News Archive

December 28, 2009
Christmas Holiday Traffic Fatalities Increase in 2009
Four Teens Among 10 Killed in Traffic Crashes Sitewide
RICHMOND – Holiday celebrations quickly turned sorrowful for 10 families who lost a loved one to a traffic crash during the Christmas holiday weekend. Preliminary numbers report 10 individuals were killed in eight traffic crashes statewide. The four-day Christmas statistical counting period began Thursday, Dec. 24, 2009, and concluded at midnight Sunday, Dec. 27, 2009. During last year’s five-day Christmas statistical counting period, six people lost their lives in traffic crashes statewide.

Of the 10 killed, four were teenagers. A 19-year-old female and 16-year-old female were killed in a traffic crash in Prince Edward County on Christmas Eve. Neither one was wearing a safety belt. The teenagers were thrown from the vehicle they were riding in as it overturned multiple times. Read more

The Remington police want to be your BFF
REMINGTON — From a small downtown office in a small Fauquier County town, the Remington Police Department is utilizing the latest online tools to connect with the community.

The department uses Facebook, Twitter and Nixle, a free online service geared toward government agencies. Sgt. Charles Proffitt handles the department’s online presence.

“The chief wanted more community involvement,” said Proffitt, one of six officers in the department. Read more

December 17, 2009
Major storm could bring foot of snow Saturday
The snow, mainly on Saturday, should come courtesy of a nor’easter that’s expected to move up the East Coast over the next couple of days. The snow should be heaviest in western and Central Virginia and lighter near the coast. Read more

• RELATED: Virginia Highway Safety Office Urges Motorists to Remove Snow from Vehicles this Winter; Weather Could Cause Hazardous Driving Conditions
• RELATED: Four Thoughts on Saturday’s Snow
• RELATED: Driving tips to avoid an accident in snow and ice

Celebrate With Your Loved Ones This Holiday Season — Drive Safe & Sober
Dec. 18-20, 2009 — Operation CARE/Holiday Lifesaver Weekend
RICHMOND – The holidays are a time of festivity, fun and celebration with family, friends and coworkers. However, this is also a time of responsibility and safety when it comes to getting behind the wheel to drive. Even though Virginia is experiencing a 13 percent decline this year in traffic fatalities, more than 669 individuals have already been killed in crashes statewide because of an individual’s careless and reckless actions. Read more

209 HOV violators cited in crackdown in Northern Virginia
Police had given advance warning that they would be ticketing along Northern Virginia's HOV lanes Wednesday morning, but more than 200 drivers apparently paid them no heed. That will cost them $125 to $1,000, depending on how often they've gotten caught driving alone in lanes reserved for vehicles with more than one occupant during rush hour.

State and local police joined forces to target drivers who try to slip into HOV lanes on three interstates -- 66, 95, 395 -- and the Dulles Toll Road during three hours of intense enforcement that ended at 9 a.m. Wednesday. Read more

December 16, 2009
Traffic Deaths in Virginia Decrease in 2009
Seat belt usage reported at historic high 82%
RICHMOND – Governor Timothy M. Kaine today noted that as of November 30, 2009 preliminary data indicates there were 98 fewer traffic fatalities in Virginia compared to this same time period last year, a decline of 13 percent. The 821 traffic fatalities recorded for 2008 were the lowest since 1966.

"It's clear that our coordinated efforts, and the increased use of seat belts, are having a positive effect on the number of traffic deaths in Virginia," Governor Kaine said. "While I am gratified to see our efforts paying off, we must continue to be vigilant and careful to ensure that this trend continues." Read more

AAA Projects Year-End Holidays Will See a 3.8 Percent Increase in Travelers
The number of travelers by automobile is expected to be 77.7 million in 2009 compared to 74.4 million last year; an increase of 4.4 percent. The number of travelers by air is expected be 4.2 million compared to 4.1 million in 2008; an increase of 2.9 percent. The number of those traveling by “other” means, including, trains, watercraft, buses and multiple-modes of transportation, is expected to be 5.8 million compared to 6.0 million last year, AAA said. Last year, the total number of travelers during the year-end holidays was 84.5 million; a decline of 4.7 percent from 2007. Read more

December 15, 2009
Former Frederick County Sheriff's Deputy, Daughter Killed in Crash With School Bus
WINCHESTER, VA - A school bus carrying a dozen kids collided with another car in Winchester Monday morning. No one on the bus was injured, but former Frederick County deputy Richard Brill and his 11-year-old daughter were killed. Read more

State and local law enforcement team up to take on H.O.V. violators
ARLINGTON, VA – H.O.V. violators beware. Wednesday morning, Dec. 16, 2009, local and state police will be saturating Northern Virginia interstates and the Dulles Toll Road to enforce compliance in the usage of High Occupancy Vehicle (HOV) lanes.

In addition, inside the Beltway, State Police will be teaming up with Arlington County Police, Fairfax County Police and the Metropolitan Washington Airports Authority (MWAA) Police to conduct the special HOV enforcement operation. Read more

December 7, 2009
Operation AIr, Land & Speed Initiative Results in 2,264 Violations on Interstates 64 & 66
Two-Day Safety Campaign Cut Short Due To Inclement Weather
RICHMOND - Operation Air, Land and Speed concluded its final enforcement phase of 2009 concentrating on Interstate 64 and Interstate 66 and producing a total of 2,264 violations. Due to Saturday’s inclement weather and hazardous conditions across the Commonwealth, Virginia State Police shortened the traffic safety initiative to one day – Dec. 4, 2009. The operation was originally scheduled to proceed for two consecutive days and conclude on Dec. 5, 2009. Read more

U.S. Transportation Secretary Ray LaHood Announces Intensive Holiday Drunk & Impaired Driving Crackdown & Advertising Blitz
New Data Show States with Best & Worst Improvement in Drunk Driving Fatality Rates
U.S. Transportation Secretary Ray LaHood and R. Gil Kerlikowske, Director of the White House Office of National Drug Control Policy, today kicked off the "Over the Limit. Under Arrest" national drunk and impaired driving crackdown involving thousands of law enforcement agencies during the holiday season. In addition, Secretary LaHood announced new data showing states with the best – and worst – improvement over the last year in addressing drunk driving behavior. Read more

December 3, 2009
Virginia State Police Resumes Another Round of Operation Air, Land and Speed
Interstates 64 & 66 Focus of Specialized Enforcement Patrols
RICHMOND – The highly visible Operation Air, Land and Speed intended to enhance highway safety and reduce traffic fatalities returns Dec. 4, 2009, and Dec. 5, 2009 on Interstate 64 and Interstate 66. Increased uniform patrols will stretch across the east-west borders of both interstates during the two day traffic safety initiative. Read more

December 2, 2009
John T. Hanna Awards recognize efforts to improve Beach traffic safety
Drive Safe Hampton Roads, a regional traffic safety group, recognized 11 law enforcement agencies, city departments and individuals Tuesday for their efforts to make the roads safer. Read more | PHOTOS OF AWARD RECIPIENTS

November 30, 2009
Thirteen People Killed on Virginia Highways During the 2009 Thanksgiving Holiday
RICHMOND – While traffic fatalities overall are on the decline compared to this time last year, the number of fatal crashes remained high for the 2009 Thanksgiving holiday. Preliminary totals indicate 13 individuals were killed in 13 crashes during the five-day statistical counting period. Traffic crashes during the 2008 Thanksgiving holiday period claimed 12 lives. Read more

November 25, 2009
Life after a DUI conviction
EDITOR'S NOTE: The following story is part 3 in a three-part series on drunk driving. This week, we explore what happens to individuals after they’ve been convicted of driving under the influence. (Click here to read part 1 in the series about sobriety testing and how arrests are made. Click here to read part 2 about "Going to court: What happens after a DUI arrest".)

In her role as executive director of the Virginia Alcohol Safety Action Program’s (VASAP) John Tyler chapter, Maureen Earley interacts on a daily basis with county residents who have been convicted at least once of driving under the influence of alcohol or illegal narcotics.

She’s heard every excuse you could imagine, and then some. Her response is always the same: The sooner you take responsibility for your actions, the sooner you can make the necessary changes to get your life back on track. Read more

November 24, 2009
As long weekend begins, police urge safe driving
As Richmonders hit the road for the Thanksgiving holiday, Virginia police are pleading with motorists to keep vigilant.
Last year during the Wednesday-Sunday span, 12 people died and 863 were injured in 1,407 accidents. The top three contributing factors were: following a vehicle in front too closely, failure to maintain control and not having the right-of-way. Read more

November 20, 2009
AAA Projects Thanksgiving Travel to Increase 3% in Virginia, 1.4% Nationally From Last Year
Fewer will Travel by Air this Year Due to Budget Concerns, Reduced Airline Capacity and Added Charges
RICHMOND, VA (FRIDAY, NOVEMBER 20, 2009) – AAA is projecting nationally 38.4 million Americans will be traveling 50 miles or more away from home over the Thanksgiving holiday weekend; a 1.4 percent increase over last year when 37.8 million traveled. In the Commonwealth about 1.5 million Virginians will be traveling 50 miles or more away from home, an increase of 3% over last year. Read more

November 18, 2009
Going to court
What happens after a drunk driving arrest
EDITOR'S NOTE: The following story is part 2 in a three-part series on drunk driving. This week, we explore how the county’s legal system handles drunk driving arrests. Click here to read part 1 in the series about sobriety testing and how arrests are made.

In Chesterfield County, drunk driving cases rarely offer any of the gut-wrenching drama manufactured by screenwriters and acted out on Hollywood sound stages. The majority are resolved with guilty pleas before the accused even sees the inside of a courtroom.

Once every so often, though, a defendant decides to challenge a DUI charge, and the machinery that is the county’s criminal justice system cranks up again in anticipation of a trial in General District Court. Read more

November 13, 2009
Driving home campaign to teens
The SADD club at Chilhowie High School is again conducting a campaign to promote buckling up among teen drivers. The campaign by Students Against Destructive Decisions (formerly Students Against Drunk Driving) is called “Save Your Tail-Gate, Buckle Up.” Read more

November 11, 2009
Walking the line
What to expect if you’re stopped for driving drunk
EDITOR'S NOTE: The following story is part 1 in a three-part series on drunk driving. This week, we explore how the county’s police department conducts sobriety checks and what happens to motorists suspected of driving under the influence.

If you’re a drunk driver in Chesterfield County, Officer First Class Gary Bailey is the last person you want to see.

