News

Every May, we observe Motorcycle Safety Awareness Month to educate and remind all road users that motorcyclists have the same rights and responsibilities as any other driver. It’s a time to emphasize the importance of recognizing motorcyclists as equal participants on the road.

Since 2020, Christy has worked diligently to change Virginia seatbelt laws, which, according to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration, fall well below the national usage average. Virginia also has the distinction of being the worst state in terms of seatbelt usage.

You might think an unpaid traffic ticket is a minor inconvenience, something you can ignore until a warning pops up in the mail. But for some drivers, those unpaid fines have snowballed into six-figure lawsuits, suspended registrations and skyrocketing insurance premiums that stick around long after the last court date.

The research found high levels of driver distraction, with mobile phones the primary culprit for taking their eyes off the road.

Overall, 76% of drivers, regardless of age, admitted to being distracted by their phone, either using it to read and send messages, make a call or check social media distraction, and 79% said they had experienced a ‘close call’ or near miss in the last year, because they were distracted.

It's a major win for a grieving Virginia mother who says her son lost his life because he wasn't wearing a seat belt.

After years of advocacy work and asking lawmakers to listen, the "Christopher King Seat Belt Law," also known as HB2475, will go into effect July 1.

May is National Bike Safety Month, and it’s up to everyone — drivers, bikers, even scooter riders and pedestrians — to share the road safely. Here are some tips to navigating the roads safely when bikes are in your vicinity.

Currently, Virginia law requires drivers and front seat passengers to wear a seatbelt. There was no requirement for adult passengers in the back to wear a seatbelt.

Christy King got that changed. She advocated for the new law in honor of her son.

This summer's NASCAR race weekend at Richmond Raceway will be August 14-16. Who's Your Driver, the sober and safe driving initiative created by DRIVE SMART Virginia, will return as the presenting partner.

The Virginia Department of Transportation (VDOT) will be suspending many highway work zones and lifting temporary lane closures on interstates and other major roads in Virginia from noon on Friday, May 23 until noon on Tuesday, May 27.

Pedestrian deaths have soared more than 80% over the past 15 years in the United States, with “almost the entire increase” of incidents occurring on urban arterial roads and after dark, a new report shows.

The first commercial self-driving truck service in the United States launched on Thursday in Texas, and regular deliveries are expected to take place in driverless vehicles between Houston and Dallas.

What if a single glance at your phone was enough to cause a fatal crash? According to a new study by Foster & Wallace, 34 percent of vehicle crashes occur within just one minute of a driver being distracted, often by the very apps we use every day.

Youth of Virginia Speak Out About Traffic Safety is encouraging teens headed to high school next fall to its beach-themed Summer Leadership Retreat at James Madison University in Harrisonburg July 17–20.

Two teen boys lost their lives in a car crash on Route 110 in Arlington, Virginia, near the Pentagon on Saturday night, according to Arlington County Police Department (ACPD) officials.

Drive Safe Hampton Roads presented its John T. Hanna Awards for Excellence in Traffic Safety April 30, with local advocate Christy King recognized for her efforts in occupant protection.

Following two years of high traffic fatalities, Washington, D.C., is using technology to combat distracted driving and make streets safer.

Prince William County Police join law enforcement agencies throughout Virginia in the “Click It or Ticket” campaign to enforce the Commonwealth’s safety-belt and child safety-seat laws. The Department will participate in high-visibility patrols – day and night – through Sunday, June 1.

Parents often joke about their teens being a "hazard on the road," but fatal motor vehicle crashes are the leading cause of death for U.S. teens.1 In 2023, it accounted for nearly 50% of all teen deaths between the ages of 15-24.2 The fatal crash rate for 16- to 19-year-old drivers is almost three times higher than that of drivers 20 and older.3

Richmond Raceway announced today that Who's Your Driver, the sober and safe driving initiative created by DRIVE SMART Virginia, will return as the presenting partner for this summer's NASCAR race weekend at Richmond Raceway, August 14-16. It will once again be deemed the NASCAR Weekend at Richmond Raceway presented by Who's Your Driver.

DRIVE SMART Virginia brought their distracted driving program to Glen Allen High School after a student advocated for it, filling class periods with both information and hands-on learning experiences.

Rear seat belts are often ignored, but we got in touch with a vascular surgeon, who warns that skipping them can lead to life-threatening injuries—even in low-speed crashes. From internal bleeding to limb-threatening vascular trauma, the risks are real.

According to NHTSA, distracted driving contributes to more than 9% of fatal crashes, although researchers believe that number is higher. Despite texting bans in almost all 50 states, distraction remains a prevalent problem among drivers, especially younger generations. Smartphones – a common form of distraction – may help curb this risky behavior.

Quick claims reporting and clear post-accident procedures have always been critical for fleets. It needs to be a foundational element of a fleet’s risk management approach,” said Larry Harlow, Director of Claims at Sentry Insurance. “While the fundamentals haven’t changed — the environment has.”

The likelihood of a pedestrian or cyclist being fatally injured is 44% higher if they are hit by a sports utility vehicle (SUV) or light truck vehicle (LTV) compared with smaller passenger cars, new research shows. For children there is an even larger effect, with a child hit by an SUV or LTV being 82% more likely to be killed than a child hit by a passenger car.

Eleven years after a devastating crash changed his life forever, Powhatan County sheriff’s deputy Brad Hughes is using his story to raise awareness about the dangers of distracted driving.

Using the "Do Not Disturb" feature on your phone is helping to reduce distracted driving, according to a new report from AAA.

Despite texting bans in almost all 50 states, AAA says distracted driving is a problem, especially among younger drivers.

Cinco de Mayo is a popular day to celebrate Mexican-American culture in the United States. Before celebrating Cinco de Mayo this year designate a sober driver. A sober driver is one who has not consumed any alcohol, legal or illegal drugs. Never drive while impaired and never let a friend drive if they show any signs of impairment.

Choosing a car for a teen driver is, if not a catch-22, then at least a related dilemma. Teenagers are involved in more car crashes than any other age group, so it may be a waste of money to buy them an expensive new car.

The U.S. Department of Transportation’s National Highway Traffic Safety Administration urges everyone to help prevent child heatstroke deaths by remembering to Stop. Look. Lock. when they park their vehicles. Today, May 1, is National Heatstroke Prevention Day.

Nexar, a leader in AI-powered mobility solutions, today announced a strategic partnership with High Definition Vehicle Insurance (HDVI), a technology-driven commercial auto insurance provider. Through this collaboration, HDVI's insured fleets now have access to Nexar's innovative, self-installed dashcam technology designed to improve safety, simplify claims processes, and deliver enhanced value to both agents and insureds.

April is Distracted Driving Awareness Month. The Virginia Department of Transportation, the Virginia Department of Motor Vehicles, the Virginia State Police and DRIVE SMART Virginia are urging motorists to “keep their heads up and eyes on the road.”

The Virginia Department of Transportation is promoting safe driving from April 21 to April 25 with National Work Zone Awareness Week. This year’s theme is “Respect the zone, so we all get home.”

Toyota’s Collaborative Safety Research Center (CSRC) and Virginia Tech recently studied how ADAS can be used to identify possible unexpected outcomes at intersections.

This week marks the beginning of National Work Zone Awareness Week. Columbia Gas of Virginia is reminding drivers to practice good driving safety when they encounter work crews.

Traffic safety on roadways in D.C. has become a major priority over the past several years. The Metropolitan Police Department (MPD) is cracking down this month on drivers who don’t follow the rules of the road and don't pay for their tickets.

According to the New Kent County Sheriff's Office, on Sunday night, 19-year-old Christopher James William Carroll drove past a deputy stationed near the West Point exit on I-64 at 137 mph.

Driver overconfidence is leading to risky behavior.

Nationwide’s latest driver survey found 20% of drivers text while driving, 15% use social media, 13% watch videos, and 11% read or write emails.

Nearly five years ago, 18-year-old Christopher King hopped into the back of a convertible and lost his life when the driver lost control.

He was the only one not wearing a seat belt.

Ever since, Christy King has been on a mission to spare other teen drivers the same fate that took her son’s life, founding the Christopher King Foundation, a nonprofit aimed at promoting safe driving habits among youth. Now, during April’s Distracted Driving Awareness Month, she’s just weeks away from what’s become an annual car show to raise awareness.

Students at Kenston Forest School in Blackstone are seeing the impact the choices they make when they get behind the wheel of a vehicle can have on them and their loved ones firsthand.

The school held a drunk driving response simulation during Distracted Driving Awareness Month.

The Virginia Department of Motor Vehicles is joining a national effort to bring attention to work zone safety.

Dozens gathered at the VDOT Workers’ Memorial for an annual vigil honoring workers killed on the job.

new study from the Virginia Tech Transportation Institute (VTTI) that a driver monitoring system by AI startup Nauto system detected 100% of tested distractions in less than five seconds.

A Virginia State Police trooper and three other people were injured in a crash that occurred during a pursuit involving a teenage driver on Saturday evening in Fairfax County.

The Virginia Department of Motor Vehicles and the Virginia Department of Transportation have installed 300 bright yellow safety signs across Virginia’s rest stops, reminding drivers to put safety first when behind the wheel.

We all have the same goal: to get home safely when the day’s work is complete. Despite our best efforts, crashes in highway work zones are far too common and claim too many lives. And 80 percent of the time, motorists and passengers are the ones who get hurt.

April is Distracted Driving Awareness Month. The Virginia Department of Transportation, the Virginia Department of Motor Vehicles, the Virginia State Police and DRIVE SMART Virginia are urging motorists to “keep their heads up and eyes on the road.” They note that “in too many cases, motorists are engaging with their smartphone, eating or drinking, or simply not paying attention on the road. This leads to tragic consequences.”

This month, during Distracted Driving Awareness Month, we have an opportunity to change the course of these devastating statistics. The American Trucking Associations’ Law Enforcement Advisory Board is reminding all drivers to stay focused behind the wheel by putting phones down, keeping eyes up, and ensuring they remain vigilant and solely focused on the driving task. Regardless of the month on the calendar, safety should always be a core value.

D.C. police say they’re cracking down on traffic safety violations — especially drivers running up thousands of dollars in unpaid photo enforcement speeding tickets.

No matter the time or day, driving under the influence of marijuana, or any other drug, is an illegal and life-threatening behavior. Ahead of marijuana culture’s high holiday, 420, the West Virginia Governor’s Highway Safety Program (GHSP) is teaming up with the NHTSA to urge individuals to plan to drive fully sober or to get a sober ride home

A new study has revealed a troubling trend—Millennials and Xenials have the highest drunk
driving rates of all generations. Despite increased awareness and stricter laws, these age
groups are still taking the most risks on the road.

A new AAA Foundation for Traffic Safety (FTS) report researches and provides suggestions for how tow trucks and other roadside service vehicles (RSVs) can best safely operate in a wide range of roadway environments and conditions.

Towing and service technicians and other responders are at high risk of being struck by passing motorists while working at the roadside, the report says.

As part of its efforts to prevent distracted driving and enhance road safety, the U.S. Department of Transportation’s National Highway Traffic Safety Administration reminds drivers to prioritize safe road practices and avoid distractions while driving with this clear message: Don’t Drive Distracted. Eyes Forward.

The U.S. Department of Transportation’s National Highway Traffic Safety Administration today released its early estimates of traffic fatalities for 2024, projecting that 39,345 people died in traffic crashes.

A recent Virginia Tech Transportation Institute (VTTI) study evaluated commercial fleet dash cam safety performance. The December 2024 study tested real-time detection and in-cab alerts for risky driving behaviors.

April is Distracted Driving Awareness Month, and the Fairfax County Police Department (FCPD) is reminding drivers that taking your eyes off the road — even for a few seconds — can have serious consequences.

Federal highway safety officials indicate that teens aged 15 to 20 made up 9% of all drivers involved in fatal distracted driving accidents in 2023, with 15% of these teen drivers using cellphones at the time of the crashes.

An ambulance transporting a patient was involved in a collision with a tractor-trailer on April 8 in Accomack County, Virginia State Police said.

A new law is aiming to rein in speeding and reckless driving throughout Virginia.

Governor Glenn Youngkin recently signed House Bill 2096. The legislation is designed to use technology to slow down speeders.

Fairfax County police warned they will be “increasing patrols and conducting targeted enforcement in areas known for distracted driving-related incidents,” they said in a statement Wednesday. A campaign focused on aggressive drivers and distracted drivers starts April 21.

