News

A 24-year-old man is facing drunk driving and other charges after he allegedly struck a police officer, three police cars and numerous road barriers just blocks away from the City of Manassas' tree-lighting event Friday night.

Due to the next round of winter weather impacts anticipated to begin today, motorists traveling into and around Hampton Roads should stay alert for potentially hazardous road conditions throughout the day Monday and into Tuesday due to forecasted snowfall and temperatures below freezing. Virginia Department of Transportation (VDOT) Hampton Roads District personnel stand ready to respond with the necessary materials and equipment to address potential road impacts.

December is one of the deadliest months for impaired driving; and according to data from the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration in 2022, December drunken driving rates were at their highest in 15 years.

At a packed conference room in the nation’s capital, dozens of people gasped as they watched a video monitor playing a terrifying, yet common scene: Cars speeding past children as they approached their school bus.

The Insurance Institute for Highway Safety (IIHS) is highlighting car safety measures as winter weather continues across the region.

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.

Laws are being put into place every year to make driving that much safer for residents across the country. Many of these laws are decided on a state-by-state level, which leads to many states not meeting the standards for maintaining “safe traffic safety laws.”

A new industry survey from Vehicle Management Systems (VMS) finds that small fleet operators are carrying heavy workloads with limited resources, but are showing strong enthusiasm for digital tools that streamline operations and cut downtime.

Advocates for Highway and Auto Safety will unveil its 2026 Roadmap to Safety report card, a comprehensive rating of all 50 states and Washington, D.C., based on their progress in adopting 18 proven, lifesaving traffic safety laws.

Older Driver Safety Awareness Week is Dec. 1-5, 2025. The annual campaign promotes the importance of mobility and transportation to ensure older adults remain active in their community while staying safe behind the wheel.

The Virginia State Police is investigating a pursuit that led to a crash along Interstate 95 in Chesterfield County on Monday afternoon.

After decades in vehicle registration management, including time working within a DMV, I've witnessed firsthand how technology has transformed what was once a manual, time-consuming process into a much more streamlined and efficient one.

Yet, even with these advancements, managing fleet registrations remains complex, requiring constant vigilance over ever-changing requirements across states, counties, and even zip codes.

AAA is joining forces with Mothers Against Drunk Driving (MADD) and Waymo in a collaborative effort to prevent impaired driving, reminding families and drivers to plan safe rides home this holiday season during one of the most dangerous times of year on the road. December is Impaired Driving Prevention Month, serving as a timely reminder for everyone to make safe choices and stay vigilant about impaired driving.

As snow makes its way across Virginia early this week, the Virginia Department of Transportation (VDOT) wants drivers to keep their guards up for slick roads and to check road conditions before doing any driving, especially during the Tuesday morning commute.

When it comes to laws aimed at keeping drivers and passengers safe, D.C. and Maryland are ahead of Virginia, according to a new report from Advocates for Highway and Auto Safety. But all three jurisdictions have room to improve.

Virginia State Police report the totals for deaths and crashes in general were down from the same time in 2024.

Rivian is recalling nearly 35,000 EDV commercial vans to address damaged seat belt pretensioners. The remedy includes physical inspections and an OTA software update to detect driver misuse.

A Virginia Tech student died early Wednesday morning after being struck by a Blacksburg Police officer responding to an emergency call, marking the second pedestrian death of a university student this year, following the March death of 19-year-old Franklin Zhang.

The U.S. government announced major design changes it wants to implement to make the female version of the vehicle crash test dummy more lifelike, potentially replacing a model used for decades that is based almost entirely around the body of a man despite higher injury risks for women.

AAA is issuing a renewed warning to Virginia drivers as Thanksgiving travel reaches its peak, emphasizing the life-saving importance of the Commonwealth’s Move Over Law.

As the holiday season approaches, the Virginia State Police reminded the public about the importance of wearing seatbelts.

Social media influencers put their skills to the test, learning about distracted driving and its dangerous impacts at the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety (IIHS) facility in Ruckersville, Virginia on Nov. 20.

Travelers will experience significant changes when moving around Virginia this week for the Thanksgiving holiday, one of the busiest times of the year, including a new seat belt law and the opening of new express lanes.

The Virginia Department of Transportation is urging motorists to travel safely this Thanksgiving holiday as the agency prepares to suspend most highway work zones and lift temporary lane closures across the Commonwealth.

The Prince William County Police enforce traffic safety all year, and the Department reminds motorists to Wear your seatbelt every time! That is the underlying message of this year’s “Click It or Ticket” seatbelt enforcement campaign, which runs from Nov. 22-30, 2025. Seatbelts save lives!

Virginia State Police is investigating a second shooting on area roads in the space of about five hours, this one taking place on Interstate 664 northbound Tuesday night in Newport News.

Heavy traffic filled roads across the commonwealth Sunday as travelers returned home from Thanksgiving destinations, prompting local law enforcement to warn drivers to take extra precautions.

Virginia State Police are investigating a fatal crash on I‑85 that left one person dead and three others injured.

AA predicts a record-setting 81.8 million will journey at least 50 miles from home between Tuesday, Nov. 25 and Monday, Dec. 1. Last year, 1.6 million less people traveled for the Thanksgiving holiday, the organization said.

Sitting in traffic is never convenient, but often times it’s the result of a crash or incident that may have caused serious injuries or fatalities. The Virginia Department of Transportation (VDOT) plays a key role responding to events on the roads to keep the traveling public safe and traffic moving.

In honor of Crash Responder Safety Week 2025, U.S. Deputy Secretary of Transportation Steven G. Bradbury, the Federal Highway Administration (FHWA), the Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration (FMCSA) and the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) today joined transportation safety and emergency response organizations to commit to training one million responders and reduce roadway injuries and fatalities.

The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) is urging drivers to avoid distractions behind the wheel, emphasizing that distracted driving is a dangerous gamble that can result in serious consequences.

As proclaimed by Governor Glenn Youngkin, November 17–21 is Crash Responder Safety Week in Virginia, observed in alignment with the nationwide effort to recognize the critical work of emergency responders and the dangers they face while managing roadway incidents. The Virginia Department of Health’s (VDH) Office of Emergency Medical Services (EMS) joins partners across the Commonwealth and the nation in raising awareness and promoting safer conditions for those who protect motorists on our roadways.

Virginia Commonwealth University, in partnership with the city of Richmond’s Department of Public Works, has launched a quick-build pilot program at four intersections on VCU’s campuses to improve intersection safety through left-turn hardening measures.

A teenager died in a crash following a police pursuit in Orange County over the weekend, according to the Virginia State Police.

Before you hit the roads for Thanksgiving next Thursday, first responders are working to make sure your kids are safe.

Consistent with trends in recent years, the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) continues to pursue a vigorous and ambitious regulatory agenda.

As the holiday season kicks into gear and millions of Virginians hit the road, the Virginia Department of Motor Vehicles (DMV) reminds everyone to drive safely and always buckle up. Starting November 22, the nationwide Click It or Ticket campaign revs up to remind everyone that seat belts save lives and wearing one isn’t just smart—it’s the law.

With less than a week until Thanksgiving, Mothers Against Drunk Driving Virginia is teaming up with Richmond Ford for its annual holiday safe driving campaign event.

World Day of Remembrance for Road Traffic Victims will be marked this Sunday, November 16.

Representatives Madeleine Dean and Brian Fitzpatrick of Pennsylvania have introduced House Resolution 845 in the U.S. House of Representatives. The resolution was developed by the National Sleep Foundation (NSF) with additional data and statistics from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, the National Highway Transportation Safety Administration, the AAA Foundation for Traffic Safety, and the National Safety Council.

The National Safety Council is joining the Vision Zero Network, Families for Safe Streets and It Could Be Me to honor those killed and injured in roadway incidents on World Day of Remembrance for Road Traffic Victims.

A truck driver died after a collision with a sedan Monday morning on Interstate 64 westbound near Indian River Road in Virginia Beach that closed the highway for seven hours, according to Virginia State Police.

Two pedestrians have died in as many days as a result of crashes on Fairfax County roads.