Bailey annually makes more arrests for driving under the influence (DUI) than a majority of officers throughout the commonwealth. Mothers Against Drunk Driving (MADD) has honored him each of the last three years for his work on the front lines of the battle to keep impaired motorists off the streets.

“I think it’s extremely important to recognize officers’ efforts and know it is appreciated,” said Chris Konschak, executive director of MADD’s Virginia chapter. “A DUI arrest is one of the most complex arrests an officer can make. They’re going the extra mile, and we want them to know every time they take a drunk driver off the road, they’re potentially saving a life.” Read more

November 9, 2009
PROJECT M.E.A.R — Motor Enforcement, Accident Reduction
CHESAPEAKE –   Project M.E.A.R. kicks off today in the Hampton Roads Area and will continue throughout the week. Modeled and designed to enhance interstate enforcement efforts and the unique capabilities of police motorcycle units, project M.E.A.R. will provide widespread enforcement, increased driver compliance, and attempt to reduce accidents in several high-traffic Hampton Roads cities. Read more

November 8, 2009
Red-light cameras proving successful
Motorists cruising through Virginia Beach seem to be getting the message: Stopping on red is more than a notion.
That’s what police are saying, now that red-light cameras have been up and snapping for several months. The Beach’s PhotoSafe Program is doing exactly what it was designed to do: decrease red-light violations at several key intersections.

November 4, 2009
‘Ghosted’ teens offer lessons
Danger, be it real or imagined, pervaded the impending weekend as Amherst County High School students glanced out of curiosity, sometimes chuckling but nonetheless paying attention to the words on the black T-shirts that some of their classmates wore.

The T-shirts read, in large white letters, “alcohol,” “seat belt” and “texting,” the stated reasons why each student wearing one had been “ghosted.”

It was the latest effort by the Amherst County Sheriff’s Office to make the point, not with a sense of urgency as much as with consistency. The sheriff’s office routinely targets underage drinking, drug use and dangerous behavior in an effort to prevent driving accidents. Read more

November 3, 2009
Fake IDs a real concern
Most bars are vigilant about checking identification cards to reduce underage drinking, and a new state-issued card is more tamper-proof.

Josh Stevens raised his eyebrows as he glanced at the ID. A girl had just given it to him one night to enter Sharkey's, the bar he manages in downtown Blacksburg.

The name on the card looked too familiar, and after eyeballing the photo and the girl in question several times, Stevens turned her away. He told her he was certain the ID wasn't hers. She asked how he knew.

"This ID belongs to my ex-girlfriend," said Stevens, 28.

October 30, 2009
Officers to keep streets safe on Halloween
As ghouls and goblins roam Lynchburg-area streets tonight, so will law enforcement officers looking to ensure the safety of trick-or-treaters, that Halloweens pranks don’t turn awry, and that intoxicated partiers stay off the streets.

Keep Your Halloween From Turning Into A Frightful Night — Don’t Drink And Drive
RICHMOND – Since Halloween falls on a Saturday this year, Halloween partygoers will be out beginning their celebrations earlier that day or others may celebrate with additional festivities the previous night. This makes the Halloween weekend a potentially dangerous time on Virginia roads due to impaired drivers who fail to designate a sober driver.

Nationwide, more than 50 percent of fatalities in motor vehicle crashes on Halloween night in 2008 involved a driver or motorcycle operator with a blood alcohol concentration (BAC) of .08 or higher, according to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA). Read more

October 27, 2009
Albemarle County Police Step Up Patrols After Fatal Accidents
NBC29 — A string of fatal accidents have Albemarle County Police worried. Police are stepping up patrols on Route 29 south of Charlottesville. In the last week there have been two fatal crashes on the road, killing three people. None of the victims were wearing seat belts.

Police say out of the 10 people that have died on Albemarle highways this year, seven of them have been on that stretch of road.

Albemarle County Police Sergeant Peter Mainzer said, "It's a disturbing trend for us in law enforcement. And the message is clear - we need people to buckle up. We need people to slow down. We need people to driver responsibly, avoid distractions and avoid alcohol and drug use while driving."

Last year, 11 people were killed on Albemarle highways.

Next week a task force, including the Virginia Department of Transportation, will come together to look at what can be done to make Route 29 safer. LINK TO VIDEO

October 19, 2009
Saving Teen Drivers' Lives Begins at Home
VSP Urges Families to Heed “National Teen Driver Safety Week” Message
RICHMOND – Virginia State Police are urging parents and teenagers to heed the lessons learned and messages associated with the 2009 National Teen Driver Safety Week (Oct. 19-24, 2009). Two new studies reveal that teen crashes and risky behaviors such as cell phone use, failure to wear seat belts, and drinking and driving are strongly linked with the ways teens and parents communicate and approach rules about safety. Read more

October 16, 2009
MADD & Virginia State Police Prove They Have H.E.A.R.T. in the Effort to Reduce Drunk Driving
CHESAPEAKE, VA - Virginia State Police will join representatives from the Southside Chapter of Mother’s Against Drunk Driving (MADD) to announce a new, joint partnership program called HEART or Help Eliminate Alcohol Related Tragedies. Read more

October 16, 2009
Hidden Valley HS and Christiansburg HS to wear special number on football helmets
Players on both the Christiansburg Blue Demons and Hidden Valley Titans will be wearing special numbers on their helmets when they meet this Friday, October 16.

The number “14” will signify the average number of teenagers that die every day in the U.S. from a car crash, according to a news release from the Christiansburg Police Department.

“The goal is to reduce the number of deaths through awareness, and hopefully reduce that number”, said Officer Donnie Cromer in the release. Read more

October 1, 2009
U.S. Transportation Secretary Ray LaHood Announces Administration Wide Effort to Combat Distracted Driving
WASHINGTON – At the conclusion of a two-day summit on distracted driving in Washington, D.C. today, U.S. Transportation Secretary Ray LaHood announced a series of concrete actions the Obama Administration and the U.S. Department of Transportation (USDOT) are taking to help put an end to distracted driving.

Last night, President Obama signed an Executive Order directing federal employees not to engage in text messaging while driving government-owned vehicles; when using electronic equipment supplied by the government while driving; or while driving privately owned vehicles when they’re on official government business. The order also encourages federal contractors and others doing business with the government to adopt and enforce their own policies banning texting while driving on the job. Read more

September 28, 2009
Va. among most-dangerous states for deer-car collisions
Virginia is one of the nation's 10 most-dangerous states for drivers colliding with deer, according to an insurance company study released today. One in every 137 drivers in Virginia is likely to hit a deer in the next 12 months, State Farm Mutual Automobile Insurance Co. said. Read more

Distracted Driving Summit Offers Chance to Address Issue Comprehensively
Washington, D.C.—The Governors Highway Safety Association (GHSA) will be among the many organizations represented at this week’s Distracted Driving Summit in the nation’s capital, September 30 and October 1. GHSA Chairman Vernon F. Betkey, Jr. will be joined by GHSA Executive Director Barbara Harsha as well as GHSA Members from Georgia, New Jersey, New York and Virginia. Read more

September 15, 2009

2,000 And Counting Harrisonburg Fire Department Safety Expert Sets Child Car Seat Milestone HARRISONBURG - Alicia Bale had a good reason to show up Monday for the Harrisonburg Fire Department's child safety seat inspection program. Actually, she had five. Bale, 33, of Weyers Cave, took her Dodge Grand Caravan to the fire station on Maryland Avenue to have an expert install car seats for her children who are still required to ride in safety seats. Cathy Stewart is one of those experts. On Monday, Stewart installed her 2,000th car seat since becoming certified to do so nearly two years ago. Read more

September 9, 2009
Thirteen People Killed on Virginia Roads During Labor Day Holiday
RICHMOND – Traffic fatalities increased during the 2009 Labor Day holiday compared to last year but fatalities overall are on the decline for the year. During the four-day statistical counting period, preliminary numbers reveal that thirteen individuals died in eleven traffic crashes. The victims range in age from two to 63 years of age.  Last year, seven people were killed in traffic crashes compared to 22 lives that were lost during the 2007 Labor Day weekend.

September 4, 2009
Labor Day weekend is no holiday for police patrols
Local and state law enforcement agencies have a message to motorists who may consider mixing drug/alcohol use with driving over the Labor Day weekend: “Don’t.”

The Henry County Sheriff’s Office, like many other localities, is stepping up patrols over the Labor Day weekend to keep motorists safe and traffic moving, according to sheriff’s Lt. R.V. Vaughn.

September 3, 2009
Border checkpoint nets 83 infractions
Authorities write 33 speeding violations
Virginia and North Carolina law enforcement ticketed motorists for 88 offenses Thursday during the 13th Border to Border checkpoint on U.S. Highway 17. Camden County Sheriff’s Major Jon Worthington said the 88 offenses included a fugitive sailor charged with absence without leave and a separate individual charged with possession with intent to sell and deliver marijuana after officials found two ounces of marijuana in his possession.

Officers out in full force ahead of holiday weekend
PRINCETON — Checking for driving under the influence and other violations started before the Labor Day rush Thursday as multiple law enforcement agencies conducted border to border traffic checks in Mercer, Tazewell, Giles, Bland and other counties of southern West Virginia and southwest Virginia.

Checkpoints held at Virginia's borders
CHESAPEAKE, Va. - Law enforcement officials say Labor Day weekend is one of the deadliest holidays on the road when it comes to impaired driving. Across the Commonwealth, police set up two dozen checkpoints to make sure drivers are safe and sober.

Officers teamed up with officials in North Carolina, Kentucky, Tennessee and West Virginia for the thirteenth annual border-to-border checkpoint with the hope of establishing a message for holiday travelers.

September 2, 2009
Virginia Drunk Drivers: No One is Above the Consequences
Statewide Initiative Decreases Alcohol-Related Fatalities
RICHMOND – In the heart of Richmond’s popular bar district, Shockoe Bottom, Virginia Attorney General William C. Mims joined law enforcement officers to kick off the Commonwealth’s 2009 Checkpoint Strikeforce campaign. As summer fun gives way to tailgates and frat parties, the anti-drunk driving initiative is back in action with stepped-up law enforcement activities, including sobriety checkpoints. Last year in Virginia, alcohol-related traffic fatalities were among the lowest in the past decade. Data issued by the Virginia Department of Motor Vehicles shows a six-percent decrease in the number of alcohol-related traffic fatalities from 378 in 2007 to 354 in 2008. However, 43-percent of Virginia’s total traffic fatalities remained alcohol-related last year. VIDEO

Governor Kaine Announces $17 Million in Highway Safety Grants
Decline in fatalities attributed to grant-funded programs
RICHMOND–Governor Timothy M. Kaine today announced the award of more than $17 million in federal grants to support traffic safety programs in Virginia. Grant recipients include local, non-profit and state organizations that strive to reduce the number of traffic deaths and injuries on the Commonwealth's roadways. Read more

Virginia State Police Remind Motorists To Slow Down, Be Cautious And Drive Sober This Labor Day Weekend
RICHMOND – As the summer driving season nears an end, Virginia State Police is reminding motorists to continue to make safe driving choices when they get behind the wheel to travel or to visit family and friends during Labor Day. The Commonwealth experienced a significant decline in traffic fatalities during the 2008 Labor Day holiday. Seven individuals died in seven traffic crashes, which was Virginia’s lowest Labor Day fatality count since 2001. This year, the four-day statistical counting period begins Friday, Sept. 4, 2009 at 12:01 a.m. until midnight Monday, Sept. 7, 2009.

