VIRGINIA STATE POLICE INCREASE PATROLS FOR THANKSGIVING WEEKEND SAFETY Motorists Asked to Increase Awareness of Emergency Personnel by Moving Over & Slowing Down
RICHMOND –Seventy-five percent of the Virginia State Police patrol force will be working this Thanksgiving weekend as part of the Operation Combined Accident Reduction Effort (Operation C.A.R.E.). Operation C.A.R.E is a state-sponsored, national program designed to decrease crashes, fatalities and injuries caused by speeding, impaired driving and the failure to use occupant restraints. The traffic safety program is conducted during the year’s national holidays.
With more troopers on the road during the heavily-traveled holiday weekend, Virginia State Police are reminding motorists to comply with Virginia’s “Move Over” law (Code of Virginia 46.2-921.1), which requires a driver to move over 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 $2,500 fine and/or 12 months in jail.
“The Virginia State Police are committed to making everyone’s Thanksgiving a safe one on our highways,” said Colonel W. Steven Flaherty, Virginia State Police Superintendent. “We’re looking out for the public’s safety and in return ask that the public look out for ours as well.”
Last year during the Operation C.A.R.E. statistical counting period, 15 people lost their lives in traffic crashes. Eleven of those were not wearing seat belts. Of the total 1,160 traffic crashes state police responded to during the 2006 holiday weekend, 214 involved injuries.
In 2006, Virginia State Police statewide stopped 8,272 speeders; cited 3,042 reckless drivers; arrested 151 impaired drivers; and cited 712 motorists for not wearing safety belts and 224 child restraint violations.
This year’s 120-hour Thanksgiving statistical counting period begins Wednesday, Nov. 21, and ends at midnight Sunday, Nov. 25, 2007.
“With more than a million travelers forecasted for the upcoming holiday weekend in Virginia, our interstates and highways will be busier than ever,” said Colonel Flaherty. “Therefore, it is critical that every driver and passenger evaluate his or her driving behaviors, risks, and priorities when it comes to traffic safety. Virginia has already exceeded 900 traffic deaths this year. How many more is Virginia willing to lose to vehicle crashes?”
In an effort to reduce all traffic fatalities, state police is working in partnership with the Virginia Department of Transportation (VDOT) and Department of Motor Vehicles (DMV) to improve traffic safety. The Highway Safety Challenge is a joint effort to try and cut the number of highway fatalities by 100 by 2010. The “Are You Virginia’s Next Traffic Fatality?” campaign points out factors contributing to motor vehicle fatalities and offers safety reminders. To find out more about taking the Highway Safety Challenge, visit the Web site at www.safeVAhighways.org.
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