Spring is here, and Easter is near. Traveling for the holiday weekend? Spend your time hunting for colorful, candy-filled eggs and not stuck in traffic.

An investigation is underway after a man shot another man who followed him back to a York County apartment complex, opened his car door and started punching him, according to the York-Poquoson Sheriff’s Office.

Christy King had visions of celebrating her son Christopher’s milestones — graduations, birthdays, career, wedding. Instead, she celebrates the legislative milestones and positive outcomes of educating others about the danger that led to her son’s death.

A pedestrian died at a hospital where he was being treated for injuries sustained in a crash.

Tuesday may be April Fool’s Day, but distracted driving is no joke. This month is distracted driving awareness month.

In 2023, more than 60 people died in crashes related to distracted driving, and thousands were injured.

Virginia will become the first state in the nation to allow judges to order anti-speeding devices to be installed in the cars of the worst speeders, a substantial victory for transportation advocates and one that they hope can be replicated elsewhere.

As the weather continues to warm up and the sun is out longer, the Virginia Department of Transportation said more motorcycles might be on the roadway.

Julie Garner will never forget June 10, 2007, the day she received an unexpected call from a doctor at a Northern Virginia trauma unit.
Her son, Hunter, was a passenger in a car with a friend when it ran off the road and hit a tree. The driver died instantly, while Garner’s son fought for his life in the hospital.

Distracted driving is one of the leading causes of crashes, serious injuries and fatalities on the roads in Virginia. In fact, many drivers in the commonwealth admit to engaging in the practice while acknowledging the extreme dangers associated with it.

The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration said on Thursday that it is recalling about 105,322 SUVs over concerns related to their seat belts.
The recall impacts Ford Expedition and Lincoln Navigator vehicles from model years 2018 to 2020.

In support of Distracted Driving Awareness Month, the survey looked at Americans’ perceptions of driving behaviors, including distracted driving.

More teen drivers in Virginia will be involved in traffic crashes between the months of May and August than any other time of the year, statistics show.

To help save lives and prevent crashes during the high-risk warm weather months, Virginia schools kicked off a statewide teen safety project this month to develop driver and passenger safety behaviors among youth and teens.

Gov. Glenn Youngkin has signed a bill that will require all vehicle passengers, including those in the backseat, to wear a seat belt while driving in Virginia. The current law only requires passengers in the front seat to wear seat belts.

Data from the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration indicates that Virginia is the worst state in the country when it comes to seat belt usage.

A new state law change is giving roadside workers an extra tool to better protect themselves on Virginia’s busy roadways.

Beginning Tuesday, July 1, roadside service providers like AAA will be rolling out truck-mounted light-up signs, warning drivers to slow down and move over as they pass a roadside scene.

A Stafford County teenager has been charged after being found driving under the influence with a Glock-style BB gun on him, according to the Stafford County Sheriff’s Office.

Motor vehicle crashes are a leading cause of death in the United States, killing more than 120 people everyday, according to 2022 data from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.

But they are preventable. Carias, who works out of CHP's Central Division office in Fresno, Calif., shares his top road safety do's and don'ts.

According to Virginia Department of Motor Vehicles crash statistics, distracted driving contributed to 17%, or 21,528, of all traffic crashes in 2023. Of those, 11,521 collisions resulted in injuries, and 64 people were killed.

Virginia is on its way towards implementing a law that would use technology to slow down speeding drivers.

The goal of HB2096 is to crack down on those convicted of speeding related offenses with an alternative option known as the Intelligent Speed Assistance Program.

The first wave of the Fairfax County Police Department’s (FCPD) 2025 Road Shark campaign has made a strong impact, resulting in 9,320 citations and warnings issued between March 17 and 23. Designed to combat reckless driving and improve road safety, the initiative saw FCPD officers teaming up with the Virginia State Police (VSP) to enhance enforcement across the county.

NASCAR Cup Series driver Ross Chastain joined students at Patrick & Henry Community College’s Racing College of Virginia today to emphasize the importance of making safe driving choices as part of the Who’s Your Driver? campaign. The event, held at the college’s state-of-the-art motorsports training facility, highlighted the critical need for young drivers to choose a sober driver and always buckle up.

Citing data from the Fatality Analysis Reporting System, compiled by the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration, Stacker identified the counties in Virginia that had the most fatalities from motor vehicle crashes in 2020.

According to the DMV, 14,227 people were convicted of driving under the influence across Virginia in 2022.

Saint Patrick’s Day specials across the country typically include alcoholic beverages, like green beer.

I used to think distracted driving was mostly about calls or texting. But now, short video platforms have taken this to another level. It’s not just a momentary distraction anymore; it’s full-on entertainment at the cost of safety.

The Road Shark initiative has Fairfax County Police Department and Virginia State Police working together to hone in on specific driving behaviors.
This month, they’re zeroing in on impaired driving. Next month, they’ll focus on distracted driving. They’ll focus on aggressive driving and school zone violations in the months to come.

The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration issued multiple recalls last week, including notices for over 90,000 General Motors vehicles.

Fleet operators, particularly those who manage utility and infrastructure projects, understand how critical work zone safety is. The unpredictability of traffic conditions due to distracted drivers and/or operational hazards puts work truck fleet drivers at risk. Thankfully, new advancements in telematics and artificial intelligence (AI)-driven fleet management address these safety risks head-on, improving driver behavior and optimizing operations.

A York County mother is following through on her efforts to protect drivers by hosting an annual soccer tournament, which is returning to honor her 16-year-old son who tragically died in a car crash.

Telematics firm Telectrac Navman is out with its most recent survey on “Global Distracted Driving Trends,” and fleet professionals around the world have weighed in, reporting 70% of their businesses have been impacted by distracted driving incidents. Some 49% of respondents cited that distracted driving has had a direct impact on costs.

A new bill in Virginia could help stop excessive speeders and repeat offenders.

If signed by Governor Glenn Youngkin, HB2096 would give the Virginia DMV and judges an alternative to suspending a license or a sentence for jail time by instead enrolling the offender in the Intelligent Speed Assistance Program.

Ford is recalling about 240,000 Explorer and Lincoln Aviator SUVs due to a problem with seat belt anchors that were improperly secured.
According to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration, a loose seat belt or seat belt buckle may not properly restrain an occupant during a crash, increasing the risk of injury.

Richmond RCMP gave out more than $36,000 in fines in a one-day distracted driving blitz.

On March 11, RCMP were at multiple locations looking for drivers using electronic devices.

This week, conversations surrounding school safety have shifted from school zone cameras to innovative technology being implemented on beach school buses aimed at protecting students.
PJ Crisostomo, who has four children in VB schools, expressed concern about the dangers that can arise during morning and afternoon bus pickups.

The changes brought about in Virginia are not only about enforcement, but automakers are also working on advanced seat belts, different from the traditional ones that we know. The upcoming generation of seat belts is poised to transform vehicle safety with its novel harness-style restraints and smart seat belts with sensors but is still pushing safety as a priority.

If you had the chance to take a ride in a self-driving vehicle, would you?

Most Americans would say no, according to a recent survey by AAA.

"It's not about going out and writing tickets for the sake of writing tickets or stopping cars for the sake of stopping cars. It's trying to change behaviors so that people recognize the responsibility of driving a motor vehicle and the seriousness of that responsibility to keep everybody safe,” Easton stated.

With highway construction costs surging 68% nationwide since 2020, Virginia’s transportation officials are turning to artificial intelligence to improve how the state estimates costs and manages pavement upkeep.

A York County mother is pushing for a change in teen driving laws. Tammy Gweedo McGee says hers son Connor and three other Tabb high school students died in a crash after leaving a Homecoming dance in 2019.

Cannabis is the third most commonly used substance in the United States, following nicotine and alcohol. This trend is not surprising, considering that some form of cannabis consumption is legal in 38 states—24 states allow recreational use, while 14 states permit medical use only. With the rise in cannabis use, this form of impaired driving has become more common, leading to a heightened risk of crashes, injuries, and fatalities.

Butte County Public Health (BCPH) is proud to announce a new partnership between its Safe Routes to School program and the Virginia Tech Transportation Institute (VTTI) to provide crucial education to young drivers at Pleasant Valley High School in Chico and Las Plumas High School in Oroville.

The Insurance Institute for Highway Safety is requiring better protection for second-row occupants for the 2025 TOP SAFETY PICK and TOP SAFETY PICK+ awards, encouraging automakers to make advanced seat belt technology and other safety innovations the norm in the back seat.

Drivers in Fairfax County, Virginia, will soon face a hefty fine if they illegally pass by a school bus that is picking up or dropping off kids before and after school.

When riding along in a car, make sure to buckle up because seat belt laws could soon change in Virginia.

Since the 1980s, Virginia laws only mandated passengers in the front seat to wear a seat belt. Starting this summer, that all could change. If Governor Glenn Youngkin signs these new regulations into law, then starting July 1, all passengers ages 18 and up will be required to wear a seat belt, even if they're sitting in the back seat.

A somber Monday at a Northern Virginia high school after a 16-year-old student was killed in a head-on crash with a suspected drunken driver last week.

Before 10:30 p.m. Thursday, when it would have been very dark in the area, a man driving a 2023 Toyota Corolla north on Pleasant Valley Road in Centreville crossed the double yellow line and struck the girl in a 2013 Toyota Camry, detectives said.

Youth of Virginia Speak Out About Traffic Safety (YOVASO) and the Virginia State Police have announced the ‘Arrive Alive’ program to promote teen safe driving ahead of spring weather.

During May and August, there are more car accidents involving Virginia teens than any other times of the year. In efforts to save lives and prevent crashes, Virginia schools are kicking off a state-wide teen safety project.

Few likely imagined that a day would come when a person could communicate, browse the internet, take photos and videos, play music, and much more all from a device small enough to store in a pants pocket.

But that’s just what one gets with a smartphone. These amazing devices have transformed how people engage in everyday life. Although smartphones have their upside, there are disadvantages to the connectivity they provide – including the threat phones pose when used while behind the wheel.

As daylight saving time begins on Sunday, commuters will find themselves driving in darker conditions Monday morning, raising concerns about drowsy driving.

Drivers who don't stop for Virginia Beach City Public Schools buses that are picking up or dropping off students could now face a $250 fine.

A heartbroken mother whose 16-year-old son died in a car accident is pleading with drivers to slow down, especially on rural roads.

The Road Safety Authority (RSA) has launched a new advertising campaign highlighting the dangers of speed and complacency, especially on roads known to the driver. Between 2020 and 2024, 73% of road deaths occurred on rural roads.

Today, the U.S. Transportation Secretary Sean P. Duffy took action to urge Washington, D.C. leaders to restore greatness to our Nation’s Capital with a focus on improving the safety and security of the city’s transportation systems. In a series of letters, Secretary Duffy urged D.C. Mayor Muriel Bowser, Amtrak CEO Stephen Gardner, and Washington Metropolitan Area Transit Authority (WMATA) CEO Randy Clarke to prioritize improvements to passenger security, crime reduction, and roadway safety.

St. Patrick’s Day falls on a Monday this year, meaning celebrations will be in full swing the weekend leading up to and on March 17. Unfortunately, some will make the dangerous decision to get behind the wheel after drinking, putting themselves and other travelers at risk of serious harm.

New analysis by the Governors Highway Safety Association noted that while pedestrian fatalities declined by 2.6 percent in the first half of 2024 versus the first half of 2023, they are up 12 percent compared to first half of 2019 and up 48 percent compared to the first half of 2014.

A 15-year-old girl is dead after a pickup truck crashed into a power pole in Goochland County on Sunday.
Virginia State Police is investigating a deadly crash that occurred at around 8:44 p.m. on Sunday, Feb. 16 in the 2400 block of Hadensville Fife Road in Goochland County.

Tesla has issued a safety recall for two of its best selling vehicles.
The company is currently recalling certain model years of its Model 3 sedan, along with a number of Model Y SUVs over seat belt issues, with over 375,000 potentially affected vehicles, according to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA).

Reckless drivers tearing up Virginia’s highways and public spaces may soon face tougher penalties, as legislation targeting exhibition driving heads to the governor’s desk.

Drivers in Virginia will soon need to buckle up, as the state’s seat belt laws are changing effective July 1.

This change comes after the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration ranked Virginia last in the nation for seat belt use, with a mere 73% compliance compared to the national average of 92%.

Virginia lawmakers delivered a last-minute compromise on a contentious safety bill — ushering in high-tech school zone cameras and speed camera guardrails — just as the General Assembly wrapped up its session. However, the measure’s future now rests with Gov. Glenn Youngkin’s pending approval.