Fewer Virginians Expected to Travel for Labor Day As Schools Are Back in Session
Projected Number of Travelers Down 15% – Yet Holiday will be Third Most Traveled this Decade
RICHMOND, VA – AAA Mid-Atlantic projects that slightly over one million Virginians will take a trip of 50 miles or more away from home for the 2009 Labor Day Holiday, a decrease of 15 percent from 2008. The decrease, according to AAA, can be attributed primarily to the fact that Labor Day fell on September 1st last year allowing for a long weekend trip before a new school year started in most areas of the Commonwealth. This year, however, Labor Day is September 7th when the school year has already started for many children.

August 31, 2009
Checkpoints will make sure you buckle up and drive safely
From 10 a.m. to 1 p.m. Thursday, the eve of the Labor Day weekend, the Chesapeake Police Department and North Carolina law enforcement are teaming up to man Border to Border checkpoints locally for the 13th consecutive year, said Chesapeake police spokeswoman Dorienne M. Boykin.

Patrick County Sheriff's Deputies plan effort at border
The Patrick County Sheriff’s Office, Virginia State Police, N.C. Highway Patrol and Stokes County Sheriff’s Office will work together this year at the state lines, Stone said. N.C. 103 is the main crossing point between Surry and Patrick counties.

August 28, 2009
CarFit Event helps seniors be safer on the road
Last year, seniors were involved in nearly 16,000 vehicle crashes in Virginia, and 7 percent of those were fatal, according to a CarFit news release from AAA Tidewater Virginia. Thursday's event in Virginia Beach aimed to reduce those numbers.

August 26, 2009
A Safe Way to Drive and Text? One Man Hopes So
Matt Howard considers himself a member of "the American mobile society." A software entrepreneur who lives in Leesburg and depends on his Blackberry like a second brain, Matt last year almost became a member of the American mobile society who killed someone.

Getting Schooled in the ‘Art of Driving’
Robin Thompson’s educational program receives accolades.
Thompson founded the Art of Driving, an educational awareness program for teen drivers and parents, in memory of her daughter. She is striving to honor that memory by making an impact in her community. If the results from the Governor’s Transportation Safety Awards are any indication, then Thompson is well on her way to accomplishing her goals. Read more

Police on bikes making trails safer
The sheriff’s offices of Amherst and Nelson counties have joined forces to help keep some local hiking and biking trails safer for outdoor enthusiasts. In July, members of the Amherst County Sheriff’s Office began using bikes to patrol lengths of the Blue Ridge Railway Trail that extend through Piney River and into both counties.

August 20, 2009
DWT to DOA: How to Stop Driving While Texting

August 11, 2009
States With the Worst Speeding Ticket Fines

July 31, 2009

Local law enforcement officers teach classes with crashes Several jurisdictions gathered in a Virginia Tech parking lot Thursday to practice their crash-investigation skills. Sgt. Mark Hollandsworth of the Montgomery County Sheriff's Office and several other officers who are taking part in the two-week training course, which ends today, are part of the New River Valley Regional Crash Investigation Team. It includes officers from the sheriff's office and the Christiansburg, Blacksburg, Virginia Tech and Radford police departments. Read more

Police: Texting, talking NY trucker hits car, pool
LOCKPORT, N.Y. (AP) -- Police say a western New York tow truck driver was texting on one cell phone while talking on another when he slammed into a car and crashed into a swimming pool.

Seat belts are a trauma surgeon's passion
Talk to someone who works in a trauma service, like the one at Mary Washington Hospital, and you’ll probably find a passionate advocate for seatbelts. They see what can happen when you don’t use them.

July 28, 2009
In Study, Texting Lifts Crash Risk by Large Margin
The new study, which entailed outfitting the cabs of long-haul trucks with video cameras over 18 months, found that when the drivers texted, their collision risk was 23 times greater than when not texting. Read more

RELATED ARTICLES:
• How the Driving Tests Were Conducted
• U.S. Withheld Data on Risks of Distracted Driving
• Drivers and Legislators Dismiss Cellphone Risks
• STUDY: New Data from VTTI Provides Insight into Cell Phone Use and Driving Distraction (PDF)

Va. traffic fatalities fall 20 percent from 2007 to '08
When the number of people killed in crashes statewide reached 1,026 in 2007, law enforcement officials and state agencies vowed to do something about it. A Department of Motor Vehicles report released today shows their efforts might have made a difference.

The report shows a 20 percent decline in deaths in 2008, with 821 crash deaths across the state. The progress seems to have taken hold, said DMV spokeswoman Melanie Stokes. “The best part is that we’re seeing that decline continue in ’09 and that is very encouraging,” Stokes said. Read more

• DMV PRESS RELEASE: Latest Virginia Traffic Crash Facts Now Available; Data Shows 20% Decline in Fatalities from 2007 to 2008

July 25, 2009
Volunteer drinkers glad not to be driving
DMV program trains officers to give sobriety tests

July 23, 2009
Report Released on Child Deaths from Heat-Related Motor Vehicle Entrapment
Between 1988 and 2003, thirteen children died in Virginia from heat-related injuries as a result of confinement in a motor vehicle. The children were left unattended in a vehicle by a caretaker or climbed into a vehicle on their own and became entrapped. The State Child Fatality Review Team reviewed these child deaths and identified strategies to prevent these tragic and fatal injuries. Read more and download report

July 15, 2009
Henrico Police Sgt. A.J. Gordon Talks About Preventing Traffic Fatalities This Summer 

July 14, 2009
Operation Air, Land & Speed Nets Third Highest Total Violations on Interstates 81 & 95
4,155 Speed Violations – 35 Drug/Felony Arrests – 12 DUI Arrests
RICHMOND – Operation Air, Land and Speed produced the third highest total violations since the traffic safety campaign began in 2006. The two-day enforcement blitz yielded 8,289 summonses and arrests along Interstate 81 and Interstate 95, which took place Friday, July 10, and Saturday, July 11, 2009.

July 10, 2009
Wythe Co. traffic stop suspects charged with murder; victim identified
A North Carolina couple, who were caught speeding in Wythe County with the dead body of a woman in their van Thursday, have now been charged with murder.

July 9, 2009
Police Planning to Be Vigilant Against Texters
While legislation passed by the General Assembly earlier this year makes texting in a moving vehicle illegal in most cases across Virginia, it is a “secondary offense,” meaning police can’t stop and ticket drivers simply for texting. Read more

July 6, 2009
15,800 Traffic Violations Cited By Virginia State Police During Independence Day Weekend
10 Reported Deaths Resulting from Holiday Traffic CrashesRICHMOND – The July 4 holiday weekend proved a busy one for Virginia State Police statewide. Of the 562 traffic crashes that state police responded to during the three-day statistical counting period, preliminary reports indicate that nine of the crashes resulted in 10 deaths. In 2008, 10 people were killed over a four-day holiday weekend.*

June 27, 2009
New state laws take effect July 1
In a 46-day session, the General Assembly approved 879 bills, most of which take effect Wednesday. Read more

June 23, 2009
Third Operation Air, Land & Speed Enforcement For 2009 Results In More Than Two Thousand Violations
Interstates 77, 85, 295 & 895 Target of Specialized Enforcement
The third phase of Operation Air, Land and Speed in 2009 yielded 2,195 summonses and arrests on three interstates and the Pocahontas 895 Toll Road. Once again, there were no reported fatalities on any of the interstates during the course of the operation, which took place Sunday, June 21, and concluded Monday, June 22, 2009. Motorists traveling on the targeted interstates noticed an increase in troopers during the two-day enforcement blitz.

June 5, 2009
Richmond seat-belt campaign leads to 1,900 summonses

June 4, 2009
Women's Biggest Hidden Health Threat
Automobile accidents — not breast cancer or heart disease — are the leading cause of death for women under 35

Chesterfield mother gets 185 days for DUI with unbuckled child

June 2, 2009
Texting While Driving is Unsafe and Unlawful After July 1
DUI Punishments Also Enhanced
RICHMOND - Virginians who send text messages or emails while driving after July 1 will be violating the law and will face a $20 fine. The new law banning texting and emailing passed by the General Assembly has several exceptions including emergency vehicle operators, drivers reporting an emergency or a driver who is parked. Other than making texting while driving against the law, the legislature also made the criteria stricter for requiring an ignition interlock device. Read more

May 27, 2009
Annual Seat-Belt Campaign Nets Results
Officers Ticket Hundreds Along the Shenandoah Valley

May 26, 2009
Virginia Traffic Fatalities Dramatically Decline Over Memorial Day Weekend
Overall fatalities for the year also down significantly
Preliminary numbers indicate that traffic fatalities on Virginia highways for the 2009 Memorial Day weekend are the lowest in at least 10 years. As of noon May 26, 2009, five fatal crashes have been reported to the Virginia State Police. Last year, a total of 18 people died in 14 crashes during the same holiday period. The 2008 death toll was the highest since 1998. During the past decade, the Memorial Day weekend has averaged 12.8 traffic deaths.

May 22, 2009
Virginia State Police “C.A.R.E.” for Commonwealth's Highways This Memorial Day Weekend
Stepped Up Patrols Statewide and Click It or Ticket Enforcement Over the Holiday
Those traveling this holiday weekend can expect to see more Virginia State Police on the roadways statewide as part of the annual Operation C.A.R.E. traffic enforcement campaign. The Operation Combined Accident Reduction Effort (C.A.R.E.) is a state-sponsored, national program designed to reduce crashes, fatalities and injuries caused by speeding, impaired driving and failure to use occupant restraints.

