond Newsletter now available!

Judges toss out hundreds of traffic tickets in base cases

Hampton cops top cop award in regional law enforcement contest
The division is third nationally in a ranking of highway safety methods

July 13, 2005
Pilot program leads to higher safety belt use among truckers

July 12, 2005
Cellphone Headset Use Isn't Safer for Drivers

Mother Put Girls In Trunk, Police Say
Crowded Car Trip Leads to Charges

Recent Crashes Raise Fears, But Buses Remain Safest Form Of School Travel

July 7, 2005
Holiday travel kills 14 in state

July 1, 2005
Keep Eyes on the Road, Not on Videos
New law is one of the many motor vehicle-related laws effective July 1

Police are encouraging folks to buckle up
Albemarle Co. PD and Don Allen, VACP, present Saved by the Belt awards to a Waynesboro couple

June 30, 2005
Falls Church to leave the red-light cameras on

June 29, 2005
Red-light cameras turn off Friday

June 28, 2005
AAA warns of July 4 dangers

June 21, 2005
Study: Hang up and drive
Cell phones biggest cause of distraction, Va. Tech researchers say

June 14, 2005
Traffic sting catches dozens of violations

June 13, 2005
Red-light cameras are a budget drag, officials say

June 10, 2005
100-car Naturalistic Driving Study tracks drivers for a year

NHTSA Administrator Presents Safety Awards to World’s Top Auto Engineers and Advocates At Global Conference
Dr. Jeff R. Crandall (University of Virginia) and Mr. Brian O’Neill (Insurance Institute for Highway Safety) are among the recipients

June 7, 2005
Single click
Seat belts save lives ... but should we be required to wear them?

June 2, 2005
Police busy on holiday roads

Va. police: 14 died during weekend

June 1, 2005
NHTSA Releases "Ease-of-Use" Ratings for Child Safety Seats for 2005

In Henrico, dozens are caught running red-lights

In Albemarle, truck inspections

May 31, 2005
Bus driver shortage

May 30, 2005
Click It or Ticket continues through June 5

May 28, 2005
Local law enforcement set for holiday weekend

May 27, 2005
Officers increasing patrols over holiday

Chesterfield Police launch marine patrol at Lake Chesdin

May 26, 2005
Police buckle down on seat belt violators

Police upping enforcement throughout state

May 25, 2005
Safety by the truckload
A state campaign reminds truckers to wear seat belts; survey says compliance lower

May 24, 2005
DMV to change license, identification procedure

May 23, 2005
Click It or Ticket Comes to Suffolk

Click it or get a ticket

May 19, 2005
Virginia to target unbuckled truckers

May 18, 2005
Gate City Launches Click It or Ticket

May 16, 2005
Seat-belt use lower, deaths higher for those in pickups

May 12, 2005
Time to "Click It or Ticket"
NORFOLK, Va. (NNS) - The Naval Safety Center has partnered once again with the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) on their national "Click It or Ticket" campaign.

May 6, 2005
Post helps to “Click it or Ticket”

April 21, 2005
Transportation Secretary Mineta Calls Highway Fatalities an Epidemic
Nation Should Prevent Traffic Deaths Like Any Other Disease

April 1, 2005
Photo Red?
Officials in Northern Virginia were steamed following a General Assembly rejection of continued photo-red programs.

March 1, 2005
NHTSA Reports Cellular Phone Use by Motorists Is on the Rise

February 1, 2005
Brain Immaturity Could Explain Teen Crash Rate
Risky Behavior Diminishes At Age 25, NIH Study Finds

Safe-driving effort aimed at SUV owners
A $27 million ad blitz calls for them to exert more caution on the road

January 5, 2005
Beach chief makes case for red-light cameras

December 28, 2004
A Lethal Combination
SUVs seen as 'too much car' for teen drivers

December 22, 2004
Loopholes in Virginia driving laws seen as danger

Buckle up, loose the booze

November 14, 2004
Fate of cameras on the line

September 23, 2004
NHTSA brings focus to child safety issue
Booster seat use low among young children

Study finds electronic stability control benefits

September 16, 2004
Transportation Secretary Mineta reports record safety belt usage among Americans on the road

August 26, 2004
283 tickets issued to 'distracted' drivers
Metropolitan Police have issued 252 tickets to drivers using hand-held cell phones since a "distracted driving" law became fully effective Aug. 1

Deadliest states for driving
'Country' and 'western' killer combination behind the wheel – rural states have higher death rates

August 4, 2004
NTSB Says 86 Year-Old California Driver At Fault in 2003 Crash, Push for Black Boxes

July 30, 2004
Drivers getting pressure to be safe

July 23, 2004
Congress Resumes Negotiations on Highway Bill

June 1, 2004
NHTSA Repeats Rollover Warning to Users of 15-Passenger Vans
The U.S. Department of Transportation's National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) today re-issued a warning to users of 15-passenger vans because of an increased rollover risk under certain conditions. Similar warnings were issued in 2001 and 2002.