D.C. officials Wednesday announced a new initiative to bring down the city’s stubbornly high traffic crash and death rate.

Backseat passengers could soon have to buckle up after both the House of Delegates and the state Senate voted in favor of a new seat belt law.

Both the House and Senate voted in favor of the new law earlier this month. The legislation now awaits Gov. Glenn Youngkin’s signature. Should he sign it, the new law would take effect July 1.

Only on ABC13, we're hearing from the victim of Monday's road rage incident on Lakeside Drive in Lynchburg. Nancy Campagnino is now behind bars following the incident, charged with two counts of assault, as well as charges of vandalism and disorderly conduct.

Don't try your luck this St. Patrick's Day by driving while intoxicated. Get a sober ride and arrive alive.

Drive Safe Hampton Roads is offering free rides during St. Patrick's Day weekend!

Safety is a leading concern for the parents of young drivers, which makes finding a good first car for teenage drivers a primary goal during the car-buying process. iSeeCars has identified the best cars for teen drivers and listed them below.

No exhaust means no emissions, right?
Not quite.
It is commonly known that while electric vehicles do not produce tailpipe greenhouse gas emissions while driving, they do create debris from tire and brake abrasion. However, the degree to which they do and how that compares to internal combustion engine vehicles was largely unknown until the Virginia Tech Transportation Institute's Hesham Rakha investigated it.

On Monday, Feb. 10, 2025, a road rage incident involving two individuals that began on Interstate 81 southbound near the 105 mile marker proceeded to the Waffle House parking lot off of exit 98 in Dublin.

Once there, Logan Parks of Galax, and William Barrett of Hillsville, engaged in mutual combat where a crow bar was used in the confrontation.

Virginia is the ninth likeliest state for a driver to hit wildlife, but environmental advocates are working to change that.

The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration issued multiple recalls last week, including notices for over 100,000 Toyota Tacoma trucks for a potential brake issue.

The medium-duty truck market is evolving fast, and staying ahead requires insight into the latest trends, maintenance strategies, and emerging technologies. Whether you're looking to extend the life of your fleet, combat rising security threats, or make smarter truck purchasing decisions, we’ve gathered expert insights to help you navigate these challenges.

Driving on U.S. roads has gotten more dangerous during the past decade, with a 30% increase in traffic fatalities since 2014.

During that time, many cities around the country have adopted traffic safety programs like Vision Zero to help reduce traffic deaths, but in most places it’s not working. At least not yet.

When the buggies started arriving at the [crash] scene, Cumberland County Sheriff Darrell Hodges feared that a confrontation was about to erupt.

Hodges had been called to the site of a horrible traffic crash on Cumberland Road in the early evening hours of July 14, 2024. A horse-drawn carriage that carried an Amish family of two adults and five children had been struck from behind by a pickup truck. All seven people were ejected from the carriage.

Even if you sit in a car’s back seat, you would have to buckle up, under legislation that’s moved through both the House of Delegates and state Senate and is heading to Gov. Youngkin's desk.

Ford is recalling about 240,000 Explorer and Lincoln Aviator SUVs due to a problem with seat belt anchors that were improperly secured.

Police have unveiled new hi-tech speed camera vans that can detect drunk and drug drivers from up to one mile away.

“A vehicle being operated southbound left the roadway onto the sidewalk, struck a pedestrian and collided with a structure,” Richmond Police said. “The vehicle continued along the sidewalk where it struck an unoccupied car before coming to a stop.”

With a winter storm on the way, road conditions are expected to become hazardous. While avoiding travel is the safest option, AAA is providing key tips for those who must be on the roads.

Experts emphasize the importance of allowing extra time for travel, as slower speeds are necessary for maintaining control on icy or snow-covered roads.

New research from the AAA Foundation for Traffic Safety shows that the 80% increase in pedestrian fatalities over the last 15 years has occurred on urban arterial roads at night.

“The continued rise in pedestrian fatalities in the U.S. since 2010 is a traffic safety challenge we need to address,”

The deepest snowfall in several years has buried roadways in parts of the Shenandoah Valley and Alleghany Highlands. Treacherous driving conditions are found throughout the region, where some counties received up to a foot of snow from Tuesday’s winter storm. Additional wintry mix is forecast for Wednesday afternoon, and could bring a coating of ice to previously plowed roadways.

A new report from Samsara, The State of Connected Operations: Building for the Next Generation, digs into some of the biggest workforce challenges and opportunities facing physical operations, especially transportation, logistics, and fleet management.

With more than 1,550 industry leaders surveyed across 21 industries and seven countries, the findings reinforce what many fleet managers already know: the workforce is changing, and fleets need to keep up.

When one of your drivers is in a collision, the first concern is whether they or others are injured. But after that, when your company’s name is on a vehicle, you should consider that the other motorist might file a lawsuit. What is the immediate course of action? Have your driver take photos as soon as possible.

Experts say buckling up is the best way to keep you and your family safe on the roads, yet data from the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration shows Virginia is the worst state in the country when it comes to people wearing a seat belt.

That’s why one Virginia mom, inspired by a tragedy of her own, is trying to convince the General Assembly to pass tougher seat belt laws in Virginia.

More than a third of drivers who died in fatal collisions on Virginia roads were driving too fast at the time of the crash, according to a new study that revealed the state is among the worst for traffic deaths linked to speed.

A new US road safety campaign is challenging drivers to rethink their behaviour in a novel way.

While most of us like to think we're safe drivers ourselves, we're also inclined to question the road-safety credentials of everyone else on the road. In fact, a 2022 Transurban survey (of 400 Greater Washington Area residents) found drivers overwhelmingly feel they are safe on the road while texting and speeding while simultaneously believing others on the road cannot safely drive while taking these same risks.

Driving will feel like navigating a minefield from time to time—especially when certain cars seem to be constantly in the way, speeding or swerving unpredictably. (And sometimes that’s you, admit it.) A new study from QuoteWizard by LendingTree highlights the vehicles linked to higher driving incidents and offers expert advice on not only how to stay safe on the road - but to possibly lower your insurance premiums.

Through her grief, she started a foundation in his honor, which focused on sharing messages about seat belt safety with area schools.
Her advocacy work led her to a shocking discovery.
“So I found out that Virginia is the worst state in the country right now for seat belt usage at only 73%. The national average is 92%. We are literally the worst at wearing our seat belts. Half of our fatalities were unrestrained," King said, citing data from the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration that ranked Virginia dead last in seat belt use percentage among states in the U.S.

On Friday they gathered for the Central Virginia Transportation Safety Summit to discuss a number of issues from speeding to distracted driving and pedestrian safety.
During the event, leaders brainstormed ways to make their communities safer.
This comes after more than 200 people died on Virginia roadways between 2018 and 2023, according to the executive director of the Central Virginia Planning District Commission, Alec Brebner.

A man was hospitalized after a road rage incident Monday, February 3, according to the Danville Police Department.

In 2023, The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration ranked Virginia dead last in the country for wearing a seat belt. With the national average reporting roughly 92% of people wearing their seat belts, Virginia reported only 73%.

With millions flowing from speed camera fines, Virginia lawmakers are pushing to curb potential profiteering and increase public oversight of the devices. A bill to bring more transparency and accountability to speed camera operations cleared the House this week and is now headed to the Senate.

In the realm of trucking, where payloads vary from light to heavy and distances span local to international, coupling components play a pivotal role. Choosing the correct coupling is not just about connecting a truck to a trailer; it's about ensuring safety, efficiency, and productivity—tailored to the demands of both the medium-duty and heavy-duty industries.

Model year 2025 Toyota Camry cars, 2025 Lexus NX SUVs and 2024-2025 Lexus RX SUVs may have problems with the second-row seat belts.

About 41,000 of the vehicles are recalled in the U.S., and about 1,300 are recalled in Canada.

Motorists should travel with caution Thursday morning with the potential for icy spots to develop on Fredericksburg area roads from a wintry mix of rain and sleet.

With the biggest football game of the year this upcoming Sunday, the Virginia State Police and the Virginia Department of Motor Vehicles are urging drivers in the commonwealth to plan ahead, and have a sober ride home planned for after Super Bowl LIX.

Forget how high the mercury climbed yesterday with the spring-like temps, winter is roaring back with a vengeance today with a threat of wintry weather across parts of the state. Areas in northwestern and western Virginia as well as higher elevations along the Blue Ridge Mountains and the Shenandoah Valley are likely to see the biggest impacts from this storm. But parts of central Virginia could see some icing as the storm comes in overnight with temperatures around the freezing mark.

The House of Delegates approved a bill Wednesday that would allow courts to require speed-monitoring devices for drivers convicted of reckless driving or speeding over 100 mph.

The bill, HB2096, which passed by a 81-16 vote, is aimed at preventing speeding in Virginia.

Kia is recalling more than 80,000 of its 2023-2025 Niro SUVs over a wiring issue that could prevent the air bags and seat belts from working properly.

Improvements in safety technology known as advanced driver assistance system, or ADAS, are improving and responsible for a sharp drop in rear-end vehicle-to-vehicle crashes as well as a decrease in collisions with non-motorists, according to a report released Monday by the Partnership for Analytics Research in Traffic Safety, or PARTS.

Seventy percent of businesses have been impacted by distracted driving incidents, according to a new survey conducted by Teletrac Navman with cell phone use being cited as the leading cause by 68% of survey respondents.

Who will you be rooting for during the Big Game on February 9, 2025? Whether you’re hosting a viewing party or attending one, everyone has an important job: Help keep impaired drivers off the road, so everyone can make it home safely on game night. If you plan to drink alcohol or use legal or illegal drugs, plan for a safe and sober ride home. If you’re hosting a party, take care of your guests. If you are in the Hampton Roads area, free or reduced Lyft ride-shares are being offered by Drive Safe HR to impaired drivers throughout Hampton Roads on Big Game Sunday at www.DriveSafeHR.org/757-sober-ride

A staggering 46,000 people were killed on United States roadways in 2023. During National Passenger Safety Week, Jan. 20 to 27, passengers were empowered to speak up when their lives or those of others are in danger from reckless drivers.

After accidents on the road, slips, trips, and falls are a leading cause of driver injury. Unsurprisingly, Acuity Insurance data shows slips, trips, and falls are most likely from December through February. With slippery conditions being more common during the winter, these accidents are more likely but not inevitable.

The driver shortage has been a hot topic for years, and it doesn’t seem to be going away anytime soon. While the causes of the shortage are complex and vary from region to region, one thing is clear: fleet managers are feeling the impact. Trucks don’t move without drivers, and when you’re short on drivers, it hits your bottom line.

Two Virginia mothers who lost their children in car crashes are turning their grief into action, working with state lawmakers to push for stricter driver and passenger safety laws. Their efforts could lead to new penalties for unlicensed minors driving, expanded driver education in public schools, and a requirement for all adults in a vehicle to wear seat belts.

As we begin another year, I-66 Express Mobility Partners (I-66 EMP) reflects on the impacts our community partners in 2024—strengthening communities, supporting families, and creating opportunities for a brighter future. Through partnerships with dedicated nonprofits, I-66 Express Mobility Partners has helped address food insecurity, expand access to education, promote teen driver safety, and support our nation’s heroes.

Lawmakers in Richmond are currently considering a series of bills aimed at making the roads safer for teenage drivers.

At the heart of this initiative is Tammy McGee, a mother whose life was irrevocably altered five years ago when her son, Conner, lost his life at just 15 and a half years old.

Self-driving cars, also known as autonomous vehicles, are not yet available for purchase by consumers. The combination of computer processing power and advanced automotive camera/sensor technology required to create a full self-driving vehicle, capable of operating safely in all driving locations and conditions, is still several years (at least) away.

Each year, the Virginia Department of Motor Vehicles (DMV) provides vital federal grant funds to organizations dedicated to improving safety and saving lives on Virginia’s roadways. If your organization is committed to making a difference through traffic safety initiatives, we encourage you to apply for a highway safety grant from DMV. These grants support Virginia-based organizations like nonprofits, colleges and universities, law enforcement agencies and state and local government agencies, in implementing programs designed to reduce traffic fatalities, injuries and crashes.

As Richmond and other parts of Central Virginia brace for an artic blast, AAA experts are sharing tips on driving in icy conditions.