May 19, 2009
Operation Air, Land & Speed Yields 6,853 Violations and Arrests on Interstates 81 and 95
347 Drivers and Passengers Cited for Safety Belt Violations; Zero Traffic Fatalities
RICHMOND – Virginia State Police once again saturated the entire lengths of Interstates 81 and 95 during this year’s second Operation Air, Land and Speed initiative. From border-to-border, motorists traveling the two north-south interstate corridors witnessed an increased presence of Virginia State Police during the two-day traffic safety campaign.

May 14, 2009
Higher Seat Belt Use Could Save Many Lives, Study Shows as 'Click It or Ticket' National Enforcement Campaign Kicks Off
Research Kicks Off 'Click It or Ticket' Nationwide Enforcement Campaign Set To Run May 18-31
An estimated 1,652 lives could be saved and 22,372 serious injuries avoided each year if seat belt use rates rose to 90 percent in every state, according to a new report. The research, based on 2007 data, also estimates seat belts saved a stunning 15,147 lives that year.
“Wearing a seat belt costs nothing and yet it’s the single most effective traffic safety device ever invented,” said Transportation Secretary Ray LaHood. The study was released May 14 on the launch of the “Click It or Ticket” nationwide enforcement campaign (May 18-31).

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May 13, 2009
Virginia Law Enforcement Buckling Down on Those Not Buckling Up
'Click It or Ticket' Mobilization to Help Save Lives
Law enforcement will be supporting Click It or Ticket through a variety of methods during the two-week period. Officers will have zero tolerance for traffic law violators in an effort to get every driver and passenger to buckle up, day and night. In Virginia, law enforcement can cite drivers of vehicles where occupants under age 16 are not wearing seat belts or are not properly restrained in a child safety seat. Drivers stopped for other violations can be cited if they are not buckled up.

May 11, 2009
Texting While Driving Remains 'Serious Issue,' Officials Say
Driving while texting remains a "serious issue" on the nation's roadways, transportation officials said Monday, days after a Boston-area trolley operator failed to see a red light while reportedly sending his girlfriend a text message and smashed into the back of another trolley, injuring 50 people. For every two seconds a driver's eyes are off the road, a motorist is twice as likely to be involved in a crash, said Troy Green, national spokesman for AAA.

Maryland Gives Motorists "Bucks For Buckling Up"
State highway safety officials, along with Maryland State Police and other agencies, are handing out dollar bills to motorists they spot wearing their seat belts, which is required by law in Maryland. The Maryland State Highway Administration Safety Office held a "Buckle Up for a Buck" event at a shopping center in Forestville in Prince George's County Monday. Another event is scheduled for Thursday in Montgomery County.

April 29, 2009
Ghost Out event raises car safety awareness at William Campbell High School
A dark figure roamed the halls of William Campbell High School on Wednesday, and ghosts could be seen traveling the corridors. Cloaked in a long, slinky black robe with a white mask and hood, the grim reaper moved classroom by classroom to claim his victims. Rather than meeting their doom, his victims learned an important lesson — the dangers of driving while distracted.

April 27, 2009
Texting While Driving Increases Your Crash Risk Six Fold
Governor Kaine Declares April 29th Distracted Driving Awareness Day
AAA Mid-Atlantic, DRIVE SMART Virginia, DMV: The Virginia Highway Safety Office, and the Virginia State Police call on Virginians to take action on April 29, 2009 for Distracted Driving Awareness Day and make a pledge to pay attention while driving. The day was created to raise awareness among drivers about the dangers of driving while distracted and to encourage drivers to change their driving behavior. Pledge to drive distraction free by visiting http://www.drivesmartva.org and clicking on the red ‘Don’t Drive Distracted’ box to the right.

April 23, 2009
Stafford County Sheriff's Office Announces the Annual Party Pooper Campaign
The Stafford County Sheriff's Office will, once again, be rolling out the Party Pooper campaign aimed at curbing underage drinking.  The Sheriff’s Office is planning extra patrols for the upcoming prom and graduation weekends in Stafford County. 

April 22, 2009
Bluefield police patrolling for distracted drivers in Virginia
BLUEFIELD, Va. — Three seconds can change a life forever, and Bluefield, Va., Police Chief Harry Cundiff wants every driver to think about the consequences of driving distracted.

“It only takes three seconds of a distraction to cause an accident,” Cundiff said. “I think people in general have forgotten that when they’re driving a vehicle, they need to remain focused on what they are doing.

New motorcycle safety course opened at Oceana
Because of a high number of motorcycle-related deaths among sailors, the Navy requires them to have training and to wear protective gear, even when they are not on duty or on a military base, officials said.

April 13, 2009
Limo Rentals Increase During Prom, Graduation Season
Use DMV Website to Find Safe, Secure Transportation

The Virginia Department of Motor Vehicles (DMV) offers an online resource for teens and parents who want to make the right choice for prom or graduation night. A list of registered and insured limousine companies operating in Virginia is available on the DMV website, www.dmvNOW.com.

April 6, 2009
U.S. Transportation Secretary LaHood Announces Record Low Traffic Deaths, Improved State Seat Belt Use
The number of traffic deaths on U.S. roads last year reached a record low, while seat belt use continued to climb, the U.S. Transportation Secretary Ray LaHood announced today. New state-by-state data shows that Michigan has the highest seat belt use, while Massachusetts registered the lowest.

April 1, 2009
Blurred vision
Donning “fatal vision goggles,” Gaberial Janson cautiously maneuvered a golf cart around or-ange traffic cones Tuesday morning behind Culpeper County High School. The 16-year-old sophomore’s blurred vision caused him to take out a few cones during the short obstacle course.

March 17, 2009
Students: Message from DUI Crash Victim Came in Loud and Clear
BRISTOL, Va. – Sarah Panzau’s appearance Monday captured the attention of students at Virginia High School, but it was her emotional story that held many spellbound. Wearing a tight black tank top that clearly revealed her missing left arm and a multitude of scars from more than 30 surgeries, the 27-year-old talked about personal responsibility, consequences and making choices.

March 16, 2009
First Operation Air, Land & Speed Enforcement in 2009 Nets More Than 2,000 Violations on Interstates 64, 264, 464 & 664
Two Day Safety Campaign Shortened Due To Inclement Weather

March 11, 2009
Interstate 64 and Hampton Roads Focus of Upcoming Operation Air, Land and Speed Enforcement
Phase Also Includes: Interstates 264, 464, & 664

March 5, 2009
Virginia Beach reinstalling red light cameras

February 17, 2009
New Virginia Licenses, ID Cards Coming in March
Virginians will soon have the safest, most secure driver’s licenses and ID cards in the U.S. In spring 2009, DMV will implement new secure driver’s licenses and ID cards and a new issuance process.

February 11, 2009
House backs texting-driving ban, death-penalty expansion
Moving quickly through a crowded calendar, the House of Delegates Tuesday voted to expand the death penalty and ban text messaging by drivers and advanced proposals for eight amendments to the Virginia Constitution.

Martinsville Police Department earns honor
The Martinsville Police Department was recognized for traffic safety accomplishments during Tuesday’s meeting of Martinsville City Council. The department was awarded Rookie of the Year and placed first in its division in the 2007 Virginia Law Enforcement Challenge.

February 10, 2009
Danville grandmother honored for saving grandchildren’s lives in wreck
Lenora Lee was honored Tuesday with the "Saved by the Belt" award for saving the lives of her grandchildren Shaunita Lee, left, and Jacquez Motley — as well as her own — by insisting on seatbelt usage in her vehicle.

February 9, 2009
Seat Belts DO save lives
VIRGINIA BEACH, Va - A slide show of pictures from devastating crashes in Virginia Beach played on a screen at the Law Enforcement Training Academy. The scenes were of collisions that destroyed property, but lives were spared. The Virginia Beach Police Department presented 13 "Saved by the Belt" awards Monday.

February 8, 2009
Virginia may tighten drunken driving laws
RICHMOND - Legislation moving through the General Assembly would increase the penalty for drunken-driving offenders who fail to use a device that prevents their cars from starting if their blood-alcohol content exceeds a certain level.

On Thursday, the Virginia Senate and the House of Delegates unanimously passed identical bills increasing the penalty for people who have been convicted of driving under the influence and then fail to use the device, called an ignition interlock.

February 7, 2009
Sheriff asks Warren County to consider red-light cameras
FRONT ROYAL -- Traffic violations are mounting in Warren County, and the sheriff is asking the Board of Supervisors to consider installing red-light surveillance cameras to curb the problem.

February 6, 2009
Ashland Police, Hanover Sheriff's Office conduct “Safe & Sober Teen Driving Event”
On Saturday, January 31, 2009, the Ashland Police Department and Hanover County Sheriff’s Office hosted a Safe and Sober Teen Driving Event in the Ashland/Hanover Shopping Center. (Photos)

February 5, 2009
Expanded seat-belt bill clears Senate
An expansion of the Virginia's mandatory seat-belt law cleared the state Senate Thursday afternoon, and is headed to a hostile House of Delegates.

Cutting Class May Mean Lost License
Public school students who quit showing up for classes could lose their driver's licenses under legislation making its way through the General Assembly. The House tentatively approved Del. William Fralin's bill 68-28 Thursday.

Danville Resident to Receive Traffic Safety Award
On Tuesday, February 10, 2009, Danville Police Chief Philip Broadfoot along with representatives from the State of Virginia will present a Saved By The Belt Award to a Danville resident. The female resident was wearing her seat belt during a serious motor vehicle accident which occurred in the fall of 2008. The details of the crash and the recipient of the award will be announced on the date indicated above at the Danville Municipal Building in the second floor conference room at 1:30PM.

February 4, 2009
Pranks with electronic road signs stir worry
Latest breach came during morning rush hour near Collinsville, Illinois. Similar pranks have been pulled in recent days near Indianapolis and in Austin, Texas.

February 3, 2009
Cash-strapped states mull seat belt law changes
More than a dozen states that are considering making the switch to primary seat-belt enforcement laws need to do so before July to be eligible for millions in federal money.

February 2, 2009
Henrico traffic stops ends with police chase
State police say a "routine traffic stop" in eastern Henrico ended with a pursuit on Interstate 64 near Nine Mile and Airport roads. Steven Thomas Banks, 34, was taken to Henrico County Jail and is now facing multiple charges including obstruction of justice, possession of marijuana, DUI and a felony charge of alluding police. Read more

January 30, 2009
Senate panel clears bill to raise cost of vanity license plates
The cost of getting a vanity license plate in Virginia could double under a bill cleared yesterday by the Senate Transportation Committee.