As fleets strive for efficiency, making data-driven decisions can be time-consuming. Just as artificial intelligence (AI) is moving into nearly every facet of life, it too is finding its place in the transportation industry with the prospect of helping handle and interpret all that data.

As the holiday season approaches, Virginia teens are being encouraged to promote road safety by participating in a safe driving holiday jingle competition.

The statewide contest, titled “2025 Jingle Your Way to a Safe Holiday: Buckle Up and Drive Safety,” grants participants a chance to win up to $500.

Crash Responder Safety Week, observed November 17–21, is a national effort to raise awareness about the critical importance of roadway safety and protecting those who protect us. The week reminds all drivers to slow down, move over, and stay alert when approaching a crash scene or emergency vehicles on the shoulder.

Prince William County police said an officer recently pulled over a 17-year-old who was driving 105 mph in a 65-mph zone along Interstate 95 near the Quantico exit.

According to police, the teen was stopped and cited at the scene.

Families who lost loved ones in preventable car crashes gathered Sunday at Virginia State Police headquarters to remember victims and advocate for stronger road safety measures during the World Day of Remembrance for Road Traffic Victims.

Throughout October, Norfolk Police engaged in targeted enforcement efforts to encourage safe driving and pedestrian habits.

As part of these efforts, Traffic Officers issued 10 citations to drivers who were observed operating their vehicles while holding a cell phone – an action that endangers both drivers and pedestrians.

Nov. 2-8, 2025, is Drowsy Driving Prevention Week. It is held each year the week following the end of daylight saving time. After falling back, and gaining an hour, some drivers are surprised to learn that the time change can impact their daily routine, which makes this week an ideal time to raise awareness of the importance of proper sleep and the dangers of drowsy driving. In fact, drowsy driving is now referred to as the “fourth D” along with drunk, drugged and distracted as major causes of impaired driving.

Daylight Saving Time has officially ended, which means sunsets are happening earlier.

WDBJ7 spoke with officials about the dangers of driving in the dark, especially during an active time of the year for deer.

Driving under the influence isn’t limited to alcohol or illegal drugs. Many common, over-the-counter medications can significantly impair your ability to drive safely.

The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) has opened a preliminary evaluation into potential defects in the rear passenger seat belt warning system of 2023-2024 Honda Pilot vehicles. The estimated population is 142,572 vehicles.

The Virginia Department of Transportation (VDOT) has installed new pedestrian crosswalks with Rectangular Rapid Flashing Beacon equipment at two intersections in Spotsylvania County.

Defensive Drivers Institute is pleased to announce the availability of its Virginia Driver Improvement Clinic, a fully online, state-approved program designed to help Virginia drivers satisfy court or DMV-ordered requirements, potentially earn safe driving point credits, and improve their overall driving skills.

With the sun setting earlier and deer mating season in October-December, drivers are urged to be aware of deer on the roads, especially at dawn and dusk, and to take precautions such as slowing down, increasing following distance, and using high beams.

The purpose of this project, located in Wakefield, is to improve pedestrian safety along Route 460 (General Mahone Highway) between Route 714 (Jeb White Street/High Street) and Sussex Avenue.

A bicyclist is dead after a crash involving a Greater Richmond Transit Company (GRTC) bus on W. Broad Street in Henrico County in October.

The Virginia Department of Motor Vehicles (DMV) is joining forces with the Virginia High School League (VHSL) to launch the “Buckle Up, Phone Down” campaign, urging drivers to wear seat belts and put down their phones.

A spokesperson with AAA said children are more than twice as likely to be hit by a vehicle on Halloween night compared to other nights.

Last year, 46 emergency responders never made it home, according to the Emergency Responder Safety Institute. They were police officers, firefighters, EMTs, and tow truck operators—struck while assisting others on the roadside. “Slow Down, Move Over” (SDMO) laws were created to prevent these tragedies, but a new study from the AAA Foundation for Traffic Safety (AAAFTS) finds that confusion about the laws and inconsistent enforcement are leaving responders at continued risk.

Many parents know the concern that comes with handing car keys to their teenager.

That’s why the Virginia Department of Motor Vehicles (DMV) is partnering with the Virginia High School League to help keep those young drivers alive and well through a new campaign called “Buckle Up, Phone Down.”

As the clocks fall back and daylight fades earlier in the day, Virginia drivers are facing higher chances of hitting wildlife — especially deer and elk. The Virginia Department of Transportation (VDOT) is warning drivers to be extra careful as daylight saving time ends on Sunday, Nov. 2.

As Americans change their clocks this weekend, the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration reminds everyone to check for open safety recalls on their vehicles and equipment. Checking for recalls on NHTSA’s website helps ensure that your vehicle is safe for you and your family.

Driving in the nation’s capital may come with more stress than you think. According to Allstate’s 2025 America’s Best Drivers Report, Washington, D.C. ranks among the riskiest cities in the U.S., placing high on the list of areas most likely to experience a collision.

The AAA Foundation for Traffic Safety found drivers don’t believe they will be stopped or are unaware of what the law requires.

It’s that time of year again when clocks “fall back,” granting most of us an extra hour of sleep.

While that added shut-eye is a welcome bonus, the shift in daylight saving time also brings important considerations for road safety, particularly as evenings grow darker earlier.

Resetting our clocks is often the easiest part, but resetting our bodies and driving habits can be a bit tougher.

This is the time of year when deer pose a serious threat to those traveling on our roadways, so it’s important that drivers stay alert,” said Gov. Mike DeWine.

Motor vehicle crashes remain the leading cause of preventable death for teenagers in the U.S., with more than 2,700 losing their lives in 2023. As National Teen Driver Safety Week approaches (Oct. 19-25), the National Safety

Drive Safe Hampton Roads is launching a teen seat belt challenge to mark National Teen Driver Safety Week Oct. 19-25.

A new student-led safety push is rolling across Virginia this fall with a simple message: buckle up and slow down. The Drive for Change: Buckle Up and Slow Down project, led by Youth of Virginia Speak Out About Traffic Safety (YOVASO), runs September 15–November 14, 2025, and invites middle and high schools—and youth groups of all kinds—to run peer-to-peer campaigns that make safer choices the norm.

Findings from a new study unveiled at the American College of Surgeons (ACS) Clinical Congress 2025 in Chicago, October 4–7, indicated that over 40 percent of drivers who died in motor vehicle collisions tested positive for active delta-9-tetrahydrocannabinol or THC – the psychoactive chemical ingredient in cannabis or marijuana – in their system, with average blood levels far exceeding those considered to cause impairment.

As the leaves turn and the mornings grow cooler, fall brings not just pumpkin spice but new driving hazards across the D.C., Maryland and Virginia region. Wet leaves, patchy fog, early frost, and—most dangerously—deer are among the biggest threats to drivers this time of year.

On average seven teenagers die every day in traffic crashes nationwide, which is why National Teen Driver Safety week, was created. It’s aimed to raise awareness of how inexperienced teenagers, behind the wheel, can lead to more accidents.

In recognition of National Teen Driver Safety Week, DRIVE SMART Virginia, with generous funding support from I-66 Express Mobility Partners, is launching a weeklong series of educational events aimed at reducing teen traffic fatalities and promoting safe driving habits among young drivers.

This weekend, NASCAR star Ross Chastain returns to Martinsville Speedway with a mission both on and off the track. Known for his fearless driving, Chastain is chasing victory while teaming up with the Virginia Department of Motor Vehicles (DMV) and DRIVE SMART Virginia to remind fans that the real win comes from buckling up and driving sober.

Nauto Inc., the leader in AI-powered safety and operations excellence for commercial vehicles, announced the results of a second third-party performance study conducted in December 2024 by The Virginia Tech Transportation Institute (VTTI)1, a globally recognized authority in transportation research. The study evaluated Nauto's Predictive Risk Fusion technology, which combines in-cab driver monitoring and external road hazard detection, simultaneously and in real-time.

Recent interstate shootings, including the latest that took place Thursday morning on I-464 in Chesapeake, have brought awareness to instances of road rage.