“What drivers really need to be concerned about with this storm coming in is that it’s starting out as rain,” said AAA Mid-Atlantic spokesperson Morgan Dean. “So that really is the concern that there could be some ice building up on the roadways tonight, and tomorrow.”

Virginia Department of Transportation (VDOT) crews will be mobilized in emergency response tonight and Wednesday morning to treat for hazardous road conditions that may develop from light snow forecast for coastal areas of the Northern Neck and Middle Peninsula.

According to FEMA, winter weather contributes to more than 540,000 accidents in the U.S. each year. Whether it is snow, ice, or freezing temperatures, the season presents several challenges that can compromise safety, and some common misconceptions for dealing with these conditions can actually increase risk for drivers.

With the changeover in the calendar year from 2024 to 2025, vehicles in Virginia that have passed safety inspections are now receiving a new safety inspection sticker. The sticker, which features the color green for the first time, includes multiple changes from previous iterations. The changes are designed to make the inspection sticker more difficult to counterfeit

For the third year in a row, National Passenger Safety Week is empowering passengers to “speak up” when they feel their lives are in danger due to a reckless driver, especially when they witness any form of distracted driving.

Safe driving is crucial, especially for teens learning to drive and children who depend on others for safety. National Passenger Safety Week highlights the importance of building safe driving habits and ensuring all passengers are properly secured.

A Williamsburg mother hopes lawmakers in Richmond won’t take a back seat as she pushes for changes to Virginia’s current seat belt law.

Christy King said her 18-year-old son Christopher wasn’t wearing his seatbelt when he was killed in a crash nearly five years ago.

Arlington County is nearly doubling the reach of the PhotoSPEED program it implemented in August 2024 to enforce safe driving in school zones.

In December, the Virginia Tech Transportation Institute (VTTI) visited Sussex Tech High School to present their Sharing the Road with Trucks Safety Program to driver’s education students.

The program was designed to educate young drivers on how to safely share the road with large trucks.

A bicyclist and a Virginia Beach police officer are injured after an overnight crash.

The involved officer called in an incident on the 4500 block of Bonney Road in which a truck struck a bicyclist before crashing into the back of a Virginia Beach Police Department patrol vehicle at approximately 2:10 a.m.

Vehicle crashes on snowy, slushy, or icy pavement account for more than 1,300 deaths and more than 116,800 injuries annually, the FHWA said. Additionally, nearly 900 people are killed and nearly 76,000 people are injured in crashes that occur when snow or sleet is falling.

The rules of the road in Virginia that govern making right turns on red lights have not undergone any substantial revisions as of January 2025. The statute that is currently in effect in Virginia, which is described in section 46.2-835 of the Virginia Code, continues to be in effect. A comprehensive description of the right turn on red rule that is now in effect in Virginia is as follows:

Most new cars come equipped with some form of partial automation, such as adaptive cruise control (ACC), lane centering and automatic emergency braking (AEB). However, vehicles with partial automation are not self-driving — even though automakers sometimes use names that imply their systems are.

Currently, Virginia law mandates that individuals under the age of 18 must wear seat belts, but those 18 and older can only be pulled over for not buckling up if there is another reason for the stop. This has spurred one Virginia mom to advocate for legislative change to potentially save more lives.

More than 40 of young passengers who die in car crashes are not wearing a seatbelt, according to new analysis.

The clothing that makes pedestrians stand out to human drivers may make them invisible to automated crash prevention systems, according to a new Insurance Institute for Highway Safety (IIHS) study.

In 2020, Virginia passed a law intended to make it easier to prosecute people who hit pedestrians or cyclists with their cars. But prosecutors across the state have brought charges under the law 32 times in the last four years. In only eight of those cases was someone convicted of the charge.

Virginia drivers are noticing a colorful change this year as the state unveils a new safety inspection sticker. Vehicles that pass inspection in 2025 will display the green sticker, marking the first year the color has been used. But it’s not just the fresh design catching attention—the updated sticker comes with advanced security features aimed at combating counterfeit attempts and ensuring road safety.

The free event will be held from 10 a.m. to noon at Fairfield Area Library, 1401 North Laburnum Avenue. The Outreach and Engagement department is presenting the event in partnership with the Henrico Office of Emergency Management and Workplace Safety, Dominion Energy, AAA and Virginia Bureau of Insurance.

Brake checking, a dangerous and aggressive driving behavior, can have severe legal and safety consequences for those involved. Jennifer Porter (https://jenniferporterlaw.com/is-brake-checking-illegal/), a Northern Virginia car accident lawyer, explores the legality of brake checking in Virginia, the associated risks, and the penalties drivers may face if caught engaging in this reckless practice.

Two pedestrians have died in unrelated crashes Friday, one of them a hit-and-run, Hampton Police said.

Due to the threat of winter weather impacts on the region, motorists traveling into and around Hampton Roads should stay alert for potentially hazardous road conditions throughout this weekend and continuing into early next week. Virginia Department of Transportation (VDOT) Hampton Roads District personnel stand ready to respond with needed materials and equipment to address possible road impacts.

Arlington County Police are investigating a New Year’s Eve road rage incident in which one driver wounded another driver, broke his glasses, and stole his electronics.

As snow and ice are forecasted to impact Virginia, AAA is advising drivers to stay prepared and exercise caution.

Morgan Dean, a spokesman for AAA Mid-Atlantic, says the upcoming storm will bring a mix of snow, sleet, freezing rain, and rain, all conditions that could make roadways hazardous.

VDOT is advising motorists not to travel in parts of Virginia Sunday afternoon into Monday. Treacherous conditions are expected overnight into Monday morning as snow is predicted to fall at a rate of an inch an hour and accumulation could be as much as 5 to 12-inches in Northern Virginia, Winchester, Harrisonburg, Fredericksburg and parts of Central Virginia.

Virginia State Police say they responded to more than 200 crashes throughout the Commonwealth Monday morning amid winter weather conditions.

As a winter storm continues to impact Virginia, the Virginia State Police are working around the clock to respond to crashes across the Commonwealth.
While not all of the reported crashes are storm-related, troopers are seeing a significant increase in traffic incidents as hazardous conditions persist on Virginia’s roadways.

The Local Road Safety Plan for Virginia Beach, approved in November, marks a significant step forward in enhancing road safety in the city.

Virginia recorded the ninth-biggest rise in DUI crash fatalities over the past five years, according to a recently-issued report.

The recent winter storm brought freezing temperatures, ice, and snow, leading to hundreds of crashes across the Commonwealth. Virginia State Police are urging drivers to plan ahead as another storm looms this weekend.

According to the CDC, teenagers aged 16 to 19 are at the highest risk for car crashes, with this age group being almost three times more likely to experience a fatal incident compared to others.

With New Year’s celebrations just days away, safety officials are urging drivers to avoid the dangers of drunk driving.

A man has died after he was hit by a car in Chesterfield on New Year’s Eve.
On Tuesday, Dec. 31, Chesterfield County Police were called to the 16500 block of Route 1 at about 6:42 p.m. for the report of a crash involving a car and a bicycle.

Each year, the Virginia Department of Motor Vehicles (DMV) provides vital federal grant funds to organizations dedicated to improving safety and saving lives on Virginia’s roadways. If your organization is committed to making a difference through traffic safety initiatives, we encourage you to apply for a highway safety grant from DMV.

New Year’s Eve is one of the most dangerous nights on the roads according to AAA. Data from the Department of Motor Vehicles says that there were 105 crashes involving alcohol last year, leaving 68 people injured, and 3 dead.

Virginia State Police clocked a driver going 133 mph in a 55-mph zone in Virginia Beach.
State Police posted a redacted copy of the summons to its social media pages just before New Year’s as a reminder to “Drive smart, stay safe!”

Each year, the Virginia Department of Motor Vehicles (DMV) provides vital federal grant funds to organizations dedicated to improving safety and saving lives on Virginia’s roadways. If your organization is committed to making a difference through traffic safety initiatives, we encourage you to apply for a highway safety grant from DMV.

The U.S. Department of Transportation (DOT) Federal Highway Administration (FHWA) has awarded Virginia Tech a $249,654 grant. The funding supports a project to collect and provide pedestrian data as it relates to advancing the safety and mobility of all people in U.S. transportation systems.

Winter seems to finally be rearing its cold, chilly head in the Hampton Roads region, and 10 On Your Side wants to make sure you stay safe on the roads as the chance for inclement weather increases.

More than 90% of new vehicles have some level of ADAS, which shows the original equipment manufacturers' (OEMs) willingness to invest in this technology. Even with this market growing, it doesn't appear to be fast enough, as the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) has finalized a new mandate (FMVSS No. 127) to make automatic emergency breaking (AEB) standard in all vehicles starting in 2029. NHSTA predicts that this "will save at least 360 lives a year and prevent at least 24,000 injuries annually.

The Ad Council, in partnership with the U.S. Department of Transportation's National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA), and the Television Bureau of Advertising (TVB), today announced the 21st annual Project Roadblock initiative. Local broadcast TV stations across the country will donate advertising time to air anti-drunk driving PSAs reminding viewers to make safe choices this holiday season.

As the holidays and New Year approach, Virginia State Police are calling on all drivers to prioritize safety on the roads.

The Virginia Department of Motor Vehicles (DMV) and DRIVE SMART Virginia are sharing an important behind-the-wheel safety reminder this holiday season – your presence is the real present. In the midst of your busy schedule, please, buckle up and put your phone down to help ensure you arrive alive.

As we approach the holiday season, it’s crucial to recognize that using a handheld device behind the wheel, is not just a bad habit—it’s an epidemic. Just as we treat addiction with urgency, we must address this deadly behavior, because distracted driving is taking lives,” said DMV Commissioner Gerald Lackey, the Governor’s Highway Safety Representative.

New statistical research has revealed the safest and most dangerous states to drive in, shedding light on critical road safety statistics and trends across the United States. The data highlights the need for increased caution and awareness on the roads, regardless of location, as accident rates and roadway conditions vary significantly from state to state.

In January 2025, a third potential law in Conner’s name will be presented to the state legislature. The proposed law states that a minor who has no operator’s license or who has a learner’s permit but operates a motor vehicle in violation of any provision shall be guilty of a Class 1 misdemeanor.

CBS 6 spoke with David Reich from the National Road Safety Foundation about the importance of safe driving. He warns that one wrong decision can turn a festive celebration into a tragic event, especially for teen drivers who are on holiday break.

Parents are being urged to ensure seat belt wearing becomes “second nature” for children as figures show 40% of rear seat car passengers killed in crashes are not belted up.

Start your New Year’s resolutions off right; make sure you have a designated driver. This New Year’s Eve, plan ahead for a safe and sober ride home. Free or reduced Lyft sober rides are being offered by Drive Safe HR to impaired drivers throughout Hampton Roads on NYE 2024.

As railroads facilitate the movement of agricultural products and other goods through Virginia and beyond, motorists and farm equipment operators are reminded to practice safe passage at railroad crossings. Many rural railroad crossings typically are private with limited safety features. Some areas lack gates or lights that signal an oncoming train.

Drive Safe Hampton Roads’ Specialized Transportation Safety Committee will conduct an annual Commercial Motor Vehicle Driver Appreciation Day on Tuesday morning.

A 17-year-old has been charged in connection with a high-speed crash that killed an elderly woman in Oakton last month, police said.

On Saturday, Nov. 30, 17-year-old Rustin Mitchell was driving on state Route 32 in Williamsburg when he says he lost control of his car after hitting a patch of ice.

Now, he wants others to stay alert, saying conditions can change in a matter of seconds.

State leaders are issuing a new call-to-action following the release of a recent study out of the Virginia Cannabis Control Authority, highlighting concerns over Virginia drivers’ understanding of the dangers of driving under the influence of marijuana.

Virginia State Police will conduct a safety operation along all of Interstate 95 in Virginia on Sunday and Monday to help prevent crashes and encourage drivers to stay focused on the road.

Halifax County High School’s traffic safety club, YOVASO, is the statewide high school division winner of the 2024 Jingle Your Way to a Safe Holiday Jingle Contest.

The U.S. Department of Transportation’s National Highway Traffic Safety Administration today finalized a rule requiring seat belt use warnings for rear seats and enhanced warnings for driver and front passenger seats, a significant action aimed at increasing seat belt use and preventing injury and death in a crash. NHTSA estimates this new rule will prevent more than 500 injuries and save about 50 lives every year, once fully implemented.

Starting as early as Tuesday, Dec. 17, the Virginia Department of Transportation (VDOT) will implement a flashing yellow arrow (FYA) traffic signal at the intersection of Mooretown Road and Sentara Circle to help make left turns safer and more efficient.