January 29, 2009
Fairfax City gives green light to red light cameras
The City of Fairfax has set itself up to possibly become the first Virginia municipality to re-establish a red-light camera program since the 2007 state legislature allowed the controversial procedure to be used again in the commonwealth. Read more

January 28, 2009
Study: Danville safer than county
“The basic difference between Danville and Pittsylvania County is the same as elsewhere in the state,” he said from his Charlottesville office. “There are far more traffic fatalities (in the county) than homicides (in the city).” Read more

January 23, 2009
Cell-phone proposal clears Senate panel
A bill that would prohibit motorists from using cell phones that do not have hands-free accessories while driving cleared the Senate Transportation Committee yesterday. The committee, however, narrowly rejected another motor-vehicle safety bill (SB 970) that would allow police to pull over vehicles when the driver or front seat passengers are not using safety belts. Read more

January 13, 2009
Botetourt County woman awarded ‘Saved by the Belt’ award
On July 3, 2008, Rachel Correll was involved in a horrific car crash on U.S. 460 at the intersection of Ole Turnpike Road in the city of Bedford. Another vehicle cut in front of her and caused her SUV to overturn several times and land upside down in the road’s median. Police believe Correll’s decision to buckle her seat belt saved her life.

January 11, 2009
Staunton police lead in DUI arrests
STAUNTON — After nabbing 121 motorists driving under the influence in 2006, Staunton police saw that number climb steeply the following year to 183. In 2008, that number was set to go even higher, but then something happened — DUI arrests in the fourth quarter saw a sharp decline in the city, with just 18 drivers arrested for drinking and driving. That left 2008 with a slight decrease of nine DUI arrests, most of them alcohol-related, topping out at 174.

January 10, 2009
Fredericksburg-area traffic fatalities down in 2008
Spotsylvania's marked drop is partly because of additional funding and enforcement, said Spotsylvania Sheriff Howard Smith. Before 2008, the department had eight full-time deputies doing traffic enforcement. Now, the county Sheriff's Office has 13 full-time deputies enforcing traffic laws.

January 6, 2009
6-year-old misses school, takes car, wrecks it
WICOMICO CHURCH (Va.) -- A 6-year-old boy allegedly was so upset at missing the school bus that he took the family's car and tried to drive to class before crashing the vehicle.

Simple Lesson: Slower Speeds, Fewer Fatalities
“I think we’re seeing some cultural change, some behavior change,” said John Saunders, director of the Virginia Highway Safety Office. “People are slowing down.”

January 5, 2009
Virginia Ends 2008 With Potential for Record Low Traffic Fatalities
Four Deaths over New Year’s Holiday

December 31, 2008
State officials: Drivers in Virginia traffic being more careful

December 29, 2008
Fewer killed on roads in 2008, AAA says
Fewer travelers at the wheel appears to be the main reason for this year’s marked decline in traffic deaths on Virginia and Tennessee roads, according to the American Automobile Association and state data.

December 8, 2008
Operation Air, Land & Speed Enforcement Yields 8% More Summonses and Arrests on Interstates 64 & 66
2,466 Speeding Summonses, 276 Safety Belt Violations, 4 DUI Arrests

December 4, 2008
Traveling Interstates 64 OR 66? If So, Expect to See More Virginia State Police Troopers on the Road
Next Round of Operation Air, Land and Speed Resumes

December 3, 2008
Checkpoints and patrols are planned for Amherst County, nearby jurisdictions

December 2, 2008
Harrisonburg Officials: Teens Can Drive Safely
Local police officials and drivers education instructors say that if teens and parents follow a few simple safety measures, the chances of young people staying safe behind the wheel will increase greatly.

December 1, 2008
Traffic Fatalities Drop During the 2008 Thanksgiving Holiday
Trooper Arrests Murder Suspect After Single Vehicle Traffic Crash

Traffic stops in question
Two men arrested at driver checkpoints by Floyd County sheriff’s deputies in December 2007 are challenging the legality of the road blocks, saying the department did not follow its own written procedures.

November 20, 2008
Take Time & Reiterate Safe Driving With Your Teen This Thanksgiving
Virginia Experiencing Surge in Fatal Teen Crashes September- November 2008

November 19, 2008
Driving ‘Drunk' Made Easy
Harrisonburg Police, Kawneer Team Up To Give Safe Glimpse Of Deadly Practice
Driving one of the Harrisonburg Police Department's new golf carts, Zach Gray weaved through the obstacle course set up on the Kawneer company's parking lot on Deyerle Road Tuesday. The Kawneer employee hit only a few of the bright-orange cones, and that wasn't bad, considering he was wearing goggles that made him view the course as if he were drunk.

Officers want drivers to remember: ‘Slow Down, Move Over’
Winchester — Local law enforcement officials agree there is no such thing as a low-risk traffic stop. An officer never knows what he or she might encounter when making contact with a motorist.

November 12, 2008
Stricter car seat law may be saving lives
Middletown — Seven-year-old Jarret Hicks thinks his car booster seat is comfortable. In fact, he wouldn’t mind riding in it until he’s 14. “But when we get older, our butts won’t fit,” said Jarret, a Frederick County resident.

November 11, 2008
New Study Links Florida Senior Eye Tests To Safer Roads
BIRMINGHAM, Ala. -- A University of Alabama at Birmingham study showed highway traffic deaths for older drivers in Florida dropped 17 percent after the state passed a law requiring vision tests for people age 80 and older. In Georgia and Alabama, where such tests are not required, the death rates remained unchanged.

November 9, 2008
Auto-deer collisions typically increase in November
Statistics provided by the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration and State Farm Insurance indicate Virginia annually is ranked among the country's top 10 for deer-automobile collisions.

November 6, 2008
New Data Show Drinking Age Laws Saved 4,441 Lives Over 5 Years
Minimum 21-year-old drinking age laws prevented an estimated 4,441 drunken driving deaths in the last five years alone, according to a new report released today by the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration.

October 31, 2008
Get Ready: Operation Air, Land and Speed Re-Emerges Along Virginia Interstates
The Initiative’s Next Round Targets I-95 & I-81

October 22, 2008
Five Fatal Teen Crashes in Three Days Across Virginia During National Teen Driver Safety Week
Virginia State Police Reminds Young Drivers to Buckle Up and Slow Down

October 20, 2008
Virginia State Police Target Unsafe Commercial Vehicle Drivers on Virginia Highways
North America’s “Operation Safe Driver” Kickoff in Dumfries, Va. – Oct. 20-24, 2008

October 15, 2008
Nissan suit simulates older drivers' difficulties
Nissan automotive designers use awkward suit to simulate age effects, cater to increase in older drivers

New Federal Rule to Make School Buses Safer, Allow Districts to Use Federal Funds to Pay for Seat Belt Installations, U.S. Secretary of Transportation Mary E. Peters Announces

October 1, 2008
Many booster seats aren't up to the job of improving safety belt fit for children
Thirteen of the 41 belt-positioning booster seats the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety evaluated with the University of Michigan Transportation Research Institute did such a poor job of improving the fit of lap and shoulder belts for children that the Institute doesn't recommend them at all. Ten models are best bets and 5 are good bets.

Study: Traffic accidents spike on Election Day
Could voting for president be hazardous to your health? An analysis of Election Day traffic deaths dating back to Jimmy Carter's 1976 win suggests yes, but the authors say that's no reason not to go to the polls.

Va. to get $2 million federal grant to improve rail transit
The U.S. Transportation secretary announces aid for $11.5 million project

September 29, 2008
Clinic helps parents keep their kids safe
Most people who showed up at a child safety seat event in Newport News had improperly-fitted seats.

September 26, 2008
Albemarle County Police Focus on Child Seat Safety

September 25, 2008
State agencies partner to crush outdated child safety seats in Richmond on Sept. 27

Virginia State Police Unveil Second "Move Over" Public Service Announcement at State Fair
PSA Recorded By First Trooper Injured In 2008

September 21, 2008
Is Your Child Safe? (TV3 Winchester)

September 16, 2008
“Move Over” Law Takes Precedent in Hampton Roads
Trooper Struck on Interstate in Virginia Beach – State & Local First Responders Unite for Press Conference

September 11, 2008
Lynchburg Police: Most child seats installed incorrectly

September 2, 2008
Traffic fatalities significantly decrease over Labor Day Holiday Weekend
During the four-day statistical counting period, preliminary numbers indicate that seven people died in seven traffic crashes – Virginia’s lowest Labor Day fatality count since 2001, when six individuals were killed in traffic crashes.

August 27, 2008
Motorists still speeding along
High gasoline prices have had little effect on how fast people drive.

August 27, 2008
Amherst County deputies will watch traffic from bus

August 26, 2008
State Police remind motorists to take it Safe, Slow & Sober this Labor Day weekend

July 28, 2008
Speed Limits Going Up And Down
Northern Virginia tries out a new variable speed limit to help traffic flow.

July 26, 2008
Motorcycle deaths in Virginia at lowest level since 2005
Virginia motorcycle fatalities spiked last year to the highest level in at least a decade, prompting public awareness campaigns, stepped-up enforcement initiatives and a declaration by the governor that May 2008 would be "Motorcycle Safety Awareness Month." The efforts seem to be paying off. More...

Two state troopers hurt on I-64 in Newport News

July 24, 2008
Operation Air, Land & Speed Enforcement Initiative Coming to Hampton Roads July 25-26, 2008
Traffic Safety Effort to Target Interstates 64, 264, 464 & 664
RICHMOND – This Friday, July 25, and Saturday, July 26, motorists traveling Interstate 64 and the interstates within Hampton Roads will see an increased presence of Virginia State Police. The Department is launching another Operation Air, Land, and Speed traffic safety initiative to remind people of the need to slow down, buckle up, and drive safely and responsibly on Virginia’s interstates. More...

July 23, 2008
Latest Virginia Traffic Crash Facts Now Available
According to the 2007 Virginia Crash Facts, now available at www.dmvNOW.com/highwaysafety, 1,026 people were killed and 68,822 were injured in traffic crashes last year, a six percent increase from 2006. However, reported traffic crashes (145,405) were down four percent from 2006. More...

Most Small Pickups 'Dismal' In Crash Test
Toyota Rates Best Among 5 Tested

July 22, 2008
High Gas Prices Drive Down Traffic Deaths, Study Suggests
WASHINGTON -- As much as it hurts many drivers to fill up becuase of high gas prices, it turns out there may actually be an upside to the pain at the pump. According to the National Safety Council, as gas prices have risen this year, the number of traffic-related deaths has decreased.