The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) is reporting recalls on four different Mack truck models.

A new study has revealed that the youngest and oldest drivers on American roads are most likely to be distracted when involved in fatal crashes.

Lynchburg Police are looking for an older model dark Honda Pilot and its driver after a shooting Monday morning.

A Hampton Roads teenager is bringing awareness to mental health, while he practices his favorite hobby — racing.

As aggressive driving remains a noticeable concern for Virginia State Police, authorities are offering Virginians ways to avoid road rage.

As we approach the end of 2025, the Fairfax County Police Department remains committed to reducing crashes and improving roadway safety for everyone who lives, works, and travels in our community.

A Virginia State Trooper and two Wythe County deputies were treated and released from the hospital for smoke inhalation after they helped rescue two commercial truck drivers following a crash Wednesday morning on southbound Interstate 81 in Wythe County.

Local first responders are reminding drivers of the rules of the road after two of their own were involved in accidents on Route 29 due to drivers ignoring move-over laws.

More than 84% of traffic fatalities in Virginia occur on non-interstate roads, including rural routes, secondary highways, and local backroads that many drivers underestimate.

Hundreds of thousands of Ford vehicles in the U.S. are being recalled due to seatbelt and rearview camera issues, regulators said on Friday.

Teen Driver Safety Week, Oct. 19-25, is an ideal opportunity for parents of young drivers to have honest conversations about safe driving habits and roadway risks.

It won’t be time for daylight saving time to hit and the clocks to “fall back” on Nov. 2, but your commute home may already look a little different. As the days get shorter and sunsets come earlier, AAA is reminding drivers to stay safe on the road and not get behind the wheel if you are feeling tired.

The Virginia State Police (VSP) and their law enforcement partners in Bedford, Botetourt, Roanoke and Montgomery Counties combined efforts made a positive impact with “Operation Drive Safe 460,” the 24-hour safety initiative held on September 26. The focused effort along Route 460 successfully reduced risky driving behaviors, increased driver awareness, and highlighted making safe choices behind the wheel.

The U.S. Department of Transportation’s National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) recognizes October as National Pedestrian Safety Month, and the Norfolk Police Department is partnering with NHTSA to encourage safe driving practices and increased pedestrian safety.

The U.S. National Highway Traffic Safety Administration said on Thursday that it is opening an investigation into 2.88 million Tesla (TSLA.O), opens new tab vehicles equipped with its Full Self-Driving system over more than 50 reports of traffic-safety violations and a series of crashes.

Drive Safe Hampton Roads has announced discounted rides for the community on Columbus Day.

Virginia has taken a proactive stance on distracted driving, outlawing the use of handheld devices while driving in 2021.

This summarizes the key findings in the report of the Governor's Special Task Force on Highway Safety released Wednesday:

Police are looking for find the driver of a red Kia Forte involved in a hit-and-run incident on Monday in Stafford and Prince William counties.

Sunday marks the beginning of National Teen Driver Safety Week.

The Department of Transportation’s commissioner says that the week serves as a reminder for parents to talk with their teens about the risks they face behind the wheel.

A Virginia driver is facing charges after authorities say he plowed into two state police vehicles — seriously injuring a trooper who had been helping with a disabled tractor-trailer on the side of the highway.

The latest “near miss” report by Northern Virginia Families for Safe Streets (NoVA FSS) identifies Gallows Road at Woodburn Elementary School as one of the county’s most dangerous spots for pedestrians.

Who's more at risk on the road? Is it city drivers or country drivers? The answer might surprise you.

The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration has notified all 50 states, District of Columbia, Puerto Rico, U.S. territories and the Bureau of Indian Affairs representing tribal communities of their qualification for more than $800 million in traffic safety grants for Fiscal Year 2026.

Scrolling through social media in traffic, chomping on a burger while changing lanes or applying makeup on the drive to work are common motorist distractions that can be observed visually.

“But we never talk about distractions you cannot see,” said Shaina Finkel, program assistant for the Florida Teen Safe Driving Coalition and past national president of Students Against Destructive Decisions. “Other distractions live in your head when you are stressed, overtired, overwhelmed, burnt out, or diagnosed with a mental condition that genuinely prevents you from the task of being fully focused while driving.”

As the days grow shorter, the Virginia Department of Transportation (VDOT) is warning drivers and pedestrians to be extra cautious of one another.

According to a release from VDOT, crashes involving pedestrians increased 43% between 2020 and 2024.

The Virginia State Police and our Law Enforcement partners in Bedford,
Botetourt, Roanoke and Montgomery Counties combined efforts made a positive impact with
“Operation Drive Safe 460,” the 24-hour safety initiative held on September 26. The focused
effort along Route 460 successfully reduced risky driving behaviors, increased driver
awareness, and highlighted making safe choices behind the wheel.

Norfolk Police and Virginia State Police visited Norview High School on Friday to warn students about the dangers of drunk and distracted driving.

Tom Dingus, the Newport News-Tenneco Professor of Biomedical Engineering and Mechanics, received the the James J. Howard Highway Safety Trailblazer Award from the Governors Highway Safety Association. The award recognizes Dingus’ 41 years of innovation and impact in improving roadway safety.

The Virginia State Police (VSP) is issuing a critical safety reminder to parents and teen drivers across the Commonwealth: October is statistically the most dangerous month on Virginia roadways for all crash fatalities, including those involving young, inexperienced drivers

School administrators in Halifax County said a school bus struck and killed a pedestrian on Friday, October 3.

The U.S. Department of Transportation’s National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) has issued a Request for Quote (RFQ) for a contractor to take the lead in the development of a “Safe Systems Approach” (SSA) to motorcycle safety.

If it feels like everyone has road rage these days, that’s because they probably do. A staggering 96% of drivers admit to engaging in aggressive driving behaviors over the past year, according to a new study from the AAA Foundation for Traffic Safety. From speeding and tailgating to cutting off other vehicles, aggressive driving has become a near universal experience – and it’s not just frustrating, it appears to be contagious.

A Dinwiddie County sheriff's deputy is recovering after being hit by a car Monday morning while directing traffic in front of an elementary school.

The Virginia State Police has announced a multi-agency effort to encourage drivers to be responsible behind the wheel on U.S. Route 460.

“Operation Drive Safe 460” will take place on Friday, September 26.

New this year, new federal safety standards were announced requiring car seats to test and confirm improved protection from side-impact collisions before December 2026.

With construction activities on northern Virginia's new interstate express lanes increasing and now concentrated in the median along the project's corridor, the Virginia Department of Transportation (VDOT) and its I-495 Express Lanes Northern Extension (495 NEXT) project partner, Transurban, have launched a driver safety campaign.

You've heard of defensive driving — driving practices to help you stay safe on the road, like reducing your speed in bad weather or signaling before switching lanes. But what about defensive walking and cycling?

They're a crucial part of pedestrian and cyclist safety, and more people should practice them, says Ryan Sharp, a transportation consultant with Alta, a transportation design firm.

The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration said it opened a preliminary evaluation into 17,198 Rivian Automotive Inc. electric delivery vans over seat belt concerns.

The Virginia Department of Motor Vehicles (DMV) is bringing a show-stopping attraction to the 2025 Virginia State Fair on September 26–28: a towering 54-foot bright yellow ladder designed to make one powerful point—speed has an impact.

A chain-reaction crash involving at least 10 vehicles, including several tractor-trailers, shut down Interstate 81 on Thursday evening and left one person dead, according to Virginia State Police.

AAA and traffic safety organizations across Virginia came together Saturday to teach safe driving practices to teenagers and their families through interactive demonstrations and real-world simulations.

Virginia Commonwealth University (VCU) Police said they’re not letting up on traffic enforcement along Belvidere Street, one of Richmond’s busiest and most dangerous corridors.

The department has launched a major traffic safety initiative in March, focused on the five-block stretch between West Broad Street and Canal Street that runs through the heart of VCU’s campus.

The Chesterfield County Police Department is investigating a road rage shooting in Midlothian, which left a driver injured on Saturday afternoon.

