News

As summer traffic picks up across Northern Virginia, the Fairfax County Police Department (FCPD) is stepping up enforcement again, warning drivers to stay alert or risk being caught by the “Road Sharks.”

Excessive speed joins distracted driving and driving under the influence among the causes often cited by authorities for the deaths and injuries that happen too often, here in Virginia and elsewhere.

The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration has announced multiple vehicle recalls affecting passenger vehicles, trucks, SUVs, vans and recreational vehicles.

The recalls involve vehicles manufactured by Volkswagen, K.Z., General Motors, Chrysler, Bentley, Nissan, Honda, Ford, Toyota, Subaru, Volvo Trucks, Mercedes-Benz, Kia and Braun Corporation.

Virginia State Police have installed speed safety cameras in work zones along I-81. The cameras are now in Botetourt and Roanoke counties between mile markers 143 and 150.

Excessive speed joins distracted driving and driving under the influence among the causes often cited by authorities for the deaths and injuries that happen too often, here in Virginia and elsewhere.

Honda is recalling more than 880,000 SUVs and pickup trucks in the U.S. because a key rear suspension part can rust and fail, increasing the risk of a crash.

The bus driver who faces charges after five people were killed in a chain-reaction crash on I-95 in Stafford County, Virginia, was scheduled to appear in court this week for a speeding ticket, court records say.

The Prince William County Department of Transportation recently received two $80,000 grants from the National Capital Region Transportation Planning Board, or TPB, through the FY27 Transportation Land-Use Connections and Regional Roadway Safety Program grant programs to support a countywide parking demand study and a neighborhood traffic study in the Maplewood area near Yorkshire.

The speed cameras on Interstate 64 in New Kent County have netted the county almost $7 million in revenue since the program began last summer.
The county plans to hold a public hearing this month to consider how to use up to $6.25 million of the funds, which have been collected since the speed cameras went up in August.

Ford Motor Company will recall ​419,967 vehicles in the U.S. ‌as seat belts that do not retract or extend properly can ​fail to restrain occupants as ​intended, increasing the risk of ⁠injury in a crash, the ​U.S. auto regulator said on ​Wednesday.

Authorities are investigating after two people were killed in a wrong‑way crash Saturday on Interstate 95 in Caroline County.

Fairfax County police are launching a summer traffic safety push aimed at cracking down on dangerous driving behaviors from how motorists handle the wheel to how loud their vehicles sound.

A busy stretch of Plantation Road could soon look different as county leaders move forward with a pedestrian safety plan following concerns about crashes and a lack of sidewalks near high-traffic stores.

After a deadly bus crash in a work zone in Northern Virginia, VDOT is reminding Virginians to be hyper vigilant on the highway to avoid a deadly crash.

A commercial bus crash in Virginia that killed five people and injured dozens of others has raised questions about the driver, the company that employed him and the overall safety of the industry.

Subaru of America, Inc. today announced nine models were jointly recommended by the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety and Consumer Reports for both new and used vehicles for teen drivers.

The period between Memorial Day and Labor Day is known as the "100 deadliest days" on the road — a stretch that sees a significant spike in deadly teen crashes. According to AAA, more than 30 percent of deadly teen crashes happen during these summer months.

"We lose more teenagers now than any other time of year," Gweedo McGee said.

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.

It's been raining for days and with people on the roads, it's good to know how to stay safe when driving. AAA has some tips on how to protect yourself.

Ready to hand over the car keys to a teenager for the first time? The Insurance Institute for Highway Safety and Consumer Reports are out with a list of cars to help get them safely from point A to point B.

Sixty percent of highway contractors experienced at least one crash involving a moving vehicle in a work zone during the past year, according to a new survey from the Associated General Contractors of America and software provider Heavy Construction Systems Specialists. About one-third reported five or more crashes.

Self-driving cars aren’t yet permitted to operate in Virginia. But Alphabet-owned Waymo began transporting its cars to the state last week, a Waymo representative told Virginia officials, to map Arlington and Alexandria, in the northern part of the state.

From June 1 to 5, 2026, the Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration will recognize Our Roads, Our Safety®, an annual safety observance focused on improving road safety and working toward zero roadway fatalities. During the event, FMCSA encourages drivers to make safe choices, especially in work zones.

Federal officials are investigating what led to the deadly bus crash on Interstate 95 in Stafford County, Virginia, Friday morning that left five people dead and dozens more injured.

As summer begins and more teen drivers take to the roads, officials are warning families that the “100 deadliest days of summer” are underway, a period when fatal crashes typically rise sharply.

A bicyclist died after colliding with an SUV in Lynchburg Saturday, according to Lynchburg Police.

Traffic deaths fell in Virginia in 2025, according to preliminary data released by the U.S. Department of Transportation.

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.

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 22 until noon on Tuesday, May 26.

“A lot of honking, flipping off, the hand signals are flying,” said Taylor Price, a driver.

The link between heat and aggression has been researched for decades. One of the first studies was done 40 years ago in 1986, which found that aggressive horn honking happened more frequently when temperatures rose.

A more recent study in 2024 found that a 50°F increase in temperature typically led to a 9% increase in violence.

Youth of Virginia Speak Out About Traffic Safety will host a carnival-themed Summer Leadership Retreat at James Madison University from July 16-19, 2026. The event costs $15 per person.

Safety officials are warning drivers about the upcoming "100 deadliest days" on the roads, a period between Memorial Day and Labor Day that sees a spike in fatal teen crashes nationwide.

One family’s tragedy is at the center of a growing national fight over whether automakers should be required to make cars better at recognizing the people outside the vehicle — not just the ones inside it.

Magnus White was 17 years old.

With Memorial Day in the works, many people plan to make the most of it. But everyone will have to decide how to get home after the festivities.