July 20, 2008
Medically unfit truck drivers still on roads

July 17, 2008
Grant aims to up appeal of walking to school

July 8, 2008
Hypermilers Can Cause Danger In Saving Gas
AAA Advises Caution In 'Hypermiling'

• RELATED: Increase Your Car's MPG By Hypermiling

July 7, 2008
Virginia Traffic Fatalities Claim Twelve Lives During Fourth of July Weekend
Virginia Experiencing 18% Decrease in Traffic Fatalities for the Year

ABC stores see Sunday traffic
Under new state law, stores in Richmond, 4 other Va. cities can open doors from 1-6 p.m.

June 25, 2008
Maryland Trooper Cites Man For Driving Too Slow In Attempt To Save Gas

June 19, 2008
Americans Driving Less As Gas Prices Climb
1.4B Fewer Miles Driven In April '08 Than April '07

June 16, 2008
Fourth Trooper in Three Months Struck & Injured by Passing Motorist on Virginia Interstate
ROCKBRIDGE CO., Va. – For the fourth time in three consecutive months, a Virginia State Police trooper has been rushed to a hospital after being struck and injured by a passing motorist. Trooper P.C. Gardner, assigned to the Virginia State Police Salem Division, is currently recuperating from injuries sustained in a crash this morning (June 16) on Interstate 81 in Rockbridge County.

Scooting past sky-high gas prices
Motorcycle dealers in the Roanoke Valley say the rise in gas prices has driven a steadily increasing stream of folks into their shops.

June 12, 2008
Scooter sales leaving pricey gas in the dust
More people in Hampton Roads are buying motorcycles' lighter, often-slower cousins to save money.

May 27, 2008
Memorial Day Weekend Traffic Crashes Claim Fourteen Lives on Virginia Roadways

May 25, 2008
Eight arrested at Hanover checkpoint

May 24, 2008
VCU police ticket 80-plus drivers at checkpoint

May 22, 2008
U txt on road? Not good for Va.
Va. sixth in U.S. in drivers who text Survey: 35.6 percent of state's motorists text behind the wheel

Dig deeper this weekend
Fewer in Va. to hit the road during holiday

Click It or Ticket Blitzes All Over Virginia
Enforcement Blitz to Focus on Unbuckled Motorists-Day and Night

May 21, 2008
MACTEC Partnering in Virginia’s `Highway Safety Challenge

Texting While Behind The Wheel

Reminder to Travel Safely

May 20, 2008
68 pct. of young drivers killed at night unbuckled

May 19, 2008
Failing to click seatbelt could lead to a ticket

Click It Underway

May 18, 2008
Waynesboro Police Keeping an Eye Out for Seatbelt Offenders

May 13, 2008
Virginia State Police Looking for Tractor-Trailer After Trooper is Hit During a Traffic Stop
Injured Trooper Is Featured in VSP Move Over Public Service Announcement

May 1, 2008
'Click it' success nets $5 million for W.Va.
In 1993, West Virginia became one of the last states to mandate wearing seat belts. Drivers still can't be stopped just for not wearing their seat belts. Despite that, more drivers buckle up in West Virginia than in just about any other state, federal officials said Wednesday.

The designation gives West Virginia a $5 million federal grant, which the state plans to use to help pay for laptop computers in police cars.

West Virginia had to have at least an 85 percent seat-belt usage for two consecutive years to qualify for the U.S. Department of Transportation grant. The state achieved an 88.5 percent rating in 2006 and 89.5 percent in 2007.

April 30, 2008
Driver Crashes Into Cop Cruiser, Car; Charged With DUI

April 20, 2008
Law Enforcement Offers Gift Certificates To Drivers Who Buckle Up
To get people to start wearing their seat belts, officers in Wise County, Coeburn, and the Virginia State Police will be conducting checkpoints... And they will reward drivers who buckle up with gift certificates to area restaurants.

April 18, 2008
Putting a stop to school-bus violators
Newport News drivers cited for zooming past where kids are disembarking.

April 4, 2008
New Technology Keeps an Eye on Teen Drivers
The DriveCam system begins recording when it senses bad driving. It records video which is sent directly to parents over the internet.

April 3, 2008
State police plan triple force on I-95
Troopers will be conducting "saturation" patrols in the so-called Highway Safety Corridor to promote traffic safety through stringent enforcement and increased visibility in an area that has a high volume of traffic and numerous interchanges.

April 2, 2008
Seat belts protect unborn babies: study
The University of Michigan researchers estimated that based on their findings, published on Wednesday, the lives of 200 of the roughly 370 fetuses killed yearly in U.S. vehicle crashes would be spared if all pregnant women wore seat belts.

April 1, 2008
Weekend Party Nets Multiple Arrests for Underage Drinking in Chesterfield County

March 20, 2008
Lack of seat belt use taking deadly toll in Virginia
Police agencies will start enforcing a zero-tolerance policy Sunday

March 19, 2008
Trooper: Teen drivers aren't worst on road

Arlington Driver License Checkpoint
The checkpoint is part of a special "Click it or Ticket" enforcement mobilization.

New Highway Signs Remind Motorists to Move Over or Slow Down When Passing Emergency Personnel
Virginia is one of 40 states with a Move Over law requiring drivers to change to another travel lane or, when not able to, to slow down when passing emergency personnel stopped out on the road. Violation of the law carries a punishment of up to a $2,500 fine and/or 12 months in jail.

Results Announced from ‘Running Red Could Be Deadly’ Operation in Chesterfield

March 18, 2008
Dash Cam Captures Oregon Cop Being Hit by Car

March 17, 2008
Click It or Ticket (Hampton Roads – WAVY 10)

March 16, 2008
Police In Va. Going After Seat Belt Violators

March 15, 2008
Click It or Ticket Begins in Harrisonburg

March 14, 2008
Non-Bucklers Beware – Virginia State Police to Participate in Click It Or Ticket Mini-Enforcement Campaign (March 16-23, 2008)

VSP to Launch Click it or Ticket Week (Harrisonburg – WHSV 3)

March 12, 2008
York-Poquoson deputies plan 'Click It or Ticket' enforcement

March 11, 2008
Operation Air, Land & Speed Yields Record Totals on Interstates 81 and 95
16 DUI Arrests – 91 Drug/Felony Arrests – 0 Traffic Fatalities

March 7, 2008
Stricter Penalties Approved for Teen Drinking, Driving
The legislature voted this week to impose stiffer fines or more community service on underage drivers who drink, even if their blood alcohol level is below the legal limit. The measure also doubles, to one year, the amount of time a teen driver's license would be suspended.

Time To Change Habits & Clocks This Weekend
March 9-10 Virginia State Police to Saturate Interstates 95 & 81

March 6, 2008
Single vehicle crash claims three young lives in Sussex Co.
Troopers say speed was a factor in the fatal accident. Investigators believe Thomas Carr (23), who was driving, went off the left side of the road, over-corrected and slammed into a tree.

States weigh booster seat laws for kids

March 5, 2008
Crashes cost D.C. region $5 billion yearly
Traffic accidents cost the Washington area more than $5 billion a year in property damage, medical costs, travel delays and lost productivity, according to a report released today by AAA. That's $970 per person, the travel association said.

March 4, 2008
Study outlines risks for kids riding with teens
Car crashes are the leading cause of death for tweens and teens, and a new study outlines some of the most dangerous circumstances: Riding unbuckled with new teen drivers on high-speed roads. These were the three biggest risk factors contributing to car crash deaths for passengers aged 8 to 17, the study found.

March 3, 2008
Deadly drivers: Urge to drive makes solutions tough
While the state doesn’t track how many drivers get behind the wheel without a valid license, police and court officials say many get caught again and again.

March 2, 2008
Consumer Alert: Car Seat Recall
Combi USA is recalling 67,000 child safety seats

The Good New Days: Riding Bicycles and Walking Solve Traffic, Poliution, and Health Problems

Deadly drivers: Police, courts can't keep up with illegal drivers

February 25, 2008
Cities try to improve crosswalk safety

February 22, 2008
Crackdown on underage drinking in Henrico

February 21, 2008
Va. will have less money for roads
Weakening economy to cut $1.1 billion from six-year projections

February 20, 2008
Senate OKs alcohol-sales legislation
One bill would let ABC stores be open on Sunday in Richmond, other cities

Give Kids A Boost
Children who have outgrown forward facing toddler seats need to transition into booster seats.

February 19, 2008
Winter 2008 Smart, Safe & Sober Newsletter now available!

February 17, 2008
Police say seat belts may have saved lives in car wreck

February 9, 2008
Man faces charges after multi-car accident on I-64 in Henrico
Police say if someone ahead of you slows down, you should slow down too

February 2, 2008
Drunk Driver Critically Injures VSP Trooper on Interstate 81
A Virginia State Police trooper remains in the hospital Saturday after having been struck and severely injured by a drunk driver Friday night (Feb. 1, 2008) on Interstate 81 in Southwest Virginia.

January 30, 2008
USDOT Secretary Peters Announces New Five Star Rating System for Car Seats
Secretary Peters and National Highway Traffic Safety Administrator Nicole Nason outlined the new star rating system at an Arlington, Va., fire station today, and released new star ratings for 78 child safety seats currently on the market.

January 28, 2008
Another Life Likely Saved by a Seat Belt
Ashley Foster has proven once again that clicking her seat belt before driving out of her driveway in all likelihood saved her life.

January 27, 2008
Child safety seat rides to life-saving milestone
Child safety in the car used to be standing up next to Daddy in the front seat and counting on him to thrust his arm out quickly to keep you from going through the windshield. It’s been 30 years this month, however, since the first child safety seat law went into effect in Tennessee and changed the concept of child safety in the car forever.

January 23, 2008
Lynchburg woman given seat belt award whose life saved by one
Ashley Foster remembers the moment when the world stopped spinning and her Ford Expedition landed on its wheels after careening 75 feet down an embankment. Her head hurt. Glass was everywhere. The airbags in the car had inflated - all but hers. But she was still in the car, held tight by the seat belt that very possibly saved her life.

‘Driving While Texting’ Bill Killed
Adult cell phone addicts won’t be charged with “driving while texting,” at least for now.

Swift Virginia House vote advances fee repeal

January 22, 2008
Making a smarter crash test dummy

January 17, 2008
Tougher seatbelt law passes Virginia Senate committee
The Senate Transportation Committee on Thursday approved, 8-4, a bill sponsored by Sen. Patricia Ticer, D-Alexandria, that would make the violation of the state's seat belt law a primary offense, meaning an officer could stop and ticket you solely for not buckling up. The proposal, SB649, came weeks after the deadliest year on Virginia roads since 1981. Virginia State Police announced earlier this month that 1,012 people were killed in traffic wrecks in 2007.