Yorktown’s Body By D Gym will host a Distracted Driving Community Outreach event Saturday.
According to a press release, this event serves as a call to the community to come together and tackle the number one killer of teens: driving. The aim is to raise awareness and take action to keep teens safe on the roadways.

Many Virginians think driving while high is less dangerous than drunk driving, according to a survey by the state's Cannabis Control Authority.

Why it matters: Virginia is more than three years into legal possession of marijuana and it seems many residents still don't fully understand the laws around it, including that driving while stoned is just as illegal as drunk driving.

Lawmakers will consider a bill in January that aims to stop unlicensed minors from operating a vehicle by charging the vehicle owner with a Class 1 misdemeanor.

A new driver safety campaign that launched on some Northern Virginia interstates last week plays on the fact that many people consider themselves good drivers, while not holding a high opinion of other drivers.

Virginia is hoping a highway safety operation launching this week will continue to drive down fatal collisions, specifically along the state's second-longest interstate: I-64.

Public health cares about residents living healthy, long lives. That means that we focus on illness, but we also pay attention to injury and community safety. In the winter, residents can face bad road conditions, cold temperatures, and power outages that make daily activities less safe.

Fairfax County officials are weighing two design proposals to address safety concerns on Lee Chapel Road.

Calls to improve the narrow and winding roadway, were reignited after a fatal crash nearly two years ago.

The number of pedestrians killed in collisions with vehicles has been steadily increasing. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention reports over 8,000 pedestrians were killed on U.S. roads in 2022. That's about one death every 64 minutes.

The Arlington County Police Department (ACPD) is partnering with the U.S. Department of Transportation’s National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) during the Drive Sober or Get Pulled Over campaign to remind motorists to keep the busy holiday season merry and bright by never getting behind the wheel after drinking.

The Virginia Cannabis Control Authority (CCA) has released the results of its second statewide impaired driving survey, with several key findings.

The Department of Labor and Industry has launched a new emphasis initiative aimed at preventing workforce fatalities across Virginia.

For the first time in 15 years, a computer instead of a human will be the primary controller of riders' Metro trains.

When a driver reports being in an “accident,” it implies that no one is at fault. And if no one is at fault, it can’t be prevented. But the truth is that specific driver actions or behaviors cause most crashes (a more apt term).

Driving is the key to independence for many, but as we age, getting behind the wheel can become a greater safety risk.

Distracted driving is a growing concern across Virginia, leading to numerous accidents and injuries yearly. As the state grapples with this problem, understanding the statistics, legal consequences and what victims can do if they find themselves involved in a distracted driving accident is essential.

Preliminary data indicates that seven people died on Virginia’s roadways over the 2024 Thanksgiving holiday. The number is a decrease from 2023, when 11 people were killed, and a large decrease from 2022, when 19 people died in fatal crashes.* However, in only two of the 2024 fatal crashes could it be determined that the victim was wearing a seatbelt (one fatal crash in Warren County did involve an ATV).

Transurban North America, operator of the 95, 395, and 495 Express Lanes, the Virginia Department of Transportation (VDOT), the Virginia Department of Motor Vehicles (DMV) and the Virginia State Police (VSP) are partnering to launch an innovative defensive driving safety campaign targeted to motorists traveling along interstates 95, 395, and 495.

Millions of Americans will be hitting the road this holiday season, and with that comes a rise in distracted driving. While traffic fatalities decreased by 4% last year to 44,450, distracted driving remains a growing issue.

In 2023, nearly 41,000 people were killed in U.S. traffic crashes, a sobering reminder of the ongoing public health crisis on our roads. Despite a slight decrease from the previous year, the threat posed by risky driving behaviors remains alarmingly high.

Road rage is a growing concern for fleet managers, with a new survey by Compare the Market AU revealing that nearly 60% of Americans have experienced road rage in some capacity.

This December, VA is observing National Impaired Driving Prevention Month by highlighting the dangers of impaired driving and promoting safe practices to prevent motor vehicle tragedies involving alcohol or drugs.

Out of the roughly $4 million dollars generated through Richmond's Bus Stop Arm Enforcement Program between July 2021 and June 2024, roughly $465,000, or about 12 percent, has gone to the city's school district.

With Virginians expected to hit the roads for the Thanksgiving holiday, and in many cases travel long distances, Virginia State Police are increasing their presence on Virginia’s roads and launching an awareness campaign to promote safe driving habits.

Mothers Against Drunk Driving (MADD) Virginia held a special event on Thursday, Nov. 21, at Richmond Ford West in the Short Pump area to raise awareness of the issue — especially around the holidays.

With holiday travel in full swing, it’s important to prioritize safety this Thanksgiving whether it’s down the road or to a new destination

Devices called encoders, located inside the sensors on autonomous cars, convert motion and other information acquired on the road into electrical signals so that can then be used as feedback for the software running the vehicle and make informed decisions.

Wythe County Officials are advising residents and travelers to prepare for the increased traffic volume over the Thanksgiving weekend.

Wythe County serves the community as a regional and national travel hub, and after Hurricane Helene, Wythe County roads will serve as detours for drivers.

The U.S. National Highway Traffic Safety Administration said on Monday it will not reconsider a landmark rule finalized in April requiring nearly all new cars and trucks by 2029 to have advanced automatic emergency braking systems.

Motorists traveling the roads of Tazewell County are used to seeing sheriff's deputies in police cruisers patrolling the area, but they will soon be seeing deputies on motorcycles patrolling the roads as well.

Because the Thanksgiving holiday is one of the busiest for America, more drivers will be on the roads than usual, increasing the likelihood of a motor vehicle crash.

The Virginia Beach Police Department is delivering a safety message to cyclists and pedestrians following a recent fatal crash on Indian River Road.

Traffic fatalities in the U.S. declined in nearly all major categories during the first half of 2024, marking continued progress in national roadway safety efforts, according to early estimates from the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA).

Traffic safety advocates, crash survivors, and loved ones of those who did not survive crashes gathered at Hollywood Cemetery Friday morning ahead of World Day of Remembrance for Road Traffic Victims.

Fredericksburg Police are investigating a pedestrian accident that occurred on Plank Road on November 16, resulting in the death of a 26-year-old man. The driver of the truck involved remained at the scene, and no signs of impairment were found.

Victims and loved ones of people killed by reckless driving shared their stories ahead of World Day of Remembrance for Road Traffic Victims.

A Thanksgiving Safety Fair will be held this week to offer free child safety seat inspections ahead of the anticipated holiday travel peak — and 8News got a chance to speak with two people closely involved with the event.

The Richmond Ambulance Authority, AAA and DRIVE SMART Virginia are hosting the Thanksgiving Safety Fair on Wednesday, Nov. 20 and Thursday, Nov. 21 from 3 p.m. to 5 p.m.

Virginia State Police recently pulled over a driver they clocked by radar going 128 miles per hour in a section of highway with a 70 mph posted speed limit.

The largest school system in Hampton Roads is gearing up to try to slow down the rate of drivers blowing past school bus stop-arms.

More than two-thirds (70%) of businesses have been impacted by distracted driving incidents, with mobile phone use identified as the primary cause, new research suggests.

A Virginia Beach man accused of leading a Virginia State trooper on a pursuit and striking her with a vehicle was arrested Wednesday afternoon.

When driving, AAA reminds those traveling on the road to make sure to avoid all distractions, like your cell phone.

The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration on Monday announced several changes to its 5-Star Safety Ratings program that the agency expects will spur technology adoption and bolster pedestrian safety.

Two people died after a wrong-way crash on US-460 in Virginia on Thursday night, according to authorities.
The Lynchburg Police Department identified them as Lawrence William Chambers, 69, of Pamplin, and James Jeffrey Elam, 68, of Lebanon.

Virginia teenagers have the opportunity to win cash prizes and even have their jingle played on the radio statewide by participating in a holiday-themed safe driving song contest.

Beginning Nov. 18, state driver licensing agencies will be required to “remove the CLP or CDL privilege from the driver’s license of an individual” carrying a “prohibited” status in the agency’s Drug and Alcohol Clearinghouse. Once downgraded, those privileges can be reinstated only after the “driver complies with return-to-duty requirements.”

Across the United States, fatal car accidents have emerged as devastating reminders of the dangers lurking on the roads. Each year, thousands of families are left to grapple with the heart-wrenching aftermath of losing loved ones to traffic collisions. While the statistics fluctuate, the suffering remains constant, painting a grim picture of road safety.

As millions of Americans prepare to hit the road for holiday travel, many U.S. adults feel that driving in their area has become more dangerous than it was before the coronavirus pandemic. Most see cellphone distraction behind the wheel as a major problem in their local community, and about a quarter report witnessing road rage often, according to a new Pew Research Center survey.

According to AAA and the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA), buckling your child in their car seat while they are wearing a puffy coat can create extra room in the harness. That means if you get in a crash, your child could move around and be at a higher risk of getting hurt.

The Virginia Department of Transportation announced the next round of recipients to receive federal funding to build electric vehicle charging stations along interstates and state highways.

The awardings, presented by VDOT to the Commonwealth Transportation Board at its Oct. 22 meeting, total about $22 million for chargers at 35 different locations from 19 different applicants, six of which are the recipients for more than one location.

Patty Kruszewski is pointing at a locked bike leaning against a telephone poll on River Road in Richmond. The bike is painted entirely white from the back tire to the tips of the handlebars.

“We're at the scene of the ghost bike where my daughter was killed on July 29, 2012,” she notes.

A car show and trucking safety event will be held in Colonial Heights as part of celebrations to mark the Virginia Department of Motor Vehicles’ (DMV) 100th anniversary.

Auto manufacturers and safety foundations often used the occasion of National Teen Driver Safety Week, which ended October 26, to roll out new programs, or remind us of resources that are already out there.

On Nov. 3 at 2 a.m., Daylight Saving Time came to an end as we set our clocks back one hour. With dusk arriving an hour sooner, traveling in darker conditions can increase the risk of vehicle crashes involving pedestrians and cyclists.

A drag race on Oct. 13 in Tysons, Virginia between a Tesla Cybertruck and a Lamborghini Aventador went viral on social media when Elon Musk shared it with his 202 million followers on X.

The video gained over 150 million views and caught the attention of detectives, who said they later identified the driver of the Tesla as Christian Camacho, 48, of Vienna, and the Lamborghini driver as Carlos Montero, 37, of Sterling.

90% of all collisions happen due to human error, and that is mostly speed and distraction. Some would even say less than 1% of collisions are real ‘Acts of God,’ which is when a branch falls out of the sky or lightning strikes.

A police officer in Montgomery County, Maryland, is back at work after losing his legs.

It’s been just over a year since Sgt. Patrick Kepp was hit by a speeding teen driver, allegedly on purpose, on Interstate 270. News4 has followed his journey since then.

With daylight saving time (DST) behind us and the "fall back" adjustment settling in, fleet managers and drivers feel the impacts firsthand. It's only an hour's difference, but anyone in the industry knows it can significantly ripple through work truck operations.

One Charlottesville City Councilor says the city is working on a plan to address multiple pedestrian walkways spread around Charlottesville.

This comes after a woman was killed at the intersection of Elliott Ave. and 1st St. in October.

The Virginia Tech Transportation Institute recently received nearly $1 million in two grants from the U.S. Department of Transportation’s Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration to develop and enhance tractor-trailer educational programs.

A “citywide blitz” is underway in Richmond to replace worn traffic signs and install stop bars as part of an ongoing effort to create safer streets.

Teen drivers can win $500 for being creative.

YOVASO is hosting a statewide competition for teens to create a safe driving song or tune.

Virginia law requires drivers to remain three feet away from cyclists and to come to a complete stop for pedestrians at marked and unmarked crosswalks. Unfortunately, not all drivers in the Commonwealth obey crosswalk lights.

The third annual Highway Heroes event took place in Chesterfield on Saturday to highlight the role of Virginia’s emergency services and encourage safe driving practices.

Police are searching for a vehicle they say hit and killed a bicyclist Saturday morning in Newport News.

On Nov. 3 at 2 a.m., Daylight Saving Time will come to an end as we set our clocks back one hour. With dusk arriving an hour sooner, traveling in darker conditions can increase the risk of vehicle crashes involving pedestrians and cyclists.

