RICHMOND, VA – As Memorial Day weekend coincides with graduation season this year, Virginia State Police (VSP) and AAA Mid-Atlantic are preparing for an influx of travelers. AAA forecasts a 4% increase in travel during the holiday, which could lead to congested roads across Virginia. During last year’s Memorial Day weekend, nine fatal accidents occurred statewide.
Colonel Gary T. Settle, Superintendent of VSP, stressed the importance of cautious driving. “With 294 lives lost to traffic crashes in Virginia so far this year, it is crucial for everyone to drive attentively and responsibly,” he said. Settle emphasized the need for drivers, especially teenagers and young adults, to observe speed limits, wear seat belts, avoid distractions, and never drive under the influence.
The 2024 Memorial Day weekend will also see VSP participating in Operation Crash Awareness Reduction Effort (C.A.R.E), a national initiative aimed at reducing traffic incidents caused by speeding, impaired driving, and non-compliance with seat belt laws. The enforcement period starts at 12:01 a.m. on Friday, May 24, and continues through midnight on Monday, May 27. Virginia troopers will be vigilant, ensuring that travelers are adhering to road safety rules.
Last year, troopers issued 771 seatbelt citations and 136 child restraint citations during the Memorial Day weekend. Additionally, nearly 5,000 speeding citations and over 1,900 citations for reckless driving were handed out. Officers also arrested 89 impaired drivers, made 169 felony arrests, and assisted 1,447 disabled motorists.
Furthermore, recent changes to Virginia’s “Move Over” law require drivers to shift over a lane or slow down when approaching any vehicle on the roadside using emergency signals or markers. This law aims to protect emergency responders and civilians alike.
Funds from issued summonses contribute directly to court fees and Virginia’s Literary Fund, which supports public school construction, technology upgrades, and teacher retirement benefits.