At 5:15 p.m., officers received a report about a shooting on Midlothian Turnpike near Stonehenge Village Shopping Center.

At the scene, officers found a man with a gunshot wound. The victim is expected to survive.

Thomas King is used to cycling around Richmond. The Church Hill resident often rides on weekends and he also commutes by bike to his office a few miles away. He knows the best routes to take, what supplies to bring – such as spare tires – and now, he knows how to report almost-accidents on PlanRVA’s Near Miss Dashboard.

IIHS tested seven electric vehicles, with five earning good moderate overlap ratings but headlights lagging across the board. No model qualifies for TOP SAFETY PICK awards

Do you hear that sound in the distance? It may be a train whistle. The Virginia Department of Transportation (VDOT) wants to remind drivers of critical rail safety information to keep travelers safe and help prevent highway-rail crossing incidents.

The important safety reminder comes during Operation Lifesaver’s See Tracks? Think Train! Week, which runs Sept. 15-21.

Hyundai Motor (005380.KS), opens new tab is recalling 568,580 Palisade vehicles in the U.S., over an issue with the seat belt buckles which may not properly secure passengers in a crash, the U.S. autos safety regulator said on Thursday.
The recall affects certain 2020-2025 model year Palisade vehicles, the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration said.

Drivers who use phones while driving face a 240% higher crash risk compared to those who don’t, according to a report released Wednesday by the Governors Highway Safety Association (GHSA) and Cambridge Mobile Telematics.

The Virginia Department of Motor Vehicles (DMV) is bringing a powerful attraction to this year’s state fair. A 54-foot bright yellow ladder designed to show that speed has an impact.

According to a new AAA analysis of data compiled by the U.S. Department of Transportation, nearly half (47 percent) of children injured in car crashes were not properly restrained in a car seat and were either using just a vehicle seatbelt or no restraint at all.

The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) plans to launch three rulemakings to modernize Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standards for vehicles with automated driving systems.

Transportation Secretary Sean P. Duffy says the standards were written decades ago and fail to account for automated vehicles.

According to new research by the AAA Foundation for Traffic Safety, child crash fatalities have declined over the past five years. But many children are still being moved out of car seats and booster seats too soon.

AAA found that nearly 100,000 kids were injured in car crashes in 2023 alone, with a disturbing decline in car seat and booster seat use after children turned three years old.

Safety isn’t supposed to be a greatest hits album, but somehow, a few bad habits keep playing on repeat.

This time, I'm calling out five of the most common (and frustratingly frequent) safety slip-ups that still haunt light- and medium-duty fleets. You’ve probably seen these before… maybe even this week. But no shame here! Just some fun, practical ways to finally break the cycle.

The Virginia Department of Transportation (VDOT) is asking for the public’s help to improve safety and traffic flow at one of Hampton’s busiest intersections.

Officials are collecting community feedback on the intersection of Power Plant Parkway, Briarfield Road, and West Queen Street, an area that provides north and south access to Interstate 664.

Chesterfield County Public Schools, in partnership with BusPatrol and the Chesterfield County Police Department, is launching a new school bus safety enforcement program.

The program, which starts on Sept. 15, aims to tackle the issue of illegal school bus passings, according to a news release from the school system.

New cars will have to do a better job of detecting speeding and drunk driving to earn a Top Safety Pick+, the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety announced Tuesday. Changes to the agency’s highest rating were announced during a roundtable on impaired driving organized by Mothers Against Drunk Driving and are intended to curb dangerous and illegal activity, the agency said.

The Virginia Department of Transportation (VDOT) will begin a safety project in the Northern Neck region next week to slightly widen road shoulders on several primary routes to reduce the risk of crashes.

The number of motor vehicle-related deaths decreased nearly 13% in the first half of the year compared with the same period in 2024, a National Safety Council analysis shows.

In October 2023, an unthinkable tragedy unfolded in Coleman, Wisconsin: An 8‑month‑old girl lost her life when a driver, impaired by cannabis, ran a stop sign and crashed into another vehicle. In February 2025, the driver pleaded guilty to negligent vehicular homicide and drugged driving with a minor passenger – and now faces up to 10 years behind bars.

An interactive and educational program designed to improve senior driving safety is scheduled to take place next week.

Labor Day is the second deadliest weekend to drive in America after the fourth of July, according to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration.

However, a new study by Munley Law ranks Virginia as the 12th safest state to drive in this holiday weekend.

A Waynesboro man is on a mission to improve safety for everyone on the road after his daughter, Robyn, died tragically in New York City while doing bicycle messenger work in 2019.

Every year, fleets across the country invest in new tools and technologies to keep their drivers safe. Cameras, telematics, driver monitoring, advanced driver-assistance systems… the list keeps growing.

And, according to the 2025 Work Truck Safety Study, fleets are indeed paying attention. The basics of safety (driver training, policies, and awareness campaigns) are strong. Many fleets report steady efforts to reinforce rules of the road and to prioritize safety in daily operations.

Six people were killed in crashes across the Commonwealth over the Labor Day holiday weekend, including two in Chesapeake and one in Norfolk, according to Virginia State Police.

The Virginia Department of Motor Vehicles (DMV) has launched a powerful new seat belt safety campaign, “Impact”, to remind drivers and passengers that buckling up can mean the difference between life and death.

One man is dead and another is in the hospital after a tractor-trailer and a truck hauling propane crashed at an intersection on Williamsburg Road in Henrico County on Thursday afternoon.

With construction activities on the new express lanes increasing and now concentrated in the median along the project corridor, the Virginia Department of Transportation (VDOT) and its 495 Express Lanes Northern Extension (495 NEXT) project partner, Transurban, have launched a driver safety campaign.

Richmond is hosting a new national program designed to give young drivers real-world experience for handling emergencies.

The program is called B.R.A.K.E.S. — short for “Be Responsible And Keep Everyone Safe” and it’s offering hands-on training that goes beyond traditional driver’s education.

The West Virginia Governor’s Highway Safety Program (GHSP) reminds drivers to slow down and obey the speed limit ahead of a statewide high visibility enforcement (HVE) period that will begin with a kickoff enforcement event from 4 p.m. to 8 p.m. Friday, September 5, 2025, to be conducted by law enforcement agencies statewide. The targeted enforcement will continue through Sunday, September 21, 2025.

Driving trucks is one of the unappreciated backbones of modern civilization. It’s also hard and sometimes dangerous work. But technology is being spun up to make the job safer and easier.

An 11-year-old girl died after police said she was hit by a vehicle in Henrico County while riding a bicycle.

With District schools and the majority of Maryland schools kicking off the 2025-26 school year tomorrow, students across the region will be returning to campuses and classrooms, and transportation will undoubtedly be impacted. Back-to-school transportation affects not only students and parents, but also other motorists, bicyclists and pedestrians using the roads.

Virginia boasts a diverse highway network, from coastal interstates to mountainous parkways, but with that variety comes risk. Whether in urban corridors, historic suburban roads, or rural mountain passes, specific stretches consistently see serious and fatal crashes.

The District is launching a pilot driver education program at four area high schools.

The program will be launched on Sept. 22 at Coolidge High School, Eastern High School, Jackson Reed High School, and Phelps High School.

Back-to-school season is here and the DMV wants to remind everyone of school bus rules. Find out which laws impact you.

Traffic fatalities in D.C. are the lowest they’ve been in 12 years, the Department of Transportation said, crediting road redesigns and other measures.

The Prince William County Police Department joins law enforcement agencies throughout Virginia to deter and increase drunk driving enforcement. The Drive Sober or Get Pulled Over campaign will take place in Prince William County through Sept. 1, 2025.

Taking your eyes off the road for just two seconds can double your crash risk, whether you’re scrolling Instagram, eating a sandwich, or digging through a backpack. Each year, distracted driving kills more than 3,000 Americans.

A semi truck driver had a tough time during a weigh station inspection conducted in support of the Commercial Vehicle Safety Alliance’s Brake Safety Week campaign.

Taking your eyes off the road for just two seconds can double your crash risk, whether you’re scrolling Instagram, eating a sandwich, or digging through a backpack. Each year, distracted driving kills more than 3,000 Americans.