AAA is reminding ghosts and goblins, trick-or-treaters, parents, and party goers of the dangerous traffic safety concerns associated with the holiday. Increased pedestrian activity and the potential for impaired driving converge this year, as Halloween activities begin on a Thursday, and in some cases, into the upcoming weekend as Halloween parties continue.

The Metropolitan Washington Council of Governments is urging drivers to slow down and look out for pedestrians and bicyclists.

As part of National Pedestrian Safety Month, the council is launching a new Street Smart safety campaign with the slogan, “Slow Down, Life Ahead.”

Waynesboro drivers ed students had firsthand experience on how distracted driving can cause problems on the road.

Virginia DMV is marking its 100th anniversary this year with four car shows held at various sites across the state. One car show, “Through the Decades: DMV Classic Car Show,” was held on Saturday at the Gloucester DMV in the York River Crossing Shopping Center, Hayes.

Each year, thousands of lives are lost in crashes involving young drivers. In 2022, a staggering 2,500 people across the United States were killed in crashes involving teen drivers, reinforcing the devastating reality that motor vehicle accidents remain one of the leading causes of death among teenagers. With teen drivers nearly four times as likely to be involved in a fatal crash compared to adults, the importance of education and preparation cannot be overstated.

According to AAA's press release, 12.5% of auto accidents were caused by driver distraction, and only 1.5% of drivers involved in those accidents said they were using a cell phone at the time of the crash. Opponents of legislation restricting cell phone usage in automobiles quickly seized upon the results, using them in the ongoing lively debate.

With college basketball season about to electrify sports fans across the state, a major initiative is underway to ensure game days are both fun and safe. The Virginia Department of Motor Vehicles (DMV) and DRIVE SMART Virginia are partnering with James Madison University (JMU) and Virginia Commonwealth University (VCU) athletics to promote responsible celebrations with their campaign, What’s Your Game Plan: Choose a Sober Driver and Buckle Up.

Students at East Rockingham School used a driving simulator Friday from DRIVE SMART Virginia, which was partially funded by a grant from State Farm Insurance.

According to AAA, new teen drivers, ages 16 to 17, are three times more likely than an adult to get into a deadly crash, with motor vehicle crashes the leading cause of death for teens ages 15-18 in the United States.

In just four hours, inspectors produced the following results:

17 truck safety inspections completed
6 trucks and 3 drivers taken out-of-service
93 violations observed
12 citations issued

One of MileOne’s newer programs helps to strengthen employees’ connections to charities. Employees who have an affiliation with a nonprofit can nominate the organization to receive up to $500 per employee.

The stats are staggering: Traffic fatalities in the Commonwealth saw a 24% increase over the period spanning 2013 to 2023, according to a report issued by TRIP, a non-profit national transportation research group.

Local drivers are, for the most part, back in the habit of obeying safety laws regarding school buses on the roads. But during this National School Bus Safety Week, it is important to remind ourselves not only of the rules but why they are so necessary.

A man riding a bicycle was killed when he collided with a vehicle last week, according to the Virginia Beach Police Department.

There’s a greater push for teen driver safety as this week of October marks National Teen Driver Safety Week.

According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, vehicle crashes are the leading cause of death for United States teens.
A mother who lost her 15-year-old son to a car crash spoke with 8News about the importance of this awareness.

As spring approaches and more motorcyclists take a ride to enjoy the seasonable weather, the Virginia Department of Motor Vehicles’ (DMV) Highway Safety Office is spreading the word about motorcycle safety.

According to a report by WRIC television, Virginia State Police is investigating a six-vehicle crash that happened on Monday afternoon on Route 30 in which one person was killed and four others were injured.

Homecoming at James Madison University is a popular time for alumni to return to the Friendly City to celebrate and cheer on the Dukes.

With the influx of visitors returning to the area, downtown Harrisonburg is busier than usual during Homecoming. The Harrisonburg Police Department recommend that if you plan to drink, have a plan for transportation.

The rate of seat belt use has decreased every year for the last few years, according to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA).

Arlington County police have charged a Virginia teen with the death of another young passenger who was killed during a suspected drunken driving incident early Saturday morning.

DUI arrests across Virginia and Maryland have captured the attention of local law enforcement and communities alike, raising concerns about road safety and proper enforcement of driving regulations.

AAA is reminding drivers to be ready for whatever storms bring our way and to be safe during and after the storm. “Heavy, tropical rain brings multiple challenges to safe driving.

Road rage is leading to gunshots being fired on local interstates, with Hampton Roads having seen two shootings already this month — the most recent one injured a driver Saturday evening on I-664 in Chesapeake, and, a little more than a week ago, a woman and a child were shot in James City County.

With drunk and drugged driving posing a serious risk to every community, MADD’s rebrand is designed to resonate with all generations and backgrounds — fostering unity in a collective effort to make safer choices on roads and waterways. Empowered by the historic passage of the HALT Act in 2021, which mandates lifesaving anti-drunk driving technology in all new vehicles, MADD is poised to nearly eliminate this crime in our lifetime.

The Stafford County Sheriff’s Office (SCSO) said an 82-year-old man flipped his car and had to be rescued Friday night after allegedly driving while intoxicated.

The Virginia Department of Transportation (VDOT), Virginia State Police, and DMV, along with DRIVE SMART Virginia are marking National Do Not Disturb While Driving Day on October 17 by encouraging people to get into the habit of putting their mobile devices away and activating the Do Not Disturb mode on their phones.

The Virginia Department of Motor Vehicles and DRIVE SMART Virginia in partnership with James Madison University athletics unveiled a new sober driving outreach campaign.

The U.S. government's road safety agency is again investigating Tesla's “Full Self-Driving” system, this time after getting reports of crashes in low-visibility conditions, including one that killed a pedestrian.

This fall, the U.S. Department of Transportation’s National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) is teaming up with the Christopher King Foundation to support National Teen Driver Safety Week.

A man is in custody after a road rage incident resulted in a woman and child being shot in James City County, police said.

Based on the findings of a roadway safety analysis conducted with York County, VDOT will implement a new stop traffic configuration at the intersection of Goosley Road and Old Williamsburg Road starting as early as Oct. 9, weather permitting.

Schools are working together to promote the statewide Teen Buckle Up/Slow Down Initiative as it kicks off the week of September 15-21.

The Botetourt County Sheriff’s Office has announced they will participate in the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) Operation Crash Reduction campaign.

The Virginia Department of Transportation (VDOT) and the Department of Wildlife Resources (DWR) are giving tips to drivers during deer mating season.

At a time of growing concern about the safety of self-driving vehicles, a leading expert is calling on the federal government to develop a national driver’s test that such vehicles would have to pass before they could travel on public roads.

Automakers have moved quickly to install louder, more persistent seat belt reminders since the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety began rating the features in 2022.

The mother of a Yorktown teen who was killed in a crash in 2019 is being recognized on a national level for her work to advocate for safe driving.

The Fairfax County Police Department (FCPD) is investigating a fatal bicycle crash that happened near Penderwood Wednesday afternoon.

Drive Safe Hampton Roads is sponsoring its 757 Sober Ride campaign for the Columbus Day Weekend.

A Friday night crash in Virginia Beach stemming from a driver driving in the wrong direction has left a teenager and a 26-year-old man in critical condition.

The Chesterfield County Police Department is investigating a fatal crash that happened along Route 1 just after 7:30 p.m. on Saturday evening.

ALLEGHANY COUNTY, Va. (WDBJ) - A man who was riding a bicycle is dead after being hit by a driver on Route 42 near Matthews Lane Saturday, September 28 at 9:50 a.m.

It's actually against the law in Virginia to travel in the left lane, but that hasn't stopped scores of drivers from doing it every single day.

EV giant Tesla (NASDAQ:TSLA) is recalling 125,227 vehicles due to a malfunction in its seat belt warning system, the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration said on Thursday.

Ford Motor Company has introduced a new seat belt

for people who have undergone mastectomies for breast cancer.

In Northern Virginia, speeding, distracted driving and failing to yield are leading to close calls between cars and people on foot or on bicycles, according to a new report.

Booster seats and car seats are the law for children under eight years old, but a new study reveals many kids aren't being kept in them.

Four out of five caregivers moved their kid from a booster seat to just a seat belt alone – before the child was big enough.

A new report is highlighting some of Northern Virginia’s most dangerous streets in an effort to raise awareness about traffic safety for both pedestrians and drivers.

In Northern Virginia, a street safety group is tracking “near misses” when it comes to traffic accidents for walkers, runners and bikers on roads, hoping to figure out where the most dangerous areas are and prevent the next tragedy from happening.

Detectives from our Crash Reconstruction Unit (CRU) continue to investigate a fatal pedestrian crash in Centreville.

A 23-year-old Chesterfield man faces multiple charges, including DUI, after crashing his Mazda in the Fredericksburg area early Saturday morning.

It was a busy summer for road travel with both Memorial Day and Independence Day predicted to have set new holiday car travel records. Even though the kids have gone back to school and the summer travel season has wrapped up now that we’ve turned the calendar to fall, the roads will still be busy with those headed off of do some tailgating, apple picking and leaf peeping.

Drivers stop for ducks but often not for pedestrians – that’s the message of a new Virginia Department of Motor Vehicles campaign designed to raise awareness among both drivers and pedestrians about pedestrian safety, at a time when officials statewide are working to reduce pedestrian-involved crashes.

The D.C. Metro system is planning a return to self-piloting trains in coming months, 15 years after automated trains were turned off in the wake of a crash on the Red Line that killed a train operator and eight passengers.

The accused, identified as Joshua John Cook, 34, of Fairfax County, Virginia, was arrested at his residence by the Virginia State Police on Sept. 19, 2024. He is charged with felony assault, firearms offenses and related charges. Cook was released by a Virginia judge while he awaits additional court hearings.

The Virginia Department of Motor Vehicles (DMV) is excited to introduce its new pedestrian safety campaign, "You're Not a Duck," which uses tiny ducklings to highlight a serious message. The campaign draws a comparison between the attention ducklings crossing the street receive and the often overlooked need for drivers to pay equal attention to pedestrians.

A wrong-way crash that killed a vehicle's passenger in the Woodbridge area has led to a DUI manslaughter charge for the driver.

A 47-year-old man is dead after he was hit by a Jeep Wrangler while riding his bicycle on Route 1 in Chesterfield County Thursday morning.

RICHMOND, VA (September 26, 2024) ― With Hurricane Helene barreling toward the U.S. Gulf Coast, AAA is reminding drivers to be ready for whatever the storm brings our way and to be safe during and after the storm.

To coincide with National Child Passenger Safety Week, Safe Kids Worldwide released a new study today showing that while progress has been made in the last 10 years, an alarming number of children are still not properly buckled up in motor vehicles, putting them at an unnecessary risk of severe and even fatal injuries.

Joseph Graham, of St Martin's Road, Wroxall, appeared before Isle of Wight magistrates on Tuesday, September 10.

The 18-year-old admitted driving without due care and attention and driving without a seat belt, on the outskirts of Ryde, on December 21 of last year.

Teenage drivers can stay safe by avoiding these dangerous mistakes and driving faux pas

A passenger was killed in a wrong-way crash Friday in the Woodbridge area, according to Prince William County Police.

Two recent studies by the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety have alleged that safety systems like Volvo's Pilot Assist and earlier versions of Tesla Autopilot lead to drivers paying less attention to the road, with increased distractions like grooming, phone use, and unsafe behavior as drivers learn tricks to get around driver awareness systems meant to keep them focused on the road ahead.

Two decades after the dedication of the Virginia Department of Transportation (VDOT) workers’ memorial, highway workers continue to face the consequences of dangerous driving. Improved work zone safety is possible with collective efforts to practice good driving habits, including slowing down and avoiding distractions.

Students, schools, and youth groups across Virginia are kicking off a statewide project to increase seat belt usage rates among teens and youth this week.

The Wytheville troopers will be joining state police detachments in Salem, Appomattox and Culpeper in conducting Operation DISS-rupt on all 325 miles of Interstate 81 in Virginia. The enforcement campaign will begin on Thursday, Sept. 19 and continues through Friday, Sept. 20.

The ride-sharing company said Uber drivers in central Virginia and across the country will now be notified if a rider has been “verified” when they request a pick-up.

Just after 9 p.m. on Thursday, Sept. 19, officers with the Chesterfield County Police Department responded to the 9300 block of Midlothian Turnpike — near its intersection with North Arch Road — for report of a single-vehicle crash involving a pedestrian.

You often hear about the dangers of distracted driving, but seeing the reality of it might change your perspective. At least, that’s the hope of Virginia State Police’s current safety initiative.