January 11, 2008
'Meanest Mom' Sells Son's Car, Family Gets Quite a Ride
"OLDS 1999 Intrigue. Totally uncool parents who obviously don't love teenage son, selling his car. Only driven for three weeks before snoopy mom who needs to get a life found booze under front seat. $3,700/offer. Call meanest mom on the planet."

Sport Motorcycles Linked to Soaring Number of Deaths in Florida
According to the latest official statistics available, motorcycle deaths in Florida are skyrocketing, from 164 in 1997 to 521 in 2006. Per capita, that represents a 100 percent increase.

January 4, 2008
Abusive-driver fees under fire
Lt. Governor calls for full repeal
On Thursday, William T. "Bill" Bolling mailed a letter to Republican members and members-elect of the General Assembly outlining his proposal. In the letter, Bolling says the "repeal or revision of the abusive driver fee legislation that was enacted by the General Assembly last year" is "one of the important issues we will consider this year."

January 2, 2008
Virginia Loses More Than 1,000 Lives to Traffic Crashes in 2007
10 Killed in Traffic Crashes During New Year’s Holiday Weekend

December 29, 2007
Triple fatality pushes Virginia highway deaths over 1,000 for 2007
One thousand highway deaths in one year is a tragic milestone, and it was reached under tragic circumstances Saturday, with a triple fatality.

December 28, 2007
Grim milestone of 1,000 killed in '07 on Va. highways is near
Virginians may awake Friday morning to the 1,000th traffic fatality of the year, a milestone in highway mayhem not reached since 1990. As of Thursday evening, Virginia's law enforcement agencies had recorded 997 fatalities despite public pleas for motorists to slow down, drive sober and wear seat belts.

December 20, 2007
Governor Kaine Urges Virginia Motorists to Drive Safely This Holiday Season
Virginia nears a 17-year high in number of traffic deaths
As of Dec. 6, the Commonwealth has experienced more fatalities in 2007 than in all of 2006. At the current rate of traffic deaths, Virginia’s 2007 highway death toll could break 1,000 traffic fatalities for the first time since 1990. Read more...

December 18, 2007
Traffic enforcement stepped up on pre-Christmas weekend
Virginia State Police and the International Association of Chiefs of Police have designated the weekend before Christmas as “National Holiday Lifesaver Weekend.'' Read more...

December 17, 2007
Celebrate the Season with Your Loved Ones This Holiday Season — Drive Safe & Sober
Dec. 21-23, 2007 – Operation CARE/Holiday Lifesaver Weekend
Within the past two weeks, at least 35 individuals have died in 33 traffic crashes across the Commonwealth. Of the 35 people killed from December 1-17, 2007, five were motorcyclists and another four were pedestrians who were struck and killed by a vehicle. Of the remaining 26 fatalities, 14 drivers and passengers were not buckled up. Of all 33 traffic crashes, eight were alcohol-related. Read more...

December 6, 2007
Study Questions Va. Driver Fees, Raising the Possibility of Repeal
State auditors found that they have not affected traffic safety and might not raise as much money as expected. The report describes confusion over which offenses can trigger the fees and indicates that some police officers are choosing not to write tickets for violations that carry the fees

December 5, 2007
More than 7,000 truckers pledge to drive safe on Interstate 81
Seat Belt Use Rate Among Truckers Increases by 22%

December 4, 2007
Deaths on state roads near 1,000
Virginia's sad tally is closing in on a mark not reached since 1990

Winter Weather May Cause Hazardous Driving Conditions
Motorists Urged to Drive Carefully

Va. may face tougher seatbelt laws
National statistics show fewer people die in car crashes in states that have stronger seat belt enforcement laws. Now, some believe Virginia should tighten theirs. From January to October this year, police records show 380 out of 810 people killed in traffic crashes were not wearing their seatbelt.

High schoolers repeat messages to buckle up, don't drink & drive
Lord Botetourt and James River High School students have joined forces to encourage their peers be safe and responsible drivers—all in an effort to save a live or lives.

December 3, 2007
Operation Air, Land & Speed IX Results in Zero Traffic Fatalities During Its Two Day Operation
First Time Interstate 66 Is Focus of Traffic Safety Program

Ready Virginia Focuses on Getting Prepared for Winter
Winter Preparedness Week: Dec. 2-8, 2007

November 29, 2007
Child Seat Safety Made Easy
AAA Mid-Atlantic and Safe Kids Virginia partnered together with Prince George Safe Kids, Virginia Department of Health and the Fort Lee Police to offer free car seat safety checks at the Babies Us on Rittenhouse Road in Midlothian on Wednesday, Nov. 21.

Driving Home Safety
Thirty-seven people lost their lives on Fairfax County roads during the first 10 months of 2007 and 10 of those victims — 27 percent — were under 21 years old.

Harrisonburg Wreck Kills Teen; Driver Charged
Man Faces Vehicular Manslaughter Charges

November 27, 2007
Holiday accidents stay level
A stark slogan didn't curb highway fatalities, as 16 people died, same as '06, over Thanksgiving.

November 26, 2007
Sixteen People Killed on Virginia Highways During 2007 Thanksgiving Holiday
State Police Preparing for Ninth Phase of Operation Air, Land & Speed

November 24, 2007
Car's 'black box' and what it tells
EDRs can hold answers to crashes, but also raise privacy questions.

November 22, 2007
Concern Grows as Teens Die In Crashes
Parents, Officials Talk Seat Belts, Rethink Curfews

Albemarle County police fight bad traffic
In light of the 18 traffic-related deaths so far this year in Albemarle County, police will increase the number of officers on patrol during the holiday season.

Increased holiday patrol
For 120 consecutive hours the Virginia State Police will be working overtime to keep the roads safe.

November 20, 2007
Virginia State Police Increase Patrols for Thanksgiving Weekend Safety
Motorists Asked to Increase Awareness of Emergency Personnel by Moving Over & Slowing Down

Safe Walking
Colonial Heights gets grant that makes it safer for students to walk to school

November 19, 2007
Motorists Advised to “Move Over” for Troopers During Holiday Season

U. S. Transportation Secretary Peters Catches Bus to School, Proposes New Safety Rules for School Buses

Turkey Day Travelers
Crowded roads, airports expected for holiday despite higher gas prices

Illegal immigrant to serve 24 years then face deportation
Alfredo Ramos pleaded guilty on August 13 to two counts of aggravated involuntary manslaughter. Alison Kunhardt, 17, and Tessa Tranchant, 16, were killed March 30 when their car was struck from behind by a vehicle driven by Ramos while sitting at a stoplight at Virginia Beach Boulevard and Kings Grant Road.

November 17, 2007
Bedford City officer recounts being hit by truck
As many of us head to the highways for the holidays, law enforcement is renewing its emphasis on a state law adopted in 2002 that requires motorists to safely move into the next lane. If the driver is not able to do so, they are required to slow down and proceed with caution or face a steep fine.

November 16, 2007
Campaign asks; Are you Virginia's next traffic fatality?
With the busy Thanksgiving travel season upon us, state police want to keep fatalities to a minimum, and are asking for your help. The number of deadly crashes is on the rise, and police worry the holidays could bring even more tragedy to the highways.

Drive Smart Va. announces Thanksgiving "Click It or Ticket"
As we approach the Thanksgiving holiday, let’s think about more than parades, turkey and football. With more motorists expected to travel during this holiday than any other throughout the year, drivers need to think about making sure their love ones are buckled up properly in safety belts and approved child restraints.

Fake speed signs garner speeders real tickets

Seatbelt crackdown planned for Prince William
Prince William County Police will join law enforcement agencies throughout Virginia in the "Click It or Ticket" mobilization to enforce the Commonwealth's safety belt and child safety seat laws.

Henrico Police suspect road rage in shooting

Richmond area crashes injure two, kill two

One pedestrian killed, one injured crossing Broad Street in western Henrico

November 8, 2007
Motorcycle deaths on the rise in Virginia
Motorcycle crashes and subsequent fatalities are on the rise in Virginia. According to a news release from the DMV, Virginia has seen an 87% increase in motorbike fatalities compared to this time last year.

November 7, 2007
Police on motorcycles hit the interstates this week
It's not your imagination. There really are police on motorcycles all over the interstates this week. Since Monday, at least 35 state troopers, sheriff's deputies and police officers on motorcycles have been patrolling Hampton Roads highways in an enforcement campaign called Motor Enforcement Accident Reduction or MEAR.

Providence Forge man dies in crash
Virginia's 2007 highway death toll yesterday was 869, compared with 808 as of the same day last year.

November 5, 2007
As night falls earlier, be more alert on roads
With daylight saving time ending yesterday, the amount of time people spend driving in darkness increases, and so does the potential for crashes.

November 4, 2007
How to ... avoid hitting a deer
Drivers, take caution. Deer season is upon us. Deer-vehicle collisions can occur any time of the year, but the numbers are especially high during the fall months. Nationwide, these collisions result in 150 deaths, tens of thousands of injuries and more than $1 billion in vehicle damage a year.

November 2, 2007
Drowsy driving is big killer in U.S.
Drowsy driving kills more than 1,550 people a year in the United States and causes 71,000 injuries, according to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration, which estimates there are 100,000 sleep-related crashes a year.

November 1, 2007
NTSB SAFETY ALERT: Nation Stuck in 'Decade-Long' Plateau of Drunk Driving Deaths
In 2006, 17,602 people were killed in alcohol-related crashes. NTSB Chair Mark Rosenker said that "hard core drinking drivers" — those who drive with a blood alcohol concentration of 0.15 percent or greater, or who are arrested for driving while impaired within 10 years of a prior DWI arrest — are involved in about 54 percent of those fatal crashes.

DOT Secretary Peters Announces Action Plan to Reduce Motorcycle Fatalities
With motorcycle rider fatalities now accounting for 11 percent of total fatalities, and dramatically affect the Nation’s overall highway fatality rate, Secretary Peters wants renewed focus on reducing crashes and the resulting injuries and deaths. Read the plan (PDF)

October 26, 2007
Family bets GPS will help beat teen's ticket

October 24, 2007
Virginia wrecks are fatal to eight
A Staunton teenager, Brittney B. Inglemen, 18, died yesterday after she was ejected from a car during a crash in Augusta County. Inglemen, who was not wearing a seat belt, died at the scene. State police also reported seven other road fatalities, bringing Virginia's 2007 highway death toll to 821 yesterday, compared with 764 at the same time last year.