Gweedo McGee says distracted driving, speeding, impaired driving, and too many passengers in a car are among the biggest risks for teens during the summer months. With schools letting out and more young drivers on the roads, advocates urge parents to start conversations now about safe driving habits.

Virginia State Police is reminding all drivers, young and old, to drive safe, smart, and sober as we head into the Memorial Day weekend and summer. Last year, in 2025, there were nine fatalities on Virginia roadways during the four-day statistical counting period for the Memorial Day holiday.

Virginia State Police are preparing to activate new speed safety cameras Monday along I-81, in both the northbound and southbound lanes between mile markers 143 and 150.

VSP announced in a press release that its divisions in Richmond, Fairfax, Culpeper and Chesapeake will conduct “Operation DISS-rupt” throughout the 179 miles of I-95 in Virginia on Monday, May 18 and Tuesday, May 19.

Richmond isn’t the largest, busiest or most confusing city to navigate in Virginia, but for pedestrians, it is the most dangerous.

Since launching in 2012, Project IMPACT has hosted upwards of 20 mock crash simulations at high schools around Central Virginia. The initiative is part of the educational mission of VCU Medical Center, the region’s only Level I trauma center. In addition to comprehensive clinical care, the trauma center also focuses on research and community outreach to reduce and prevent traumatic injuries.

A driver of an SUV was taken to the hospital Thursday morning after being hit by a tractor trailer on Interstate 95 Southbound in Stafford County, Virginia State Police reported.

The Concord Volunteer Fire Department (CVFD) is getting an upgrade that helps both the firefighters and motorists. Rescue 13 & Engine 13-1 with the CVFD introduces the implementation of a HAAS Alert Safety Cloud.

As part of the safety improvement project at the intersection of Route 658 (Laymantown Road) and Route 460, Laymantown Road will be closed during the summer beginning Thursday, May 21, 2026. A detour will be in place.

State Highway patrol says a wrong way crash on Highway 75 left a couple people fighting for their lives and troopers believe impairment did play a role.
Now with the 100 days of summer soon to begin, they are urging drivers don't get behind the wheel after driving.

A man is dead after he was hit by a car in a Henrico County intersection Friday afternoon.

Ask a safety leader at a large fleet what their biggest challenge is. They will never say, “We don’t have enough data,” because most already use cameras, telematics, scorecards, and dashboards.

The United States has a road fatality problem. Heightened safety regulations, anti-impaired driving laws, and road design improvements have forced traffic-related deaths to decline, cutting deaths per capita in half since 1972. However, vehicular deaths have also increased by over 10% between 2019 and 2023. 12,000 of these deaths, almost 30%, were related to excessive speeds. And while some lawmakers are adding automated cameras to address speeding, others have opted for a more direct approach.

Traffic safety advocates and Virginia Department of Transportation (VDOT) officials are reminding drivers to follow the state's "Move Over" law following a series of recent crashes that injured first responders and roadside workers.

House Bills 1273 and 1469 would require ride share drivers to undergo a more extensive background check process, including fingerprinting, and raise the minimum driving age to 21.

Teen drivers are inexperienced, take risks, and are easily distracted when they’re behind the wheel. Those factors are among the findings that contribute to what the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention says is the leading cause of death and injury in teens age 13 to 19 years old: motor vehicle crashes.

The AARP Smart Driver Course, brought to you by AARP Driver Safety (ADS), is the nation’s first and largest refresher course designed specifically for older drivers.

For more than 40 years, millions of people have taken these classroom and online courses to keep their driving knowledge and skills up to date, allowing them to continue driving safely for as long as possible.

There is a course coming up in May in the Roanoke area.

If your kids have an electric bike, you will want to listen to this. Doctors say they are urging you to buy the safety gear with the bike due to an increase of head injuries with Ebikes.

Speed safety cameras will be erected on Interstate 81 in Roanoke County and Botetourt County; they’ll be activated Monday, May 11, 2026 for enforcement, Virginia State Police announced Friday.

HB 1352 would direct the Department of Education to review and update driver-education curriculum and administrative guidance by the 2026–27 school year to emphasize dangers of reckless driving, including teen speeding; sponsor cited local tragedies and sought partnerships with law enforcement and survivor testimony in curricula.

A Richmond woman was killed early Sunday morning on Interstate 95, according to Virginia State Police.

A Chesterfield County man is facing charges after police say he crashed into a tree and left his passenger, a 35-year-old Richmond father, for dead.

Learning took center stage at the 66 Express Outside the Beltway Operations Center in Manassas on Thursday, as more than 150 local high school students participated in an interactive, on-site event designed to prepare them for the wide range of real-world situations they may encounter as new drivers.

Virginia State Police announced Monday that it would be launching a 24-hour highway safety initiative on Route 220 starting May 1.

According to VSP, the safety initiative will span the counties of Allegany, Bath, Botetourt, Franklin, Henry, Highland and Roanoke along 220.

It’s officially prom season for high schoolers across our region, a night of memories students never forget, but with it comes safety tips everyone going out should remember. Youth of Virginia Speak Out About Traffic Safety (YOVASO) works year-round to promote safe driving tips to teens by using their peers to push the message.

Multiple Virginia law enforcement agencies partnered for a commercial vehicle inspection detail that uncovered nearly 200 violations.

Officials urge patience and caution from drivers travelling through work zones.
Sometimes barrels or temporary barriers protect crews working on road projects. Other times, it’s just a 12-pound traffic cone between the workers and vehicles speeding by.

Virginia’s new rideshare safety laws take effect July 1, and lawmakers say the focus is on a basic issue.

They want to make sure the driver who shows up matches the person in the app.

Cell phones have become a major problem for modern roadway safety. Distracted driving accounted for over 3200 deaths in 2024, representing around 8 percent of all fatal crashes in the United States, and a new study published Tuesday by the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety indicates that the issue is more dire than initially thought.