It's easy to get distracted while driving these days, not just by cell phones pinging, but by interacting with a touchscreen on the car or even looking to the side to change lanes.

But those who own Subaru cars equipped with DriverFocus technology report its benefitted them and made driving safer, according to a new study by the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety. Many insist the technology be on their next vehicle.

NASCAR Cup Series driver Ross Chastain joined forces with the Virginia Department of Motor Vehicles (DMV) and DRIVE SMART Virginia on Friday — ahead of his race at Richmond Raceway on Saturday — to promote lifesaving driving habits on and off the track

School starts Monday for students in Fairfax and Prince William counties, and officials say they’ve spent the summer preparing for a safe, smooth return.

In Fairfax County, Virginia’s largest school district with more than 180,000 students, parents and drivers should expect heavier traffic as more buses hit the roads and more students walk to school.

In 2023, nearly one-third of all traffic crash fatalities in the U.S. involved drivers with a Blood Alcohol Concentration (BAC) above 0.08 grams per decileter, which is the legal limit in 49 out of 50 states.

The spring 2025 survey revealed that nearly half – 45% – of respondents cited pedestrian safety above all other issues. And VCU leaders have been taking action.

Police are urging the public to slow down after a Woodbridge man was recently cited for going 101 miles per hour in a 55 miles per hour zone.

RELATED | Driver pulled over for speeding 140 mph in a 70 mph zone in Fairfax Co., Va.

There’s something particularly chilling about distracted truck drivers. An 80,000-pound vehicle doesn’t just crash — it devastates and destroys. When the pilots of these giant rigs drive distracted, the consequences can be catastrophic. And yet, our legal system is struggling to meet this moment.

The summer travel season is coming to an end. For those planning to hit the roads for one last summer getaway, the Virginia Department of Transportation (VDOT) wants to make your travels safe and easy so you can spend more time soaking up the sun.

As a parent of a teen driver, you spend a lot of time teaching them what to do behind the wheel. But a CARFAX expert and dad says parents need to take a few hours to teach their teen driver about car common sense.

The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) has launched a new website to provide emergency responders with easy access to Emergency Response Guides (ERGs) and rescue sheets.

With the growing number of electric vehicle (EV) models on the road, it is critical that IAFF members use this information to operate safely, prevent injury or death, and understand how to locate and disable EV components during a fire.

A new wave of state laws is enforcing stricter requirements for new drivers, but states still can't agree on how much practice is needed

The latest data from LexisNexis Risk Solutions shows that, across all age demographics, distracted driving has increased by 68.8% year-over-year (YoY).

Silent Generation drivers (ages 66-90) have seen the largest increase, up 80.3% followed by Millennials (ages 26-35), up 77.3%, and Gen X (ages 46-55), up 68.1%.

Hands-free doesn’t automatically mean danger-free, and that’s what some people fail to understand when driving around with their devices. The potential for an accident remains even without a handheld phone.

In July, the naval enterprise recorded 31 motorcycle crashes, with two resulting in fatalities. Due to favorable riding conditions, California led in motorcycle crashes for the 18th continuous month with 11 reported – accounting for over a third of the crashes (35%) overall. Florida followed with five reported or 16% of the incidents. North Carolina and Virginia each had three crashes (20%). The remaining incidents occurred throughout the United States as well as one crash each in Bahrain, Italy, Japan and Spain.

With Richmond’s Cook Out 400 Race fast approaching, Richmond Raceway and NASCAR are hosting some events to get fans revved up while also providing community resources.

“Road rage is often not really about traffic or a careless driver. It is often about emotional regulation. When you get into the car, you’re often feeling stressed or rushed, and traffic is one way that you can put your emotions into overdrive, take you from zero to 100 in just a matter of moments,” said Susan Albers, PsyD, psychologist at Cleveland Clinic.

The U.S. Department of Transportation’s National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) launched its annual “Drive Sober or Get Pulled Over” enforcement campaign on Tuesday, urging Americans to plan for a sober ride home ahead of the Labor Day weekend.

The Chesterfield County Police Department and Chesterfield County Public Schools are partnering up to encourage safe driving as the school year begins.

In a joint release, officials described the increased traffic brought on by the start of school and new routines.

Virginia Gov. Glenn Youngkin this year vetoed a measure that would have put rules in place for “high-risk artificial intelligence systems,” but would have excluded “autonomous vehicle technology” from that category.

Roadway fatalities in the United States and Virginia are headed in a troubling direction, according to highway safety officials.

Ross Chastain, famous for his “Hail Melon” mad dash into the NASCAR Championship 4 in 2022, was in Richmond on Friday to help Virginia DMV promote … safe driving?

Virginia is the latest state to expand its seatbelt laws, now requiring all adults to buckle up on highways — regardless of where they’re sitting in the car.

Before the new rule, only front-seat passengers were required to wear seatbelts.

With more than one million Virginia students headed back to school this month, the Virginia Department of Transportation (VDOT) is calling on everyone to be cautious around school buses and in school zones to keep all road users safe and avoid costly fines and tickets. Students will be commuting to school on foot, by bicycle, by school bus, or by private vehicles.

One decision, a seat belt left unbuckled, changed everything for a Williamsburg family. Nearly five years later, that moment led to a major change in Virginia law.

On July 1, a new state law went into effect requiring all drivers and adult passengers, regardless of seat position, to wear a seat belt. It's part of a push to close a long-standing gap in Virginia's safety laws.

Virginia State Police continue to investigate a deadly crash between a bicycle and a car that happened Sunday night in Rockingham County.

Kyle Lawrence, executive director for the Shenandoah Valley Bicycle Coalition, said a vulnerable road user is someone using a device without the safety of a car, like a bicycle.

One woman allegedly assaulted another woman after a road rage incident in Virginia, police said.

A recent study by the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety (IIHS) and Canada’s Traffic Injury Research Foundation (TIRF) has found that stronger distracted driving and seatbelt laws, along with widespread use of speed safety cameras, have helped Canada reduce road fatalities, while the U.S. falters.

Small cars and large trucks share many of the roadways in and around D.C. The Fairfax County Police Department’s motor carrier safety unit spent Tuesday trying to make sure that trucks on the road were safe for all involved.

There is a new driving law in Virginia that could put car owners in jail for allowing an unlicensed minor to drive their vehicle. According to this new law, you could face a year in jail or up to $2,500 in fines even if you were not behind the wheel.

The Virginia Department of Motor Vehicles and research firm SHINE Management, based in Charlottesville, is working on a survey about rural road safety in Virginia. They’re looking for people who live in rural counties and cities to share their insights.

One decision, a seat belt left unbuckled, changed everything for a Williamsburg family. Nearly five years later, that moment led to a major change in Virginia law.

On July 1, a new state law went into effect requiring all drivers and adult passengers, regardless of seat position, to wear a seat belt. It's part of a push to close a long-standing gap in Virginia's safety laws.

A 17-year-old boy from Warrenton, Va., died early Saturday morning in a high-speed car crash on Dumfries Road, according to the Fauquier County Sheriff's Office.

Officials said the car was clocked doing 96 mph in a 45 mph zone near the intersection of Atlee Road around 1 a.m.

Experts say drivers are at a higher risk of being involved in a car accident during the warm summer months than any other time of the year.

Ryan Adcock, public relations specialist for AAA Tidewater, tells 13News Now there are several factors that tie into an increase of summer car accidents, including a high volume of traffic.

Passengers who are caught not wearing a seat belt are at risk of $25 fines after a law came into force on July 1.

Under the terms of the law, cops cannot just order a driver to stop regarding a seat belt offense.

But, they can enforce the law if they spot anyone in the car who isn’t strapped in, per the Virginia Department of Motor Vehicles.

As temperatures continue to rise this summer, the likelihood of road rage also increases.

According to “The Lancet Planetary Health,” discomfort in extreme heat can impact your behavior. It can also lead to an increase in frustration, impulsivity and aggression behind the wheel.

Safe-driving apps promise to save money for careful drivers. But their impact on safety research — opening up a completely new data source with many unique advantages — could be even more significant.