The Youth of Virginia Speak Out About Traffic Safety (YOVASO)’s project, Drive for Change: Buckle Up and Slow Down, seeks to increase seat belt usage among teens and youth in Virginia.

Distracted driving has become one of the most significant threats on the road today. Despite awareness campaigns and increased penalties, the number of accidents caused by drivers diverting their attention from the road continues to rise.

Driving while battling the urge to fall asleep is a familiar feeling for many. However, research from the AAA Foundation for Traffic Safety reveals the shocking lethality of drowsy driving.

Police have identified the woman who was killed by a driver when crossing Jefferson Davis Highway in Chesterfield County Sunday evening.

The Martinsville Police Department is cracking down on school zone speeders to keep everyone, especially children safe.

The U.S. government’s road safety agency wants the auto industry to design new vehicles including increasingly large SUVs and pickup trucks so they reduce pedestrian deaths and injuries.

Safety is critical for every fleet and driver. Drivers are the lifeblood of the supply chain and keeping them safe is an essential value of the transportation industry. Accidents are not only harmful to the people involved, but also to carriers and vendors that experience financial losses, shipment delays, talent recruiting issues and other ramifications

Traffic fatalities went down in the first half of 2024 compared to the first half of 2023, according to estimates released by the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA).

She started the Conner Gweedo Memorial Foundation, honoring the 16-year-old who loved to make people laugh. He was also a fierce competitor on the soccer field, who was recruited to play goalkeeper at the collegiate level before his death.
Tuesday, Tammy received the 2024 Peter O’Rourke Special Achievement Award from the Governors Highway Safety Association, which recognizes contributions to preventing traffic crashes.

A crash between a vehicle and a bicyclist Wednesday night at the intersection of Lynnhaven Parkway and Holland Road in Virginia Beach is fatal, police said.

The AAA Foundation for Traffic Safety released its 2023 American Driving Survey, providing insights into U.S. daily driving trends after the initial impact of the COVID-19 pandemic.

The survey reveals that overall driving patterns have rebounded from the depths of the pandemic.

She will never forget the day in 2019 when her son Conner was killed. He'd been a joyful kid, a star athlete and a junior at Tabb High School in Yorktown. At the time, he had been in a car with friends after a homecoming dance.

Traffic crashes are a leading cause of death for children, and a child’s best protection in a crash is to be buckled correctly in the right seat.

Texting, calling, doing your hair, or any type of multi-tasking while driving is considered distracted driving.

As technology gets more advanced, experts say the issue needs to be addressed before it gets worse.

A Virginia law banning the use of hand-held devices while driving was a good start toward reducing distracted driving crashes, according to traffic safety and law enforcement officials at DriveSmart Virginia’s 11th annual Distracted Driving Summit in Richmond.

The latest Travelers Risk Index highlights a significant gap between awareness of the dangers of distracted driving and the continued prevalence of risky behaviors behind the wheel.

The final summer holiday ended on a somber note, as preliminary data shows that law enforcement investigated ten fatalities over the Labor Day Holiday. There were two double fatal crashes, the first of which occurred Sept. 1, 2024, in Northampton County on Virginia’s Eastern Shore. The second double fatal occurred Sept. 2, 2024, in Henry County. There were 14 fatalities over the Labor Day Holiday in 2023.*

After four years, a guidebook for the future of autonomous trucking has driven across the finish line. In 2020, the Virginia Tech Transportation Institute (VTTI) and 17 partners were awarded a $7.5 million grant from the U.S. Department of Transportation to develop a concept of operations. The final report, published in July, includes best practices for the implementation of automated driving systems (ADS) in large trucks and policy issues for fleets to consider across eight topic areas.

The U.S. Department of Transportation (USDOT), including the National Highway Safety Traffic Administration (NHTSA), convened stakeholders to provide input to a research roadmap to address new distracted driving challenges.

A pedestrian is dead after a hit-and-run in Northwest D.C. on Sunday, September 1, according to the Metropolitan Police Department (MPD).

The raised bed of the vehicle struck the sign about 9:35 a.m., then separated from the cab of the truck and remained upright against the damaged sign, officials said. The bed was removed from against the sign about 11 a.m.

Monday marks the beginning of the 23rd annual “Drive Sober or Get Pulled Over” campaign in Virginia, an initiative aimed at combating drunk driving and promoting safe transportation alternatives. This year, the campaign once again focuses on enforcing penalties for driving under the influence (DUI) and encouraging individuals to secure a safe, sober ride home.

The Virginia Beach Police Department has plans to crack down on drunk driving over the next couple of weeks, including multiple patrols and checkpoints across the city.

Three people were injured when their sports-utility vehicle overturned Sunday morning on Interstate 95 near the Carson exit. One of those injured was an infant who was thrown from the vehicle and had to be airlifted from the scene.

For Chris Worley - his worst nightmare as a dad came true on December 16 - when his daughter Lauren and her boyfriend were hit head-on by an alleged drunk driver.

In a social media post, the city announced that starting Monday, camera enforcement will go into effect at Hampton High School, Bethel High School and Andrews Pre-K-8, during morning drop-off and afternoon dismissal times.

Virginia had a deadly start to the summer driving season, with state police alone investigating 25 deaths in the week following Memorial Day. As we approach the end of the season, preliminary numbers show that highway fatalities are at almost the same pace in 2024 as they were in 2023 (504 in 2024 as of Aug. 15th v. 514 in 2023).

According to analysis by the National Safety Council, hundreds of people in the U.S. may not make it home safely this upcoming holiday weekend. During the Labor Day holiday period, which begins Friday, August 30 at 6 p.m. and extends through 11:59 p.m. on Monday, Sept. 2, NSC estimates 457 lives may be lost in preventable motor vehicle crashes.

Last year, there were 6,979 alcohol-related crashes on Virginia roads—resulting in 293 deaths and 4,400 persons injured. The number of people killed increased nearly seven-percent (6.9%) compared to 2022.

Pam Cross, a Hanover woman who lost her daughter Meg Menzies to a drunk driver 10 years ago, said she hoped the campaign would help influence people’s decisions about driving impaired.

New research suggests that talking on a hand-held phone while driving is as dangerous as driving with a blood-alcohol content of .08, which is the minimum level that defines drunk driving in most U.S. states

A number of school districts across Central Virginia are preparing for the big first day back to school for the 2024-2025 school year. With this in mind, Virginia State Police is reminding drivers to be on the lookout for more school buses on the road.

Today, as part of its commitment to reducing deaths and serious injuries on our nation’s roadways, the U.S. Department of Transportation (USDOT) announced the Saving Lives with Connectivity: A Plan to Accelerate V2X Deployment.

State police responded to a hit-and-run crash involving a pedestrian on Lankford Highway at the Main Street intersection in the Melfa area of Accomack County on the evening of Saturday, Aug. 17, at about 11:44 p.m., the Virginia State Police said in a news release.

Around 10:30 p.m., Virginia State Police said John Francis Duff, of Norfolk, was standing outside of his 2009 Chevrolet Malibu by the westbound lanes after crashing into the jersey wall. Shortly after he got out of his car, state police say Dahnna Renita Meno, 19, was driving a 2019 Dodge Challenger “at a high rate of speed.” Meno, of Hampton, lost control of the car, ran off the interstate and crashed into the man and the Malibu.

Those traveling through Arlington County and Alexandria school zones will notice new speed cameras are up and running to slow drivers down and keep kids safe.

Brand new speed cameras will be operational at Capron Elementary school during the morning and afternoons as part of a partnership between the Southampton County Sheriff’s Office and Blue Line Solutions.

Social media is an excellent platform for medical professionals like Brian Hoeflinger to showcase the good, the bad, and the ugly. Recently, the neurosurgeon recorded himself using a handheld breathalyzer after each glass of red wine and went viral on TikTok.

Labor Day is known as the unofficial end of summer, and for many, it's the last chance to get away for a summer vacation before school and work bring us back to reality. But with record domestic travel expected for the upcoming holiday weekend, drivers will need to pack some extra patience to avoid one of the scariest dangers on America's highways: Road Rage.

Virginia State Police stopped 4,475 speeders and 1,945 reckless drivers during 2023’s four-day Labor Day weekend. State troopers also cited 491 seat belt violations and 150 child restraint violations during that time period.

Americans’ cars and trucks are getting bigger and taller, while roadway fatalities have also climbed sharply over the past decade.
Now lawmakers in Congress are expected to introduce a bill on Friday that would require federal standards for hood height and visibility to protect pedestrians and other vulnerable road users.

GHSA’s new report with Responsibility.org and the National Alliance to Stop Impaired Driving (NASID), Cannabis Consumers and Safe Driving: Responsible Use Messaging, provides guidance on how State Highway Safety Offices (SHSOs) can better communicate with cannabis consumers about safe driving and offers recommendations about the types of messages that do and don’t work.

As distracted and drug-impaired driving fatalities climb, the Traffic Injury Research Foundation (TIRF) is sounding the alarm on urgent road safety challenges in two revealing new reports.

In 2020, approximately 48 million licensed drivers were older than 65 years. Within this age group, car crashes led to 7,480 deaths and 149,881 non-fatal injuries.

To put it not so gently, “Drivers rely on it [ADAS] too much and are becoming worse drivers,” Davey Resource Group Fleet Support and Operations Logistics Manager Bob Mossing said.

Virginia State Police will increase its patrols along some areas of Route 460 Friday and Saturday, as the fall semester begins for a number of colleges and universities in the area.

The Labor Day holiday weekend is fast approaching which means many are preparing to celebrate with family and friends as they attend barbecues, pool parties and other gatherings.

NHTSA reminds all drivers to watch out for children and follow all traffic laws, including speed limits in school zones, yielding to pedestrians in crosswalks, and not passing school buses when their lights are flashing and stop arms are extended.

This initiative seeks to increase awareness of the Virginia Rider Training Program and encourage motorcyclists to enhance their skills through this vital training.

Richmond is expanding its speed camera program as part of a broader initiative to enhance safety around local schools.

We all have an image of distracted driving in our head: texting or talking on the phone, looking for something in your car, etc. However, the reality is that distracted driving can encompass many activities that we consider harmless.

Between December 11, 2024, and January 1, 2025, 168 Virginia law enforcement agencies will participate in the holiday wave of Virginia’s “Drive Sober or Get Pulled Over” campaign. Law enforcement officers will conduct 761 individual saturation patrols and 82 sobriety checkpoints across the Commonwealth.

The week looks to remind drivers about the dangers of running a red light and the importance of safe driving.

Multiple studies testing people’s cognitive faculties when drinking have found that both sustained attention and multitasking are already impaired at .05.

A recent Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences study evaluates the effectiveness of behavioral interventions to reduce distracted driving.

Blood alcohol levels can reliably show if someone is unfit to drive, but there are no established standards for impairment by drugs.

Drunk driving is a choice that no one should make, and the crashes, injuries, and fatalities that are the result of these actions are 100% preventable.

Vehicle submersions claim the lives of far too many people who could have survived if they had just known what to do and in what order to do it.

In the early days of the pandemic in 2020, traffic stops by the police plummeted around the country, as fewer cars were on the road and as agencies instructed officers to avoid nonessential contact with the public.

Features like adaptive cruise control don't do much to make driving safer, per a new study from the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety.

With school out for summer, a lot of young adults are out on road trips and at parties, which could make for some distracted drivers.

According to the Virginia DMV, 335 people were killed in crashes while not wearing seatbelts in the Commonwealth in 2023 — and one in four people in Virginia do not wear a seatbelt while in a car, according to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration.

The number of traffic-related crash incidents increased to about 4% in 2023 in Virginia compared to 2022.

A large trial of strategies to reduce distracted driving showed that those that were “gamified” yielded a lasting reduction in handheld phone usage while driving.

A study late last year found that the approach significantly enhanced safety for all road users. By narrowing lanes, cities can also reallocate that found space to sidewalks and bike lanes.

In areas with few streetlights, drivers are more than 3 times as likely to yield to pedestrians at illuminated crosswalks than at dark ones, a new study from the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety shows.

Injuries and deaths are also soaring. Observers say helmet mandates are a good place to start.

Researchers at the AAA Foundation found dangerous behaviors like speeding, not using seatbelts, and impaired driving contributed to a significant rise in fatal crashes compared to pre-pandemic times.

The share of licensed drivers ages 70 and older has risen 30.1% in the last decade. At the same time, the portion of fatal crashes involving drivers 65 and older has also increased, from 22.8% in 2013 to 24.4% in 2022.