Automated vehicles have been steadily rolling out in U.S. cities, but scaled deployment still faces a daunting challenge: proving the technology can safely navigate the complexity of real-world driving.

Virginia Tech researchers estimate that traditional testing methods could take decades – or hundreds of millions of driving miles – to validate the full range of situations an automated vehicle may encounter.

Virginia teens looking for a mix of summer fun and real-world skills will have a unique opportunity this July at James Madison University.

Being able to drive a car is an important part of maintaining an independent lifestyle. That is especially true for senior citizens, and while driver in their 60's are actually the safest age group when it comes to deadly crashes, after age 70 the reflexes diminish and by age 80 the numbers begin to rise dramatically.

Fairfax County police are relaunching the “Road Shark” initiative starting April 20, targeting speeding, aggressive driving, and distracted driving

A mother and father have been charged with a felony child neglect after their 4-month-old child fell out of their moving car while in a car seat.

National Work Zone Awareness Week begins this week to raise awareness of the dangers of inattention near highway work areas.

April is Distracted Driving Awareness Month. YOVASO, which stands for Youth of Virginia Speak Out About Traffic Safety, works year-round to push driving safety. According to the Centers for Disease Control, the number one cause of death for teens which includes motor vehicle crashes. That’s why YOVASO was created: to get teens to start thinking about driving safety.

As some people mark 4/20 by celebrating marijuana use, Virginia officials are urging drivers to keep safety top of mind and avoid getting behind the wheel after using cannabis.

As some celebrate 4/20, an unofficial holiday for using marijuana, Virginia officials are reminding everyone it’s illegal to drive under the influence of weed.

The U.S. Department of Transportation’s National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) has unveiled its new initiative, Pathways to Safer Streets (P2SS): A National Traffic Safety Action Plan, to reduce traffic fatalities.

NHTSA’s P2SS will implement eight strategies to target the leading causes of traffic fatalities: impairment, speeding, distraction, and lack of seat belt use.

The Virginia Department of Transportation honored construction workers who lost their lives because of work zone crashes Wednesday. April 22.

VDOT urged people to remember construction zones aren’t just traffic sites, they’re where people go to work each day.

The U.S. Department of Transportation’s National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) this week celebrated nine individuals and three organizations committed to making roads safer for American families.

Virginia law prohibits holding a cellphone or any manual electronic device while driving. Period. Law enforcement takes this seriously, especially during high-traffic periods and targeted campaigns.

As road safety remains a pressing concern in the United States, the U.S. Department of Transportation’s National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) is calling on drivers to take a proactive stance against distracted driving. The campaign emphasizes the slogan: “Eyes Forward. Don’t Drive Distracted.”

A new online tool from the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety (IIHS) shows how specific changes to seat belt laws would affect belt use and fatality rates in each state.

A Fredericksburg man is facing multiple charges after Spotsylvania County deputies investigated a hit-and-run crash, an assault on a deputy and a stolen vehicle case tied to the same pickup truck, according to a sheriff's office news release.

April is Distracted Driver Awareness Month, which means the Virginia Department of Transportation is looking to spread tips and awareness about distracted drivers.

THC breathalyzers are often discussed as a way to detect drivers under the influence, especially as Virginia closes in on a retail cannabis market, but questions remain about their effectiveness.

Distracted driving isn’t just a frequently discussed topic in the trucking industry; it’s a problem that affects everyone. Specifically, the general motoring public is well aware of how cell phone use while driving can be dangerous.

Yet still, the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) reports that there were 3,208 distracted driving-related fatalities in 2024. Since 2022, there have been no major shifts in the distracted driving death figures despite the overall number of traffic deaths dropping significantly in 2025. If this number is dropping, then why aren’t distracted driving-related deaths?

D.C. police are looking for a driver with Maryland plates after a woman was run over and killed as she was using a crosswalk in the Northwest area on Saturday morning.

s April marks Distracted Driving Awareness Month, one local mother is turning personal tragedy into a statewide mission to save lives and reshape how young drivers think about safety.

Memorial Day is just around the corner, which means summer is almost here for Americans. AAA refers to this time between Memorial Day and Labor Day as the “100 Deadliest Days” for drivers.

This is due to the fact that more people are on the road than usual, and fatalities rise significantly during this time of year, especially among teen drivers between the ages of 15 and 20.

Work Zone Safety Awareness Week begins Monday, as transportation officials urge drivers to slow down and stay alert in construction areas.

The 18-year-old Spotsylvania resident was clocked in a silver Acura going 108 mph in a 55 mph zone in the 12400 block of Marsh Road in Warrenton, but he did not stop.

Virginia State Police has instituted a photo speed enforcement program to reduce the number of work zone speeding violations under Virginia Code § 46.2-882.1 while improving safety for highway workers, drivers, and passengers. The Work Zone Speed Safety program is built for safety and built for fairness.

A new DMV campaign in Virginia aims to increase awareness of motorcycles and the people who ride them.

The Richlands Police Department announced that they acquired a new roadway safety device.

Virginia State Police will conduct a highway safety enforcement initiative, “Operation Road Watch,” along the Route 29 corridor on Saturday. The operation aims to enhance highway safety and reduce crashes caused by distracted driving.

Virginia Commonwealth University (VCU) students received a lesson in pedestrian safety on Wednesday, April 8, as VCU police hosted a safety fair to bring awareness to a key issue on campus.

Hyundai Motor America is recalling 294,128 vehicles in the U.S. due to a defect that could cause seat belt anchors to detach, the U.S. National Highway Traffic Safety Administration said on Friday.

April is Distracted Driver Awareness Month, which means the Virginia Department of Transportation is looking to spread tips and awareness about distracted drivers.