Visibility out of the vehicle is becoming a problem in new cars, and SUVs and crossovers in particular have been hit hard by a huge increase in the size of blind spots. Thanks to a new study from the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety, we now have a sense of exactly how bad the problem has become.

Police in Fairfax County are working to make the roads safer by tackling reckless drivers.

The Fairfax County Police Department (FCPD) said that whether it is a specialized focus of the department’s Traffic Division or proactive efforts from patrols across the county, officers are committed to identifying reckless drivers on the road to reduce serious risks.

Drivers are not the only ones to blame for roadway fatalities.

That's the crux of a review article in the New England Journal of Medicine written by a pair of Virginia Tech Transportation Institute (VTTI) researchers invited to share their insights on the strategies aimed at progressing toward a future with zero traffic deaths.

Your child turning 16 is a big milestone. But while you’ve spent time researching the safest cars and how to help them pass their driver’s test, you’ll also need to update your car insurance.

Because they’re newer drivers and statistically more likely to be in accidents, teenage drivers are the single most expensive demographic to insure.

Ford’s 19th major recall of the month involves the seat belt warning system in more than 56,400 examples of its F-150 hybrid pickup truck.

Since July 1, in Virginia, a new law has come into effect to strengthen road safety and protect young drivers. This regulation involves heavy fines and even jail sentences for those who allow unlicensed minors to drive a vehicle.

Richmond school zone safety cameras have generated nearly $2.5 million in fines for drivers going over the speed limit.

Since the program’s launch in March 2024 through July 1, 2025, a total of $2,474,718 in fines have been collected. That includes $585,380 in 2024 and $1,889,338 so far in 2025.

A new wave of state laws is enforcing stricter requirements for new drivers, but states still can't agree on how much practice is needed.

Getting caught going over 100 miles per hour is no small offense, and soon, Virginia drivers who hit those dangerous speeds won't just be paying fines, they'll be forced to slow down for good. Starting on July 1, 2026, Virginia will become the first state in the U.S. to require certain reckless drivers to install speed-limiting devices in their vehicles.

The Volkswagen Virtus and Volkswagen Taigun have been recalled once again due to concerns over their seatbelts. The German carmaker has recalled 961 units of both the vehicles that are manufactured between December 2021 and May 2025.

As EVs evolve, so do the advanced technologies driving them.

Autonomous features once considered futuristic are now essential, enhancing safety, reducing driver fatigue and laying the groundwork for full self-driving capabilities.

The period between Memorial Day and Labor Day, known as the 100 Deadliest Days of Summer, is the most dangerous time for teen drivers. But now a national coalition is working to change that by turning it into the 100 Safest Days of Summer. We are joined by Tammy Gweedo McGee, she's the Executive Director of the Gweedo Memorial Foundation.

Whether you’re in the front seat or the back, seat belt use is now the law for all Virginians.

As of July 1, 2025, House Bill 2475 requires all vehicle occupants—regardless of age and where they sit—to buckle up.

Here @ Home sits down with Christy King, who lost her 18-year-old son when he was killed while riding in the back seat of a vehicle.

Traffic deaths are up nationwide, including in the DMV, according to a new study by TRIP—a non-profit organization that researches and evaluates transportation issues.

Staying safe while arriving at your destinations on time is an essential part of being a professional driver in today's trucking industry. These simple but essential tips can help keep you and the highways you travel accident-free.

The Virginia Department of Motor Vehicles has installed a striking visual display to help drivers understand the deadly consequences of speeding: a 50-foot yellow ladder that demonstrates how speed translates to fatal impacts.

Speed and alcohol were determined to be "major contributing factors" in a fatal head-on crash on the Robert O. Norris Jr. Bridge in Lancaster County, according to Virginia State Police.

Most people envision summer as sun-filled vacations, longer days, family time, and outdoor activities. When fleet leaders think of summer, their initial thoughts are a bit different. This summer season, mid-sized work truck fleets are on high alert and facing their toughest annual challenge: the "100 Deadliest Days."

Drunk driving is scary, not just because drunk drivers put themselves in harm's way, but also because they put everyone else on or near the road in danger.

Some cities are worse, statistically speaking, than others for drunk driving.

Virginia Beach EMS is reminding drivers to Buckle Up, Slow Down and drive sober, as the DMV Local Heroes Initiative gets underway.

At 70 miles per hour, you travel nearly 105 feet every second. Focus your eyes on something other than the road ahead – say, a billboard, an accident scene, a mirror, the “infotainment” screen on your dash – and you’ll cover that 105 feet while driving blind. Let your eyes linger for five seconds, and you’ve covered nearly a tenth of a mile, without seeing what’s in front. That’s the power of distractions.

Over the past few days, heavy rainfall has caused flash flooding in areas across Central Virginia, making driving dangerous.
This includes Chesterfield, where Dalebrook Drive was covered in rain due to Monday’s severe weather.

“It’s common sense to me, but when you something like this, just turn around and go a different way,” said Capt. Joe Harvey with Chesterfield Fire and EMS.

AAA urges drivers to be alert and turn around whenever facing flooded roadways and harsh weather conditions. Continuous waves of fast-moving storms, loaded with tremendous amounts of soaking rain, have caused flash flood warnings to surge in communities across Virginia.

Backseat passengers in Virginia will now have to buckle up under a new state law. And street takeovers, street racing, and excessive speeders will now face harsher penalties — possibly even criminal charges — under new legislation.

Three bills that took effect on July 1 aim to reduce the number of driving crashes and fatalities in the commonwealth.

More than 130 Virginia teens representing schools and youth groups from across the commonwealth will be arriving at James Madison University (JMU) Thursday, July 17, 2025 for the 2025 YOVASO Summer Leadership Retreat, Tides, Vibes, and Safe Rides.

Backseat passengers in Virginia will now have to buckle up under a new state law. And street takeovers, street racing, and excessive speeders will now face harsher penalties — possibly even criminal charges — under new legislation.

Speed-limiting devices will be on the streets soon. Reckless driving is responsible for thousands of deaths every year. A couple of states are already creating their own laws to prevent drivers from going over the speed limit and putting the lives of other drivers or pedestrians at risk.

“During the summer, it’s like someone just opened the floodgates,” Erin Gilchrist, VP of fleet evangelism at fleet management platform IntelliShift, told FleetOwner. “There are more inexperienced drivers, more unpredictable behavior, and more distractions on the road.”

As part of its 2025 summer crime prevention initiative, FCPD has launched “Safe July.” The campaign — the second wave of the department’s seasonal efforts — is focused on reducing impaired driving.

Preliminary data shows that 11 people lost their lives in nine traffic crashes during the four-day Fourth of July holiday statistical counting period (July 3-July 6).

Phones have become a constant companion for today’s teens, offering entertainment, connection, and navigation at their fingertips. But when it comes to driving, this convenience can quickly turn dangerous. Recent research reveals an unsettling reality: despite widespread awareness of the risks, teens and phone use while driving remains a persistent and deadly problem

Virginia State Police are asking for the public's help in find the person who shot a driver during a "road rage incident" on I-495.

Virginia will require repeat offenders to install a speed limiter starting in July 2026. The bill, passed under HB2096, is the first in the United States to require such a restriction.

A tractor-trailer driver died Thursday when their windshield was struck by another commercial vehicle’s load cover on Route 460 in Sussex County, Virginia.

After years of dramatic increases, pedestrian deaths are falling.

Traffic fatalities among pedestrians fell 4.3% in 2024 compared with a year earlier, notching a second annual decline after climbing to a 40-year high in 2022, according to a new data analysis from the Governors Highway Safety Association.

Virginia mom Tammy Guido McGee will never forget the day she lost her 16-year-old son, Conner, in a car crash in October, 2019.

He was riding with a friend who didn’t have a driver’s license.

Since her devastating loss, McGee has been an advocate for better driver education and tougher penalties for unlicensed drivers.

She has helped get several laws passed, including the latest law that just went into effect July 1, making it a misdemeanor to drive without a license in the Commonwealth.

