Put safety first on holiday

RICHMOND — Traffic crash fatalities are on the decrease across the Commonwealth, and Virginia State Police are encouraging all motorists to continue to make safety behind the wheel a priority during the upcoming Independence Day holiday. As of June 29, there have been 345 reported traffic fatalities compared to 412 this time last year.

“The Virginia State Police along with local law enforcement applaud the motoring public for its role in helping reduce traffic fatalities this year in Virginia,” said Col. W. Steven Flaherty, Virginia State Police superintendent. “Despite the decrease, the motoring public must continue to do its part, especially over the holiday weekend, to help continue this life-saving trend by always buckling up, complying with speed limits, never driving impaired and limiting driver distractions.”

During the 2009 Fourth of July weekend, state police will participate in several enforcement campaigns aimed at promoting highway safety, enforcing traffic laws and deterring impaired driving.

Virginia’s Checkpoint Strikeforce anti-DUI campaign begins July 4 and continues through Jan. 4, 2010. Through the utilization of sobriety checkpoints and saturation patrols, the statewide campaign works to keep impaired drivers off Virginia’s roadways.

The state police will also be participating in Operation C.A.R.E., a state-sponsored national program that emphasizes safe driving. An acronym for Combined Accident Reduction Effort, Operation C.A.R.E. operates in all 50 states and Canada. The fatality statistical counting period for the 2009 Fourth of July will extend from 12:01 a.m. on July 3, to midnight, July 5

During the 2008 Fourth of July holiday period, Virginia State Police cited a total of 17,580 traffic and criminal violations, including: 153 for DUI; 7,943 for speeding; 2,077 for reckless driving; 293 for not using child restraints; and 808 for seatbelt violations. The state police also responded to and investigated 755 total traffic crashes, with 10 fatalities and 179 involving injuries.

July 4th fatality statistics for the past 10 years are as follows*:

Year Fatalities # of Days Year Fatalities # of Days
1999 11 4 2004 11 4
2000 8 4 2005 18 4
2001 5 2 2006 22 5
2002 2 2 2007 18 6
2003 7 3 2008 10 4

*Traffic Crash Facts, Virginia Highway Safety Office, Department of Motor Vehicles
— Press release