A man is dead, and another one was hurt following a car crash in Woodbridge, Virginia, on Friday afternoon.

THC breathalyzers are often discussed as a way to detect drivers under the influence, especially as Virginia closes in on a retail cannabis market, but questions remain about their effectiveness.

When NASCAR star Ross Chastain returns to Martinsville Speedway this weekend for the O’Reilly Auto Parts 250, his car will feature more than just the No. 92—it will carry a lifesaving message about the importance of safe driving.

Janusz Jeremiasz Filipiak ’05 recently extended his family’s extraordinary legacy of leveraging higher education to foster innovation by giving $2.5 million to advance potentially lifesaving traffic safety research at the Virginia Tech Transportation Institute and create a scholarship program in the College of Engineering.

April marks Distracted Driving Awareness Month, a nationwide effort urging motorists to reduce risky behaviors and commit to safer driving. Throughout the month, traffic safety officials are emphasizing that even a split second of inattention can have devastating and lasting consequences.

County officials took to social media on Sunday, March 29, to urge residents to stay cautious as planting season gets underway, leading to an increase in large farm equipment traveling on local roadways.

AAA and other traffic safety organizations came together on Saturday to teach safe driving practices to teenagers in Tidewater.

A grieving father is sharing his son’s story and urging others not to drink and drive after a deadly crash earlier this month in York County.

Authorities say 26-year-old Tyrie Hackett was killed when a driver, allegedly intoxicated and traveling more than 100 miles per hour, slammed into his motorcycle at the intersection of Big Bethel Road and Hampton Highway.

For people ready to hop into spring, the Virginia Department of Transportation (VDOT) reminds travelers to buckle up and put the phone down while behind the wheel so that everyone can safely arrive to their destinations during the Easter holiday weekend.

Being stranded on the side of the road can be a frustrating and vulnerable situation, but a Tri-Cities entrepreneur is trying to make getting help a little easier.

As travelers prepare to hit the road for this Easter holiday weekend, the Virginia Department of Transportation wants to remind drivers to buckle up and put their phones down while behind the wheel so everyone can get to and from their destinations safely.

April also marks Distracted Driving Awareness Month, and VDOT shared the following safety tips:

The Wiper Week initiative will give away windshield wiper replacements and installation absolutely free. Wiper Week is a collaborative initiative to increase safe driving in our nation’s capital and to raise awareness about the importance of visibility on the road – for drivers, passengers, bicyclists, and pedestrians alike.

Virginia has the top-ranked highway system in the country, but that doesn’t mean drivers are getting an easy ride.

The Chesterfield County Police Department is investigating a deadly crash Monday after a man was struck on a Chesterfield County road.

A new AAA survey reveals a growing concern among drivers: headlight glare. Six in ten drivers say glare is a problem after dark, and nearly three-quarters of those affected believe it has worsened over the past decade.

A Virginia State Police trooper and a Wythe County Sheriff's Department deputy rescued a driver from a burning vehicle along Interstate 81 last week.

Ford Motor Company is recalling select 2020-2026 Ford Explorer and Lincoln Aviator models due to an issue with the seat belts.

Three people were injured midday Tuesday in a two-vehicle crash involving two pedestrians, according to Fredericksburg police.

In mid-March, Hyundai issued both a stop-sale and recall for its model-year 2026 Palisade and Palisade Hybrid three-row SUVs’ Limited and Calligraphy trim levels. The recall involved the vehicles’ second- and third-row power-folding seats and was prompted by a fatal incident involving a child. Now, the automaker is recalling the vehicles again — more than 46,700 of them — this time for the seat belt status indicator.

A baby who was seriously hurt in an interstate crash early Monday morning has died, Virginia State Police said. The driver in that accident, a 14-year-old girl, faces several charges, including driving under the influence.

Ford (NYSE:F) issued a recall affecting approximately 105,322 Ford Expedition and Lincoln Navigator SUVs due to potential seatbelt concerns, Reuters reported, citing the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration.

The Insurance Institute for Highway Safety (IIHS) says that while crash avoidance systems on some 2026 vehicles have improved, it encourages automakers to make further improvements and demands superior protection for back seat passengers, according to an IIHS press release.

Congress is currently divided over the implementation of new, mandatory anti-drunk driving technology—and now, federal safety regulators are weighing in with a report that casts doubt on the timeline as to how and when the tech could even be implemented in new cars.

An event in the Historic Triangle this week honors a teen who died in a crash in 2019 and taught other teens about the dangers of distracted driving.

While the frigid temperatures and gray skies of winter might seem endless, springtime is always just around the corner. And with warmer, sunny days on the horizon, the time is fast approaching for fleet managers to prepare their vehicles for the change in season.

The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration is reminding drivers to reduce their risk of a crash by following basic driving habits every time they get behind the wheel.

Recreational marijuana market legislation has been passed by the General Assembly, and while the number of users will likely continue to grow, many may not know the laws about driving while high.

Virginia has a new program aimed at teaching drivers about the penalties and risks of driving under the influence of cannabis.

VCU Police took to the streets as referees to bring awareness to pedestrian safety.

On March 17, officers participated in their annual “Referee” pedestrian safety event with whistles and flags to improve traffic enforcement.

A crash victim is calling for tougher DWI laws after the woman who hit her allegedly violated her probation, less than a year after being jailed.

The Virginia Department of Transportation is once again asking for public input on a major transportation project in the Shenandoah Valley.

The Insurance Institute for Highway Safety, or IIHS, is best-known for its independent evaluations and rankings of new vehicles and their crashworthiness, but it does a lot more than that. It also encompasses the Highway Loss Data Institute (HLDI), which studies real-world crash data to determine sticking points for safety on U.S. roads. And last week, the IIHS announced that it will release its first safety ratings for cargo vans, work trucks, and other commercial vehicles this spring.