News 3 talked with the Virginia Department of Transportation (VDOT) to get some tips on staying safe while driving through traffic shifts or work zones.

The Virginia State Police Appomattox, Salem, Culpeper, and Wytheville Divisions will be conducting Operation DISS-rupt on all 325 miles of Interstate 81 in Virginia on July 1 and July 2, 2025.

The U.S. Department of Transportation has scrapped a rule mandating speed-limiting devices on heavy-duty trucks, allowing them to race along the nation’s highways at top speed.

If you’re driving along Interstate-81 on July 1st and 2nd, you may see a boosted law enforcement presence, as the Virginia State Police (VSP) is kicking off Operation DISS-rupt. It also coincides with a new seat belt law going into effect.

In the department’s campaign last September, they cited over 500 drivers for speeding, 79 for reckless driving, and seven for driving while intoxicated. There was also one fatality in Botetourt County.

High heat, heavier traffic, teen drivers on the road, prevalent road construction, bicyclists, and pedestrians—these are all reasons why traveling during the summer months can be more challenging for professional drivers.

The New Kent County Sheriff's Office will soon start automated speed enforcement in work zones on Interstate 64 to increase safety for construction workers and other drivers.

Virginia State Police are warning the public to focus on the road, drive sober and buckle up during the 4th of July holiday weekend as preliminary data show there have been 337 deaths behind the wheel on commonwealth roads this year.

A new study published by the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety (IIHS) shows that self-reported depressive episodes and suicide plans were a significant contributor to the rise in impaired driving deaths between 2020 and 2022.

A new study offers a stark reminder of how pervasive cell phone use while driving is for young people, as findings demonstrate teen drivers spend an average of 21.1% of each trip viewing their mobile behind the wheel.

“We worked so hard for this bill, and today it comes true. And we will save so many lives in Christopher’s name,” she said.

VSP will join law enforcement agencies around the country for Operation Crash Awareness Reduction Effort, or CARE, a national program designed to reduce crashes, fatalities and injuries due to impaired driving, speeding and failing to wear a seatbelt.

Handing over the car keys to a teenager can be a proud moment, but let's be honest, it's also a nerve-wracking one. If you’ve got a new driver at home, chances are you've spent time worrying about speeding, distracted driving, or the group of friends fighting to ride shotgun.

Virginia has long maintained a reputation for its stringent traffic laws, a characteristic that executives and high-profile individuals traveling through or conducting business in the Commonwealth should not underestimate. In particular, the state's approach to aggressive and reckless driving goes far beyond simple citations, often leading to serious criminal charges with lasting consequences.

The Washington Regional Alcohol Program (WRAP) will offer free Lyft rides across DC, Maryland, and Virginia from 4 p.m. Friday, July 4, to 4 a.m. Saturday, July 5, to keep impaired drivers off the road.

A PARENT is pushing for a new law that holds drivers accountable for the actions of others, even if they aren’t in the car with them.

The mother is advocating for new legislation set to go into effect on July 1 after her 16-year-old son died in a horrific car accident.

On one road in Chesterfield County, drivers can expect an increased police presence Thursday.

Chesterfield County Police say on June 26, officers will hold a traffic enforcement operation on Hull Street Road.

Virginia State Police divisions in Appomattox, Salem, Culpeper and Wytheville will conduct Operation DISS-rupt on all 325 miles of Interstate 81 in Virginia July 1 and July 2, 2025, according to State Police. The traffic enforcement and educational safety initiative “focuses on distracted driving, impaired driving, speed compliance and seat belt safety.”

Attention all drivers: a new “responsibility” law is set to take effect on July 1, carrying significant consequences for vehicle owners. This law could result in fines up to $2,500 and even jail time, making it crucial for car owners to understand its implications.

Whether or not you were behind the wheel during a violation, as a car owner, you could still face penalties. This legislation, passed in January by Virginia lawmakers, aims to address the age limits of drivers and ensure safer roads.

Ford is recalling more than 1.3 million vehicles across the United States, citing serious mechanical and software issues that could lead to accidents, including one defect severe enough to trigger an urgent “Do Not Drive” order.

Many laws that were passed by the General Assembly during the 2025 legislative session take effect in Virginia on Tuesday, July 1. A few are highlighted below with links that provide additional details.

This week, D.C. leaders are taking another step to crack down on dangerous driving.

A Virginia deputy whose life was forever changed in a distracted driving crash, organized a bowling fundraiser to promote highway safety and support children of first responders.

According to Prince George County Fire and EMS, motor vehicle accidents have become the most common call, and the department wants to provide the community with important safety tips.

In the United States, commercial truck accidents continue to pose a significant danger on highways and city roads. In Virginia and beyond, the increase in truck-related crashes has caught the attention of safety advocates, lawmakers, and the general public.

Virginia has been slow to update its seatbelt laws because it's seen as an infringement of personal liberty in the eyes of the state and its residents. It is similar to New Hampshire, the only state that does not have seat belt laws.

In recognition of the National Safety Council’s safety month campaign, we are alerting drivers about roadway safety. This week your Garrison Safety Office is highlighting vehicle operations in roundabouts.

A 2023 statewide survey found only 73.2% of individuals on the road were wearing seat belts. A 2024 follow-up showed some improvement but nearly 1 in 5 Virginians were still riding unrestrained and 50% of the people killed in traffic crashes were found to have been unrestrained, according to figures from DMV.
In response, this year, the Virginia General Assembly passed HB 2475 updating the state's seat belt laws. Starting July 1 all passengers, regardless of where they sit in a vehicle, will be required to wear a seat belt while the vehicle is in motion.

With school out for the summer, there are more teenage drivers on the road and families heading off for vacation. AAA says to be on the lookout for more traffic especially on the weekends.

Ford Motor (F.N), opens new tab is recalling 197,432 vehicles in the U.S. due to a risk of back seat occupants getting trapped due to inability of entering or exiting the vehicle in case of an emergency, the U.S. National Highway Traffic Safety Administration said on Thursday.
The company is recalling certain 2021-2025 Mustang Mach E vehicles, NHTSA said.

A nationwide recall involves thousands of Honda and Acura vehicles.

The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration says the recall is for more than 250,000 vehicles because of an issue with the brake pedal.

The period between Memorial Day and Labor Day is packed with summer festivities and outings, but it also holds the ominous distinction of being the "100 deadliest days of summer." That's because during this time, American teens are 20% more likely to be involved in a fatal car collision, according to the National Road Safety Foundation.

Brake checking has become a growing concern on Virginia roads, and Northern Virginia car accident lawyer Jennifer Porter is shedding light on its dangers and legal consequences. In her recent article titled "Is Brake Checking Illegal?", Porter outlines how this aggressive driving behavior not only poses serious risks to safety but also constitutes a significant legal offense under Virginia law.

Parents must prioritize teen driving safety. Car trackers provide effective tools for monitoring and improving teen driving behavior.

Teen drivers face elevated risks. The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) reports that motor vehicle crashes are the leading cause of death for teens aged 15-18 in the United States.

A stretch of time known as the “100 Deadliest Days” for teen drivers, running from Memorial Day to Labor Day, is underway.

AAA Mid-Atlantic says that between 2019 and 2023, 13,135 people were killed in a crash involving a teen driver, and more than 30 percent of those deaths occurred between Memorial Day and Labor Day.

Beware, bad drivers: Some states are passing laws that punish reckless driving with devices that control vehicles' top speeds.

Washington State recently became the second state in the U.S., joining Virginia, to enact a law placing speed-limiting technology in the cars of drivers with reckless driving records. Washington, D.C., also has a similar law.

Distracted driving increases the risk of being in an accident by 23 times, according to the National Institutes of Health. According to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration, there were approximately 3,000 deaths and over 400,000 injuries due to distracted driving in 2023.
Vice President of Fleet Evangelism at fleet management software IntelliShift, Gilchrist proposes that telematics and dash cameras are the key to success and suggests that fleets have an opportunity to improve safety beyond their companies into the communities they serve.