October 23, 2007
Tickets for bad driving fell after law

October 22, 2007
Consumer Alert: NHTSA Announces ‘Marathon’ Child Safety Seat Recall from Britax

October 16, 2007
Operation Safe Driver Targets CMV, Non-CMV Drivers
Campaign Seeks to Educate, Enforce, Change Aggressive Driving Behaviors

October 15, 2007
Operation Air, Land and Speed VIII Reduces Highway Fatalities From One End of Virginia’s Border to the Other
No Fatalities along Interstates 81 & 95 during Two Day Safety Campaign

October 14, 2007
2 police cruisers sideswiped along I-95
Neither officer is injured in separate incidents in Chesterfield and Henrico

October 10, 2007
Put the Brakes on Fatalities
The month of October is among the peak months for traffic fatalities in Virginia and the nation. In 2005, more people were injured and more people were killed in the month of October than in any other month that year. In 2006, October led the year for having the most total traffic crashes and the most traffic crash injuries.

October 9, 2007
GM OnStar System Could Halt Stolen Cars
Starting with about 20 models for 2009, the service will be able to slowly halt a car that is reported stolen, and the radio may even speak up and tell the thief to pull over because police are watching.

• Read Story | Read About GM's Stolen Vehicle Slowdown Technology

October 8, 2007
'It's going to make it safer for us'
Henrico man pushed for a Brook Road sidewalk to help disabled people

October 3, 2007
Seat belt safety
"Nationally, we have about 43 thousand fatalities a year and the big piece of the pie is seat belt usage and trying to get people to wear seat belts more often" according to Stefan Duma, a researcher at Virginia Tech who works at the Center for Injury Biomechanics.

October 3, 2007
EDITORIAL: A plaque, a certificate and public awareness
Several times a year, Sgt. Tim Wyatt, traffic coordinator for the Roanoke County Police Department, organizes a ceremony during which people are honored for wearing seat belts.

October 2, 2007
VDOT, DMV, State Police Partner to Reduce Highway Fatalities
Safety challenge issued to Virginia drivers

September 24, 2007
Mock crash shows 'it could happen to you'
A mock crash at Glenvar High School taught students about the potential dangers of driving.

More Americans Buckle Up and Wear Their Helmets In 2007

September 17, 2007
From laptops to sex, drivers have more distractions

September 15, 2007
Raising roadway awareness: VSP concerned with number of teen fatalities in Tazewell County

September 7, 2007
Albemarle County police stepped up presence over Labor Day weekend

September 5, 2007
VDOT program stresses work zone safety to teens

August 30, 2007
N.C. deputy hurt at "Border to Border" checkpoint expected to recover

August 28, 2007
Virginia Law Enforcement Mobilizes In Statewide Sobriety Checkpoint Blitz
2006 Spike in Local Alcohol-Related Traffic Fatalities Signals Warning

August 25, 2007
Study aims to cut Va. motor deaths

August 23, 2007
Fix for driver fees in the works
Republican leaders will present a plan that says fees should apply to all

August 22, 2007
Drunken driving deaths up in Va.
16.1 percent increase in the state runs counter to decline in rest of U.S.

July 31, 2007
Split-second disasters
Life is fragile, and no one knows that better than the families of the people who have been killed on Pittsylvania County’s roads in recent weeks

July 29, 2007
Officials want to cut fatal crashes
Almost as many people who were killed in car crashes in 2006 have perished in the past two months in Pittsylvania County

July 28, 2007
Click It or Ticket to start Sunday in Albemarle County

July 26, 2007
Recent tickets drive home lesson on fees for delegates
Two delegates, architects of the abusive driver fees, have gotten speeding tickets recently.

State traffic deaths on rise

July 25, 2007
Campaign Red Light Set By Lexington PD

July 24, 2007
Close to Half of State Crash Fatality Victims Not Wearing Seatbelts

July 23, 2007
Virginia Seat Belt Use Rate Increases
Click It or Ticket Credited for Virginia Seat Belt Swell to 79.9 Percent

Declining Traffic Deaths Lead to Lowest Highway Fatality Rate Ever Recorded, U.S. Transportation Secretary Mary E. Peters Announces

July 15, 2007
Current buses safest

July 11, 2007
State police to renew "Click It or Ticket"

Seat belts & buses: Virginia officials weigh in

July 9, 2007
16 LIVES LOST TO TRAFFIC CRASHES IN VIRGINIA DURING FOURTH OF JULY HOLIDAY
“Click It or Ticket” Enforcement Wave: July 29-August 5, 2007

New law changes standards for child safety seats

July 7, 2007
DUI efforts turning up many other violations
Recent checkpoints in Henrico, Hanover led to 3 DUI arrests, 110 other charges

July 4, 2007
Photo red's benefits dwarf costs

Safety seats saved kids' lives

July 3, 2007
OPINION: Don't want to buckle up? Fine. At least belt in your children.

Camera Comeback
Localities likely to resume red-light photo enforcement.

July 2, 2007
National Campaign Launches Effort Educating Drivers to "Move Over" and Protect Officers on Roadways

Boaters learn ills of alcohol
Bristol event shows them what it's like to operate a boat drunk

Deadly Roads
More than 9,000 people have died on a Virginia road in the past ten years and over 700,000 have been injured. That’s three and a half times the number of people that live in Albemarle, Greene, Fluvanna, Orange, and Madison counties.

June 28, 2007
Civil Fees Pile On For Driver Violations

Governor's 2007 Transportation Safety Awards Announced

June 27, 2007
Accidents involving children hurt most

June 21, 2007
Officer is king of the cones
Motorcycle skills win Henrico policeman Virginia's top prize

County targets underage drinking
Zero-tolerance effort in Chesterfield results in 150 arrests over 7 weeks

June 20, 2007
Va Beach child restraint clinic finds only 3 out of 50 car seats installed properly

OPINION: Seat Belts – A Habit We Can Live With

June 19, 2007
OPERATION AIR, LAND & SPEED RETURNS TO I-81 AND I-95
Border to Border Traffic Safety Campaign: June 22-23, 2007

New traffic ‘civil remedial fees’ will wallop the wallets of traffic offenders

Vatican issues 10 Commandments for drivers

DMV Offices Closed for Independence Day
Holiday Travelers Reminded to Drive Carefully and Buckle Up

Virginia Vehicle Registration Fees Increase July 1
New Funds Earmarked for Transportation

June 16, 2007
'When Is It Going to Stop?'
Fairfax Students Devastated After Grad Night Crash Kills 2 Classmates, 2 Others

June 15, 2007
Augusta County Sheriff's Office triumphs in Law Enforcement Challenge

June 14, 2007
Lynchburg area vehicle deaths raise seat belt awareness

June 13, 2007
Click It or Ticket Results: Rockingham County Sheriff's Office

June 10, 2007
Deadliest stretch
Two recent fatal wrecks on Interstate 95 killed six people in Richmond and Prince George County, underscoring the highway's reputation as Virginia's deadliest interstate.

Virginia about to give child safety a boost
Beginning July 1, the state will require that younger passengers continue using appropriate seats until they reach their eighth birthday.

June 8, 2007
Driving better habits
Cell phone ban to improve safety with young Va. motorists

No More Using Cell Phones for Drivers Under 18
New Law Designed to Keep Teen Drivers Safer

June 6, 2007
'Distracted Driving Awareness Day' in Virginia

June 5, 2007
Regional Law Enforcement Agencies Crack Down on Aggressive Drivers

June 4, 2007
Seat belt use is pushed in Martinsville

June 3, 2007
OPINION: Buckle up
A very lucky governor testifies on behalf of seat belts

June 2, 2007
Harrisonburg Cop Motorcycle Accident

May 31, 2007
Police Stress Need for Seat Belts

May 30, 2007
Holiday fatalities on roads reach 14

May 27, 2007
Red-Light Flouters Face Return of A Familiar Foe
Motorists beware: The red-light cameras are coming back to Northern Virginia.

May 25, 2007
Speed limit to rise on 460

Police: ‘Buckle Up, Or Else’
On Tuesday, the first heavy enforcement day of the annual seat belt campaign, local police issued 226 tickets and dozens of warnings for a variety of violations, according to data from the Rockingham County Sheriff’s Office.

Click It or Ticket in full force for weekend
Patrols have been set up on U.S. 29, U.S. 60 and U.S. 460 to enforce the traffic laws going into the Memorial Day weekend as part of the Click It or Ticket program.

Girls narrowing gap in risky behavior

May 23, 2007
Buckle up or else in NN today
Police warn drivers to buckle their seat belts or risk getting a ticket.

OPINION: Casualty counts
Too many of Virginia's young are claimed by auto accidents

Click It or Ticket in Augusta County

460 Blitz to promote driving safety this weekend

OPINION: Lawmakers need to take steps in Virginia to make improper seat belt use a primary offense

Officials crack down on illegal immigrants since fatal crash

May 21, 2007
Click It or Ticket

Police getting tougher on non-bucklers

I-81 truckers targeted in "Click it or Ticket"

Buckling up could save your life

May 17, 2007
Click It or Ticket Starts Next Week
Increased Patrols To Encourage Use Of Seat Belts, Child Safety Seats

Falls Church City Police participate in Click It or Ticket

May 16, 2007
Click It or Ticket 2007
Police crack down on drivers and passenger who don't wear seatbelts.

Click- it or Ticket campaign kicks off
May 14-18 is the kickoff of the Click-it or Ticket campaign by the Berryville and Clarke County police departments.

May 15, 2007
Click It or Ticket
This weekend wear your seatbelt. Beginning on May 25, the Rappahannock County Sheriff's Office will participate in a multi-jurisdictional enforcement project, targeting the Route 211 corridor from Timberville to Warrenton.

Loudon County Seat Belt Enforcement

May 12, 2007
Click It Or Ticket Program Campaign This Month
Be sure to buckle up. Virginia, North Carolina and Hampton Roads law enforcement agencies will be participating in the National Click It or Ticket campaign during the month of May.

May 11, 2007
UVA Study: Pregnant women urged to wear seat belts

May 10, 2007
Military and Civilian Traffic Safety Groups Meet
Representatives from the Naval Safety Center, various commands in the Norfolk area, and civilian groups met on May 3 to discuss local traffic safety issues. The groups attending the meeting included Virginia’s Checkpoint Strikeforce, Drive Smart Virginia, Virginia Highway Safety Office, Naval Station Norfolk Brig, Naval Safety Center, Fleet Forces Command, Portsmouth Naval Hospital and base police officers and safety personnel from Norfolk, Little Creek and Oceana.

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