A Virginia State Police trooper and a Wythe County Sheriff’s Department deputy helped a driver to safety after his van caught fire on Interstate 81 on Wednesday.

Ford has issued two recalls affecting nearly 1.74 million of its cars in the U.S., due to software issues that impact the vehicles' rearview camera displays.

Interstate 581 has notoriously short weaving lanes for drivers to enter and exit the roadway. Getting on and off 581 can be a bit tricky in many spots.

A weaving section, or weave lane, is a lane in which drivers can both enter and exit onto a given roadway. In many areas of Roanoke, these lanes are very short.

Women like Tammy Gweedo McGee, a local mother who suffered an unimaginable loss, still grieves, but she uses her pain as a launching point to save lives.

Over the past four years, there have been an average of 77 strikes on non-automated truck-mounted attenuators in Virginia, and more than 50 operator injuries since 2020, according to state lawmakers.

Now, the state is considering using autonomous technology to improve roadside safety in work zones and to explore future commercial use opportunities.

Fatal car crashes are a serious public safety issue, especially in rural areas where roads may have more hazards. This incident highlights the importance of seatbelt use and safe driving practices to prevent such tragedies.

March brings warmer temperatures, longer daylight hours, and increased activity on Fairfax County roadways. As more people head outdoors and travel throughout the county, the Fairfax County Police Department’s Traffic Safety Division is focusing on roadway safety through a combination of enforcement and education initiatives.

St. Patrick’s Day 2026 in Hampton Roads is filled with parades, after parties and events from Williamsburg to Norfolk on March 14th to smaller pub crawls and celebrations all over the area through the 17th. Don’t rely on luck, if you plan to celebrate, include a plan for a sober ride home.

University of Canberra (UC) researchers used a driving simulator to study a range of different driver distractions — visual, cognitive, behavioural/manual and auditory.

Attorney General Brian Schwalb announced Friday the city is suing five more out of state drivers over unpaid traffic tickets, and his office said that the city has gotten ten judgments against previous drivers that have been sued in which they've been ordered to pay $531,192. The DC Attorney General's Office has now sued a total 0f 29 drivers from Maryland and Virginia who it accuses of ignoring D.C. traffic laws.

LifeSafer, a leader in vehicle safety technology, is partnering with NASCAR Regional teen driver Atley Wiese and the Gweedo Memorial Foundation to raise awareness among young drivers about the dangers of speeding – and to educate families on how the use of Intelligent Speed Assistance (ISA) technology can help.

The suspect in a highway "road rage incident" Sunday that left one woman and a dog dead and several other women wounded was a Foreign Service Officer, the State Department confirmed to Fox News Digital.

Preliminary analysis from the National Safety Council estimates 37,810 motor vehicle crash deaths in the United States in 2025. That figure represents a 12% decrease from 2024, even as overall miles driven increased by 0.9%. The Council released the data Feb. 24, 2026.

A new tool from the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety shows that a change to Virginia’s seat belt law could reduce traffic deaths in the state.

Beginning Friday, March 18, motorists who speed, tailgate or otherwise drive recklessly on an 11-mile stretch of I-95 in Prince William County, Va., face fines up to $2,500.

A man is in the hospital with serious injuries after being hit by a car while riding his bike on Thursday, according to Virginia Beach Police Department.

As we prepare to “spring ahead” this weekend, AAA is warning that the lost hour of sleep and darker mornings can make already dangerous roads even deadlier.

Tammy Gweedo-McGee has spent years turning grief into advocacy after her 16-year-old son, Conner, was killed in a car crash in Yorktown nearly 6 years ago. He was riding with two teenage friends when they crashed. All three were killed, and the driver did not have a license.

Chris Brown of Automotive Fleet spoke with David Klein, director of product management – technology products at Wheels about emerging technologies that are reshaping how fleets manage driver safety and data.

With St. Patrick’s Day falling on a Tuesday this year, festivities will kick off the weekend prior and continue through Tuesday, March 17. Sadly, some individuals may make the dangerous choice to drink and drive following their celebrations, endangering their own lives and the safety of everyone else on the road.

Volvo is launching another boost to its excellent safety reputation, with world-first technology designed to reduce seatbelt injuries in accidents.

According to Akihiro Sarada, president of Toyota's software development center, the Japanese automaker is committed to achieving its goal of "zero traffic accidents" — not just fatalities, but all auto accidents.

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.

As marijuana legalization expands across the U.S., it is outpacing research on the impact of cannabis use behind the wheel. Researchers at the Virginia Tech Transportation Institute (VTTI) recently spent two years collecting real-world driving data from cannabis users to help fill in the gaps.

A Virginia mom is advocating for proposed state legislation that would strengthen driver’s license requirements for people between the ages of 18 and 21.

It’s a personal mission for Tammy Guido McGee.

Preliminary analysis from the National Safety Council shows a 12% decrease in the number of U.S. traffic deaths in 2025, compared to the previous year, and that D.C. and Maryland’s safety improvements exceed the national average.

Design improvements, reduced default speed limits and campaigns to discourage drunk driving are some of the steps Herndon could take to make its streets safer under a newly proposed plan.

A Florida man has been charged 74 times after a series of hit-and-run crashes along Interstate 95 in Central Virginia on Valentine's Day, a news release from the Virginia State Police says.

The driver’s license photo may be slightly awkward, but the milestone is unforgettable. For families, a newly licensed teen means independence, busy schedules and a new set of responsibilities.

Ongoing road safety concerns were on the minds of about two dozen Brambleton residents who met with Little River Supervisor Laura TeKrony, as they looked to make Olympia Drive safer for the community.

Fleetio’s 2026 Fleet Benchmark Report shows something we’re hearing more often in conversations with fleet leaders. AI is on the radar. It just is not fully in the cab yet.