The National Transportation Safety Board issued a Safety Alert Thursday urging parents nationwide to protect their teen drivers from marijuana-impaired driving.

For the past decade, Hughes, of Chesterfield County, has shared the story of his life-changing crash that cost him his legs.

Rail safety nonprofit Operation Lifesaver Inc. (OLI) recently released a new series of rail crossing safety videos tailored for school bus operators.

An Insurance Institute for Highway Safety survey revealed that 60% of respondents support the idea of their vehicles providing warnings when they exceed speed limits.

The campaign runs through July 31 and is supported by a $9.5 million national media buy featuring English- and Spanish-language ads for TV, radio, and digital platforms.

More than 1 million vehicles were stolen in 2023, a 25% increase in vehicle thefts over the previous few years. That’s the equivalent of one vehicle stolen every 31 seconds.

A Virginia Tech researcher has published findings as part of a collaborative grant that is shedding new light on the complex issue of drinking and driving among teens and young adults in the U.S.

ReEstablish Richmond is set to help 200 newly-arrived Virginians start driving, providing language access, drivers classes and even funds to buy a car.

Traffic fatalities surged during the COVID-19 pandemic. This research highlights the fact that disadvantaged communities bore the brunt of the increase and calls for holistic solutions to promote equitable access to safe transportation.

According to the data, Virginia Beach saw 134 fatal accidents within the time period with 52.24% of those crashes involving teen drivers.

According to the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety, as of December of last year, the automakers — including the Big Three (Ford, General Motors, and Stellantis) — had installed AEB on 95% or more of their new light-duty vehicles.

A new report indicates that U.S. traffic fatalities fell in 2023 for the second straight year; three years after traffic fatalities surged in 2020 and 2021 as the nation grappled with the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic.

The four-day experience will prepare teens to work in peer-to-peer programs in their schools or through community youth groups to promote safe teen driving and help prevent motor vehicle crashes among teens.

The B.R.A.K.E.S national organization hosted its first day of a two-day driving course for parents and teenagers in Harrisonburg.

Earlier this week, NHTSA launched a speeding prevention campaign called “Speeding Catches Up With You” to remind drivers to slow down.

An in-vehicle camera can continuously watch you for signs of intoxication, with a new AI algorithm pinpointing your level of drunkenness with a 75% accuracy.

Speed Limiter, Automatic Emergency Braking, Seizure Mandates Delayed Until 2025

Today, too many young people drive after consuming alcohol and the number of crashes is only made worse by the rise in distracted driving and driving under the influence of drugs.

Transportation agencies urge drivers to prepare before heading out on summer road trips; part of that includes knowing when to ‘Move Over’

A guide to assessing if you’re ready to get back behind the wheel and how to get there.

Can my son learn from the example of the robot controlling the steering wheel? Or should it be the other way around?

Earlier in the week, News 3 caught up with local leaders and members of AAA Tidewater to talk about driving safely during the holidays.

The new traffic safety paradigm recognizes exposure — total vehicle travel — as a risk factor, and therefore the additional casualties caused by planning decisions that induce more driving, and the safety benefits of VMT reductions.

Youth with mood disorders, such as depression and bipolar disorder, were 30% less likely to obtain a driver’s license than other youth, suggests a study funded by the National Institutes of Health (NIH).

The campaign runs today through July 31 and is supported by a $9.5 million national media buy featuring English- and Spanish-language ads for TV, radio, and digital platforms.

Travelers Insurance’s recently released 2024 Distracted Driving Risk Index has specific data on construction businesses and distracted driving—and the results should raise eyebrows about driver behavior.

Preliminary data released by the Virginia State Police Wednesday indicates six individuals lost their lives in six traffic crashes during the five-day statistical counting period designated for the July 4 holiday.

NHTSA says its early projections of traffic fatalities in 2024 estimate that 8,650 people died in traffic crashes in the first three months of the year.

In the last year, three people have been killed and two people have suffered life-altering, disfiguring injuries due to these faulty aftermarket replacement air bag inflators.

More than 95% of U.S. motorists don’t understand that semi-trucks have blind spots, highlighting the need for fleet coaching during a time when nuclear verdicts could close trucking businesses.

To make someone put their phone down while driving, show them the money—with a catch, according to new research published in JAMA Open.

NHTSA on Thursday announced its plans to potentially update safety standards for vehicle seats — a major step toward amending protocols that, many have said, lack the strength necessary to protect riders from [crashes] turning deadly.

More than 140 Virginia teens representing schools and youth groups arrived at JMU today for the 2024 YOVASO Summer Leadership Retreat, Empowering Stars for Safe Teen Driving.

Virginia enacted the Move Over law in 2002 to help prevent roadway tragedies and keep the Commonwealth’s highways safe for everyone.

Richmond Raceway announced today that Who’s Your Driver, a sober and safe driving initiative created by DRIVE SMART Virginia, will be the presenting partner for this summer’s NASCAR race weekend at Richmond Raceway on Aug. 10-11

The Washington Regional Alcohol Program is making it easier to get home safe this Independence Day by offering free Lyft rides (up to $15) to Fourth of July travelers.

The first week of July is typically one of the busiest travel periods of the year, and it’s likely no surprise that it is also one of the deadliest.

This contest offers students an opportunity to create TV, radio and billboard PSAs to educate their peers about the dangers of distracted driving, specifically cell phone usage while driving.

Utility companies and safety advocates are collaborating to remind drivers in Virginia that beginning on July 1, new civil penalties will be in place for moving violations inside of an active work zone.

As drivers prepare to hit the road for the Fourth of July weekend, a new report shows car crashes involving pedestrians are on the rise across the commonwealth.

The Fourth of July means feasts, fireworks, and parties, but the Virginia State Police is asking that it include focus and sobriety as well.

Boy oh boy is it going to be a busy week for travelers. So before you travel, it’s important to be reminded about Virginia’s Slow Down, Move Over law.

Drunk driving crashes fall, as cases involving marijuana and opiates surge.

Hot on the heels of a holiday travel weekend, the Commercial Vehicle Safety Alliance is hitting the road with Operation Safe Driver starting next week.

A new report shows some progress in improving safety for people traveling by foot, but the number of pedestrian fatalities is still far higher than it was before the pandemic.

The latest data comes from a National Transportation Research Nonprofit, whose leaders are now urging for more traffic improvements throughout the state.

The National Traffic Highway Safety Administration reports in 2022 when it comes to seat belt compliance rates Virginia falls at the bottom of the list when compared to other states with 75.6 percent.

With kids out of school and temperatures heating up, summertime is officially here, and that means drivers are hitting the roads for vacation and trips.

The first week of July is typically one of the busiest American travel periods of the year. It’s also one of the deadliest.

Two projects created by Fredericksburg City students received prizes recently as part of the Arrive Alive – It's a Whole Vibe initiative.

Using ADAS while turning or in low light conditions — such as dawn or dusk — actually increased crashes.

Prior research suggests that states with mandated driver training requirements during the license permit phase can reduce crash rates in young drivers.

San Diego-based Lloyd Pest Control put its team members behind the wheel at the company's annual training event to reinforce the company’s decision to ban the use of both handheld and hands-free devices while driving a company vehicle.

The International Bridge, Tunnel and Turnpike Association (IBTTA) launched the first Global Road Safety Week - which runs until 28 June - with an emphasis on "little choices" which can make a difference.

Yes, fewer pedestrians died on America's roads last year than in 2022. But was it because we saved their lives, or because fewer people dared to walk, or both?

Alarmingly, the number of traffic-related incidents and fatalities involving pedestrians has increased rapidly, raising significant concerns among policymakers, city planners and the general public.

“Data shows 40% of fatalities during the July 4 holiday period involve an alcohol-impaired driver, one of the highest percentages among all the major holidays, which makes staying safe on the roads even more crucial,”

Drive Safe Hampton Roads (DSHR) is sponsoring the 757 Sober Ride campaign for the July 4th holiday weekend: 10 pm, Wednesday, July 3 through to 3 am, Friday, July 5

June is National Safety Month, and there are few places more important than the roads to practice safe habits.

Sometimes, it takes a little extra courage to remind our independence-seeking teens that too many passengers are dangerous, that their cell phones should be turned off while driving and that other distractions can be just as deadly.

Halifax County High School won first place in a state program — Arrive Alive – It’s a Whole Vibe initiative — to educate students about driver and passenger safety.

This event, held in memory of Christopher King, aims to raise awareness and educate the community about safe driving practices, especially among youth.

The normalization of driving under the influence in America is a dangerous trend that puts countless lives at risk every day. I should know.

Designing for walkability is not just about roads. The design of vehicles — everything from their size and shape to their software — has a profound effect on the safety of pedestrians, cyclists, and other road users

Distracted driving violations by members of Gen Z shot up 24% last year

The Federal Motor Carriers Association (FMCSA) is placing an even greater emphasis on the importance of commercial motor vehicle (CMV) drivers using seat belts.

This year’s extended Independence Day forecast exceeds pre-pandemic numbers, sets new record

The groups claim the standard, FMVSS 302, — first set in 1971 and last amended in 1998 — is outdated and causes manufacturers to add harmful flame retardant chemicals to seat foam and other materials.

Elon Musk will unveil Tesla’s driverless taxi in August. Safety experts say the technology is nowhere near ready for prime time.

A man in Norfolk pleaded guilty to the death of his friend during a drunk driving incident in 2022. Joseph Medina was convicted of aggravated involuntary manslaughter after causing the death of his shipmate Zachary Soussa in a car crash.

When traffic volume increases, it becomes even more important to follow safe driving principles such as maintaining a safe distance from the vehicle in front of you, scanning your entire driving environment on a continual basis, and ensuring you have an escape route in the event another motorist nearby creates an unsafe situation.

States to drivers: READ OUR WITTY HIGHWAY SIGNS. Feds to states: YOU’RE NOT FUNNY.

Young adults typically underestimate the risk of distracted driving, making it difficult for public safety officials to craft effective messaging.

With more teenagers flocking to e-bikes than ever before, the “freedom” that traditionally came at 16 years old with a driver’s license is now available to teens even earlier.

Adopting emerging technologies across the transportation landscape will improve safety for commuters and the freight sector, the nation’s top highway director said, as stakeholders look to decrease traffic fatalities.

Shocking as it may seem, civil engineering programs do not need to offer any transportation-specific courses. Here's why that's bad news.

Dash camera footage released by Virginia State Police shows the moment a trooper was struck by her cruiser when it was rammed from behind.

The U.S. Government Accountability Office (GAO) will conduct a review of U.S. vehicle safety design standards and their effects on the safety of vulnerable road users such as pedestrians and bicyclists...

As families fire up the grill and gather to celebrate Dad, distracted driving ignites road risk on Father’s Day, making it the fifth most distracted day of the year, according to Cambridge Mobile Telematics (CMT).

By arming ourselves with knowledge and adopting safe driving practices, we can ensure that the joy of summer travel is coupled with a commitment to safety for ourselves and others on the roadways.

School will soon be “out”, and that unfortunately means roadway risks are “in” for the summer for teenage drivers.

Dangerous by Design 2024 finds that 7,522 people were struck and killed while walking in 2022, an average of more than 20 per day. As in previous years, we found that not everyone lives and walks with the same risk

“There’s no room for error, for that one error could cost you your life or the life of someone else,” John Saunders, DMV Highway Safety Office Director of Outreach, said.

The retreat is hosted by Youth of Virginia Speak Out About Traffic Safety (YOVASO), a Virginia State Police program, and will take place at James Madison University’s campus in Harrisonburg from July 11 to July 14.

A new book argues that road design, not driver error, is largely responsible for the surge in US traffic deaths among pedestrians and bicyclists.

Teens on the verge of falling asleep behind the wheel is a common threat to public safety on U.S. roadways, a new study reports.

We are in the middle of what some traffic safety experts consider "the 100 deadliest days" for teen drivers.

According to VSP, between Tuesday, May 28 and Tuesday, June 4, state troopers investigated 21 separate traffic crashes that resulted in 25 fatalities, just a week into what’s called the 100 deadliest days on the road each year.

Road rage is, unfortunately, common. According to the American Automobile Association's 2022 Traffic Safety Index, 89% of American drivers reported that they had fallen victim to aggressive behavior on the road.

According to data from advocacy group Kids and Car Safety, on average, 38 children die each year from heatstroke inside a vehicle. Over the last three decades, more than 1,000 children have died in these incidents.