May 27, 2004
Governor Warner Signs DUI Bills into Law

May 22, 2004
State should ban DVDs for drivers
As if drivers distracted by cell-phone calls, mascara application, newspaper reading or munching on an Egg McMuffin at 70 mph aren't bad enough, now comes a new motorist diversion: the driver's-side DVD player.

May 18, 2004
Campaign encourages buckling up
'Click It or Ticket' shown to increase seat belt use

May 4, 2004
Rescue Workers Prepare For Challenges of Hybrid Car Accidents
The growing popularity of hybrid vehicles is a step toward cleaner air and less dependance on gasoline. But for rescuers at accident scenes, they represent a potential new danger: a network of high-voltage circuitry that may require some precise cutting to save a trapped victim.

February 6, 2004
NHTSA Advises Parents, Caregivers: Child Safety Seats Can Be Reused after Minor Crash
Following a review of research on child safety seat performance, the U.S. Department of Transportation's National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) revised its advice to parents and caregivers to allow reuse of the seats following a minor crash.

January 12, 2004
State's first safety zone set on I-81
Virginia's first safety-enforcement zone, where traffic violations will cost dangerous drivers higher penalties, will go into effect this week on Interstate 81 in western Virginia.

January 9, 2004
Officers detect sophisticated smuggling system
Bedford County officials say they made their biggest drug bust after uncovering a high-tech hiding spot

January 5, 2004
Law enforcement officer fatalities reach 148 for 2003
Shootings and automobile accidents cited as leading causes of death

November 5, 2003
Traffic signal changes cause concern
MINNEAPOLIS—It's every motorist's fantasy to be able to make a red traffic light turn green without so much as easing off the accelerator. That naughty dream may now be coming true, with perilous implications.

November 4, 2003
Seat belt use slipping among youth
Despite efforts to get every driver to buckle up, people are not heeding the warnings – with disastrous results. Traffic safety officials worry younger people "who think they are immortal" are forgetting to wear seat belts.

September 3, 2003
Safety belt use jumps to record 79 percent
Transportation Secretary Norman Y. Mineta has announced that safety belt use in the United States has jumped to 79 percent, the highest level ever.

June 26, 2003
Study: Traffic tickets can reduce fatal car crashes
It's never pleasant receiving a traffic ticket but new research from scientists in Canada shows that they could reduce fatal car crashes. "You don't think the police are doing a public service when they issues tickets, but traffic enforcement has a huge public health benefit,"...

June 24, 2003
Virginia, nation see rebound in drunk-driving deaths
Andrew Campbell wanted the new Harry Potter book for his ninth birthday. His parents, Leigh and Anthony Darryl Campbell, were not about to say no. The family piled in the car Friday night and drove north from their home on the Eastern Shore to Maryland, where the book would go on sale at midnight. They never made it...

Smart cars, smart roads can help out dumb drivers
A car speeds toward an intersection, about to collide with a van. Sensors spot the car about to run the red light, and a signal rushes to the car, triggering a high-pitched beep and a red light on the dashboard that says, emphatically, "STOP".

June 11, 2003
Latch systems for child restraints aren't always a snap; Not every child restraint will work in every vehicle
ARLINGTON, VA—A federal rule requiring special attachments to anchor infant and child restraints in vehicles is making installation easier, but not all child restraints fit easily in all vehicles. This is the main finding of the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety's first review of the federal requirements.

June 4, 2003
Study finds children's car booster seats safer than seat belt
In a car crash, a child in a booster seat has less than half the risk of injury of a child wearing only an adult seat belt.

May 19, 2003
U.S. pushes for wider seat belt use
75% usage rate in the U.S. is lower than most of the developed world

Are states' seat-belt usage rates inflated?
Seat-belt usage rates might not be as high as the government says

May 15, 2003
SAFE KIDS of Virginia Reminds Parents of Consequences of Leaving Kids in Hot, Parked Vehicles
New research shows humidity increases the danger

March 26, 2003
State gets seat belt boost
Officials hope federal funding increase will encourage more use