Responding to the changing demographics of today's driving population, Ford Motor is researching two advanced next-generation safety belt technologies that could help further reduce injury risk in vehicle crashes.

Rivian is recalling nearly 35,000 electric vehicles sold in the United States over a potential issue with the driver’s seat belt pretensioner cable. However, neither the R1S SUV nor the R1T pickup truck is included in the recall.

Hope Cartwright, a 23-year-old associate editor at Virginia Living magazine, was hit and killed as she walked across Cary and 2nd streets in downtown Richmond on Monday evening, Virginia Living publisher John-Lawrence Smith confirmed Tuesday. The Virginia Living offices are located on the same block where Cartwright was killed.

The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration has issued a notice seeking public comment on a proposed new information collection concerning the safety impacts of modern voice command interfaces in vehicles.

Left-hand turns are among the most complex maneuvers for fleet drivers. They require a driver to simultaneously assess oncoming traffic, predict closing speeds, monitor pedestrians and cyclists, and make a time-critical decision, often while operating a larger or heavier vehicle and under schedule or route pressure.

A federal push to stop drunk driving before it starts could soon take effect.

A proposed law would require automakers install impairment detection technology in all new vehicles. The tech could detect alcohol in a driver’s breath, touch or behavior -- and could stop the car from moving.

Motor vehicle crashes remain one of the leading causes of death for U.S. teens, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC). Data from the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) shows drivers ages 16–19 are nearly three times more likely to be involved in a fatal crash than drivers 20 and older, per mile driven.

Harrisonburg had 1,536 accidents in 2025 with 1,247 of those being reportable accidents — occurring on public property — Harrisonburg Police Department’s Outreach and Communication Specialist Juliana McGrath said.

A NEW law is seeking to officially criminalize the act of livestreaming while driving as part of a crackdown on reckless road habits.

More than 550 commercial driving schools in the U.S. that train truckers and bus drivers must close after investigators found they employed unqualified instructors, failed to adequately test students and had other safety issues, the federal Transportation Department announced Wednesday.

Lyft is rolling out a new ride-sharing option specifically designed for teenagers, called "Lyft Teen."

Sam Allebaugh vividly remembers the day he crashed his dump truck into a car while texting, killing the woman driving.

That was February 13, 2019, in Chesterfield County.

Child pedestrian casualties in traffic accidents remains high, particularly when they cross the street alone. One contributing factor is their limited ability to identify potential risks.

Now that Central Virginia is hopefully out of the worst of winter weather, drivers have a new list of to-dos to ensure their vehicles stay safe on the road.

CDL drivers causing 17 fatal crashes and 30 deaths in 2025 are no longer eligible to get a nondomiciled commercial driver’s license, according to a new rule issued by Transportation Secretary Sean Duffy.

A person is fighting for their life after a crash involving an ejection in Brunswick County early Thursday morning.

Richmond drivers will need to pay closer attention to traffic signals starting this weekend as the city activates its first batch of new red light cameras.

The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration said on Monday it had expanded a safety-related investigation into 1.27 million Ford (F.N), opens new tab F-150 pickup trucks following reports of unexpected downshifts with rear-wheel lockup.

The Virginia Department of Motor Vehicles (DMV) has opened applications for its annual Highway Safety Grant Program.

On Sunday, Feb. 1, the DMV announced that applications are open for organizations to request funding through a grant program supporting local road‑safety projects across Virginia.

Drive Safe Hampton Roads is offering a discount of up to $15 with its 757 Sober Ride program for Super Bowl Sunday from 5 p.m. on Sunday, Feb. 8 until 3 a.m. Monday, Feb. 9. The code is only available between these hours to residents 21 and older, and if your destination is either to or from somewhere in Hampton Roads.

Two children on a sled were struck by a car in a Chesterfield neighborhood on Sunday afternoon, Crime Insider sources told Jon Burkett.

Operation “DISS-rupt” is coming to a road near you, sponsored by Virginia State Police (VSP)!

VSP says this is a traffic enforcement and educational safety initiative put in place because of the warming temperatures and “Virginians deciding to finally venture out.” State Police in the Salem, Appomattox, Chesapeake and Richmond divisions will conduct Operation DISS-rupt on all 299 miles of Interstate 64 in Virginia from Feb. 5-6.

Keeping our roadways safe is a shared responsibility, and throughout February, the Fairfax County Police Department is focusing on two key traffic safety priorities: school zone enforcement and impaired driving prevention.

Snow and ice left on a vehicle can harden into heavy sheets that break loose while driving, especially at highway speeds. Safety experts warn that when that ice flies off a moving car, it can strike other vehicles with enough force to shatter windshields or cause drivers to lose control.

For Super Bowl LX on Sunday, February 8, 2026, the Arlington County Police Department and the U.S. Department of Transportation’s National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) are teaming up to remind drivers: Fans Don’t Let Fans Drive Drunk. No matter who you are rooting for, your best bet for a safe trip home is a sober one.

The Virginia Department of Motor Vehicles (DMV) is encouraging fans to plan for a sober ride ahead of the big game on Sunday.

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

Gov. Abigail Spanberger provided an update for Virginians on the weekend’s incoming winter storm.

Waking up to a thick, white blanket of snow can be a beautiful sight—that is, until you have to go outside. Maneuvering a massive vehicle becomes far more complicated once snow and ice enter the picture.

Virginia State Police (VSP) said the weekend winter storm has led to hundreds of crashes across the Commonwealth, prompting officials to urge drivers to stay off the roads.

As of 4 a.m. Monday, the Virginia State Police responded to 440 crashes statewide. Thirty-four of those crashes involved injuries.

While most interstates, parkways and turnpikes have been treated following the weekend’s snow and ice storm, many Virginians are asking: why aren’t neighborhood streets being cleared more quickly?