The Ford Bronco and Ford Bronco Sport SUVs failed to meet the marginal ratings to qualify for a top safety pick in the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety's latest safety ratings, with the institute noting there is a heightened risk for head and neck injuries in the rear seat of the Bronco Sport.

Driving teachers meet us when we are most panicked and anxious behind the wheel. It’s their job to help new and nervous drivers stay calm and alert, and although the students will change over time, the mistakes teachers often encounter will not.

AAA issues a warning for teens and parents with the start of what it calls the “100 Deadliest Days.”

Washington joins Virginia in enacting laws that place speed-limiting tech in cars of drivers who have reckless driving records.

The ground is saturated and more rain is expected—raising the risk of additional trees falling. Please stay alert, especially in wooded areas or during periods of heavy rain.

I realized the day would be hosted by professional (read: racecar) drivers. Fast forward 22 years, and I still use what I learned that day every time I drive.

The experience resulted in several takeaways, so I could go on for pages, here. One of them was that it was cool to like cars. And that I really did know a thing or two about them: we stood in front of a test car and were asked to name all the fluids in its major systems. I was the only one in the big batch of teens to list them all. But in terms of immediately applicable driving tips, here’s one to do with your car’s side-view mirrors. And it was the instructor’s very first lesson.

The days between Memorial Day and Labor Day are labeled the 100 deadliest days, according to AAA, in which crash data revealed patterns of deaths involving teen drivers.

We are in the 100 deadliest days, the period from Memorial Day to Labor Day when teen drivers are more likely to be involved in deadly crashes.

WDBJ7 spoke to Tammy Gweedo McGee, whose life changed forever when her son Conner Gweedo, a high school junior, was killed in a car crash on the night of his junior prom. He got into a car with an underage, unlicensed driver, and never made it home. Conner was one of three teens who lost their lives in that accident.

Richmond is the 10th-deadliest city for drunk driving in America, according to a new study.

The Amanda Demanda Law Group ranked 100 cities across the United States for their “drunk driving danger,” doing so by comparing data related to driving under the influence (DUI) — including total arrests made and the death toll these crashes have had.

A recently released report has raised concern in Virginia, documenting a troubling surge in pedestrians hit by vehicles across the state. Norfolk experienced relatively higher rates of alcohol-related and speed-related accidents, raising concerns for pedestrian safety in the city.

The data highlights an increase in pedestrian risk, prompting safety advocates and the wider community to take immediate notice.

Almost half of the highway construction contractors who participated in a recent study believe the risk of work zone crashes is greater now than one year ago.

More than 600 firms across the United States took part in the annual Work Zone Awareness Survey, conducted by the Associated General Contractors of America and software company HCSS.

Distracted driving crashes in Roanoke City have increased by more than 60% in the last five years, with a distraction involved in nearly a quarter of all crashes in 2021.

To address this growing threat, the City of Roanoke is launching the Focused Driving, Safe Arriving campaign this summer, a community-wide effort to encourage safer driving habits and save lives.

Beginning July 1, Virginia will have a new backseat seatbelt law requiring all vehicle occupants to wear a seatbelt, according to a written statement.

According to the most recent statewide seat belt survey in 2024, 19% of Virginians were still not wearing a seat belt while driving.

A DMV text scam is happening. It is circulating telling people to pay up or get their driving privileges suspended, DMV is saying this isn't true.

Volvo, the company known for selling the first car with a three-point seat belt, says it is taking vehicle safety to a new level with the introduction of the world’s first multi-adaptive seat belt.

Screens in your car seem to be getting bigger each new model year, and officials are warning drivers to make sure they’re not playing movies on them while they’re driving.

Virginia Tech Transportation Institute researchers produced the first study to find statistically significant evidence that increased amounts of driving practice during the learner’s permit phase can help reduce crash and near-crash events.

Over the last few years, Washington, D.C., has seen an above-average amount of deadly car crashes, more than 50 in both 2023 and 2024, according to the D.C. Highway Safety Office. It’s part of the reason the District turned to tech to help make the streets safer. A year ago, the Highway Safety Office piloted a unique program: smart signs. Infrared technology that captured drivers on their phones and a sign that told them: "Put it down."

Deadly crashes typically spike in summer, according to traffic safety experts. That's as more inexperienced, young drivers hit the roads and more impaired people drive after summer events.

Tammy Gweedo McGee knows the impact.

The York-Poquoson Sheriff’s Office will host the official kickoff event for the 100 Safest Days of Summer Coalition on Tuesday, May 27 from 2-4 p.m.

An Arlington police officer is recovering from injuries after police said a man hit the officer with his car and drove away earlier this month.

Almost everybody has somebody they’ve known and/or loved who’s been impacted by a crash.

In 2024, 918 people died in crashes on Virginia’s roadways. The year before, the Commonwealth averaged a crash every 4.1 minutes, which equates to about 2 lives lost per day all because of traffic crashes.

A new law going into effect in Virginia is aimed at keeping you safer on the road by bringing awareness to something we may overlook.

With summer upon us, it can mean new found freedom for teenagers, especially if they have their driver's license.

Memories will be made, and we want to make sure they are good ones. The time between Memorial Day and Labor Day is known as the 100 Deadliest Days for teen drivers.

Preliminary data released by the Virginia State Police reveals that seven individuals were killed in traffic crashes across the state during the 2025 Memorial Day holiday weekend, from Friday through Monday.

Brake checking is a term many drivers may have heard but not fully understood—until it results in a serious collision. A Northern Virginia car accident attorney is shedding light on this aggressive and illegal driving maneuver in her latest publication, “What is Brake Checking?” Drawing from real-world scenarios and current Virginia laws, the article emphasizes how brake checking endangers everyone on the road and complicates legal and insurance outcomes for all parties involved.

As families fire up the grill, hit the highway, or head out on the water for Memorial Day weekend, Mothers Against Drunk Driving® (MADD) is encouraging everyone to make safety part of their holiday plans. Memorial Day weekend marks the unofficial kickoff of summer — and the launch of MADD's "Safe Summer" campaign, a season-long effort to prevent impaired driving, protect teens, and keep the nation's roads and waterways safe.

With Memorial Day weekend and summer approaching, Virginia State Police is reminding all drivers to drive safe, smart and sober.

The U.S. Department of Transportation’s National Highway Traffic Safety Administration today launched its annual Click It or Ticket seat belt high-visibility enforcement campaign, urging drivers and passengers to always buckle up and reminding them of the potentially deadly consequences of not wearing a seat belt.

Virginia State Police have intensified their efforts to curb speeding along the 83-mile stretch of US 360, which runs from Halifax County to Chester County. This initiative, known as target enforcement, requires tripling the usual number of officers patrolling the highway.

Of the more than 1,230,000 Virginians anticipated to travel over the weekend, nearly 90% are expected to road trip. This high volume underscores the importance of staying alert, driving at appropriate speeds and always buckling up.

From road trips to backyard barbeques, Memorial Day is considered the unofficial start of summer. The holiday weekend also marks the official start of the “100 Deadliest Days of Summer,” the period where there is a sharp increase in traffic fatalities, especially involving teen drivers. According to the CDC, teen drivers are three times more likely to be involved in a fatal collision during this period, which runs until Labor Day Weekend, compared to other times of the year [1].

The Virginia Department of Transportation (VDOT) is inviting residents and travelers to share feedback on four major transportation studies aimed at improving safety, traffic flow and multimodal access across parts of Botetourt County, Roanoke, Blacksburg and Radford.

Richmond will host its fourth speed management symposium in two years this Thursday as part of National Bike Month.

The event, scheduled from 4 p.m. to 6 p.m. at Main Street Station on East Main Street, is an educational opportunity to engage with the city’s Department of Public Works about street safety and roadway design.

Memorial Day weekend kicks off what is often referred to by traffic safety experts as "the 100 deadliest days," with a dangerous spike in teen traffic fatalities – an increase of more than 20 percent over year-round figures.

Starting Friday, May 23, Virginia State Police will participate in Operation C.A.R.E.—the Crash Awareness Reduction Effort, a national campaign focused on reducing crashes, impaired driving, and other risky behaviors.

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.