Virginia State Police are urging residents to stay off public roadways with ATVs and side-by-sides, especially during winter weather conditions

Two drivers have been arrested after a vehicle struck two marked Fairfax County Police cruisers during a traffic stop on I-495 in Annandale.

Many sidewalks in the District are still a mess, keeping many families snowed in.

A North Carolina man was killed in a hit-and-run incident Jan. 30 on U.S. Route 1 in Dinwiddie County, according to Virginia State Police.

Forward-facing car seats have a harness and tether that limits your child's forward movement during a crash.

Refer to the video above for a general overview of forward-facing seat installation and see the below step-by-step guide.

Now that it's wintertime and the sun is setting earlier, you're more likely to be driving at night, whether going to and from work, picking up your kids from an extracurricular activity or running errands. Even for seasoned drivers and even with street lights, this can create additional challenges and safety hazards when you're on the road -- especially if you have a vision condition.

It’s critical to focus your attention on staying safe on the road. Many older adults rely on driving to maintain their daily routines and sense of freedom, but aging can bring changes that make driving more challenging.

Ram has recalled 52,565 heavy-duty trucks because a software problem can deactivate their stability control systems, airbags, and seat belt pretensioners.

In anticipation of the potentially icy conditions starting on Sunday, the Virginia Department of Transportation (VDOT) has been preparing to ensure drivers’ safety as they commute through the weather, according to a press release.

Today marks National Passenger Safety Day, and AAA is reminding residents that road safety doesn’t only start and end with the driver; passengers should also speak up to save lives.

A six-year-old boy is dead after a two-vehicle crash on Interstate 64 on Sunday.

The state of Virginia wants you to drive slower. The state is preparing important changes in the way of driving on certain roads. We are not talking about a new immediate fine or a definite law, but about a pilot program to answer the next question: driving slower makes the roads safer? So, let’s find out about what this is all about, shall we?

The majority of e-bike fatalities occur after high-speed vehicle crashes. They often also occur due to not wearing a helmet or wearing a helmet incorrectly. E-bike accidents can also happen due to loss of vehicle control on busy urban roads. National safety records frequently show that these deaths cannot be attributed to a single cause.

As Virginia braces for a major winter storm, AAA is reminding drivers to keep safety top of mind and always have a plan.

Governor Abigail Spanberger declared a State of Emergency today due to winter weather that will impact most of the Commonwealth beginning Saturday and lasting through Monday morning.

Traveling on the roads during severe weather can be both dangerous and scary. Winter storms, bad weather, and sloppy road conditions are a factor in nearly half a million crashes and more than 2,000 road deaths every winter, according to research by the AAA Foundation for Traffic Safety.

As technology becomes more embedded in our daily lives, drivers often turn to headphones and earbuds for communication or entertainment while on the road.

State laws vary on headphone use behind the wheel, but the USA TODAY Cars team took a look at which states have laws against driving with headphones or earbuds, and which states make at least some allowances for phone calls. Here's what we found:

A fifth pedestrian has been hit and killed in Richmond in less than a month. It happened just two days after Mayor Danny Avula announced immediate actions the city is taking to combat more happening.

In a major move to combat deadly speeding, Virginia has become one of the first jurisdictions in the nation to require Intelligent Speed Assistance (ISA) technology for certain reckless driving convictions. Virginia lawmakers approved the measure as part of a broader effort to reduce high-speed crashes on Virginia roadways.

Touchscreens in vehicle dashboards date back to the 1980s. But modern cars consolidate functions into these systems far beyond what we’ve seen before, to the point where a car feels mostly like a computer.

A student at Stone Bridge High School in Ashburn, Virginia, was struck and killed Tuesday morning by a Loudoun County Public Schools maintenance truck, according to the county sheriff’s office.

Left-hand turns are among the most complex maneuvers for fleet drivers. They require a driver to simultaneously assess oncoming traffic, predict closing speeds, monitor pedestrians and cyclists, and make a time-critical decision, often while operating a larger or heavier vehicle and under schedule or route pressure.

The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) issued a reminder to parents about the importance of guiding teens through the process of learning to drive, emphasizing that it requires patience, practice, and consistent reminders.

Virginia traffic fatalities decreased roughly 15% in 2025, according to a preliminary report by the Virginia Department of Vehicles.

More than 80,000 Chevy vehicles are being recalled because their pedestrian alert sound system is defective, federal regulators said.

According to the AAA, more than 2,000 road deaths occur each year due to bad weather and winter storms.

Winter is peak season, so now is the time for fleet operators to remind drivers of some scary statistics to keep safety top of mind during the most frigid months.

An 18-year-old man driving a stolen car is facing several charges after "intentionally" crashing into a Chesterfield fire station early Sunday morning, according to authorities.

Today, Virginia State Police spoke in support of Drive Smart VA at a press conference to raise awareness of Virginia’s Move Over law.

Volkswagen has issued a safety recall for vehicles sold under its luxury Audi brand.

Around 27,760 vehicles are affected by the recall, according to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration.

As the new year gets underway, AAA is urging drivers to pay closer attention to behaviors that continue to contribute to serious and deadly crashes across the country.

AAA says speeding, distracted driving, impaired driving, and failing to wear a seatbelt remain among the biggest risks on the road.

Virginia's roads will be shrouded in a thick, mysterious fog on Wednesday morning, posing a risk to drivers.

One person was killed and at least three others were injured in a crash near the White House. Police say a speeding driver caused the crash.

A home essentials company is recalling certain child car seats because they may pose a risk of injury to children.

The intersection is Route 92 and US 360, where a two-lane road meets a four-lane highway.

According to Chris Russell, the Public Safety Director in Charlotte County, in the last five years there have been 19 accidents in that area alone.

The Williamsburg mother that helped change Virginia’s seat belt law is reacting to recently released data from Virginia State Police.

The city announced that it’s partnering with the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety (IIHS) and DRIVE SMART Virginia to launch a series of free, public meetings to increase seat belt safety and usage.

With continued travel across the region, Fairfax County roadways and surrounding interstates are expected to remain busy in the days ahead. Higher traffic volume, potential winter weather, and changing travel patterns may create added challenges for drivers.

The Fairfax County Police Department encourages motorists to plan ahead and follow these safety tips to help ensure safe travel.

To combat the dangers of drunk driving, the Gweedo Memorial Foundation has teamed up with LifeSafer to provide a New Year’s Eve day event that showcases new technology geared towards teen driver safety.

A Leesburg man is facing charges after police say he exited his vehicle with a machete and smashed another driver’s window during a road rage incident Monday morning.

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

With New Year’s approaching, Virginia State Police are asking drivers across the Commonwealth to follow basic safe driving practices to help keep road fatalities trending lower

Drive Safe Hampton Roads announced it is sponsoring 757 Sober Ride for New Year’s Eve.

U.S. Rep. Morgan Griffith (R‑VA) announced today that the U.S. Department of Transportation has awarded two High Priority Commercial Motor Vehicle grants to Virginia Tech totaling $1,597,239 to study risky driving behaviors and expand driver safety demonstrations in high schools nationwide.

As Virginians head out to celebrate New Year’s Eve, officials are urging everyone to make safety a top priority and avoid driving under the influence.

A new vehicle safety inspection sticker will be put in place for 2026, according to the Virginia State Police.

A new device is being launched to combat speeding on roadways, with technology designed to prevent dangerous driving before it happens.

From Dec. 10 to Jan. 1, Virginia law enforcement will conduct saturation patrols and sobriety checkpoints across the commonwealth. This is part of the “Drive Sober or Get Pulled Over” media campaign, which has seen a reduction in drunk driving incidents since it began in 2002.

With the holidays almost here, as well as the start of the New Year, Virginia State Police is asking everyone driving across the Commonwealth to help end the year on a good note. Preliminary data shows fatalities on the roads are down this year. As of Dec. 15, 2025, 704 people have lost their lives on a Virginia roadway. 813 people died on Virginia roadways at this time in 2024.

Drinking and driving is always dangerous, with the risk of injury, death and thousands of dollars in out-of-pocket costs. Fortunately, a few simple steps this holiday season can prevent drunk driving accidents and DUI violations.

An annual report released on Monday shows that impaired driving fatalities are going down in the DMV, but drunk driving arrests and crashes remain a problem.

A man was killed in a crash while bicycling on River Road in Chesterfield Saturday afternoon.

Brandy Brubaker, Director of Highway Safety Strategy at Virginia Department of Motor Vehicles, stopped by our studio to talk with Amy Lacey about seat belt safety. Let’s stay safe this season and beyond — because safety never takes a holiday!

Henrico police have removed 102 impaired drivers from roadways between Nov. 1 and Dec. 22 as law enforcement agencies increase holiday enforcement efforts.

It is the most wonderful time of year but its also one of the most dangerous time of year on the roads.

This time of year there is usually a spike in crashes that often result in devastation and one Virginia mom is making it her purpose to make sure what happened to her family never happens again.

A suspected drunk driver caused chaos on Christmas Eve for residents on North Stevens Hollow Drive in Chesterfield County, according to police.

A new study of fatal large‑truck crashes nationwide finds Virginia ranks eighth for the share of fatal crashes that involve drowsy drivers, with 3.84% of fatal large‑truck crashes linked to driver fatigue between 2019 and 2023.

Today, the AAA Foundation for Traffic Safety (AAAFTS) released a new report that shows that while risky driving behaviors remain widespread, Americans strongly support a range of impaired-driving countermeasures that could significantly reduce fatalities. 

Waiting for the first snow or ice storm to hit puts you and your tires behind the curve when it comes time to get behind the wheel.

The year-end holiday period leading up to New Year's is one of the most dangerous times on American roads and highways, with a spike in crashes that result in serious injuries or death. The National Road Safety Foundation, a non-profit group that for more than 60 years has been promoting safe driving through education, says the increased risk comes from a combination of factors that include impairment from alcohol and drugs coupled with a higher incidence of drowsy driving.

Don’t take your eyes off the road to read new research from the University of Washington.

In partnership with Toyota Research Institute, UW researchers are exploring how modern touch screens in cars affect driving now that dashboard knobs and buttons are increasingly a thing of the past. The results could help auto manufacturers design safer, more responsive screens and in-car interfaces.

The IIHS has awarded sixteen new 2025 and 2026 models with Top Safety Pick honors. Winners include the Tesla Cybertruck and Audi Q5, while the Jeep Gladiator failed to qualify.

Deck the halls, plan the gift list, and pack the car. With holiday shopping, errands and family travel in full swing, safety experts are urging caution when venturing out this winter.

The Virginia Department of Transportation will be lifting some lane closures throughout Virginia from Dec. 24-31, 2026.

Miguel Perez, head of the biomedical engineering and mechanics department at Virginia Tech, says that despite efforts to reduce impaired driving, it is “still very much a problem.” And now, the problem extends beyond just alcohol.

Members of the public were advised by the Virginia State Police to drive safe during the holiday season.

Two pedestrians were injured in what appeared to be a road rage incident in Arlington Thursday night.

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.”

Motorists who frequent the Harrisonburg area will want to take into account a road closure next week at the Interstate 81 Exit 247A interchange.

A crash investigation is ongoing in Roanoke after one person died Friday night.

If there was one thing work truck fleets needed in 2025, it was clarity. With costs rising, vehicle lifecycles stretching, and operations scattered across job sites, branches, and regions, fleet managers leaned hard into data to get their arms around what was really happening day to day.

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.