Virginia State Police step up patrols for July 4th weekend

To ensure the Fourth of July holiday is as safe as possible, Virginia State Police has increased patrols during the long holiday weekend.

Beginning Friday (July 3), VSP joined law enforcement around the country for Operation CARE (Combined Accident Reduction Effort), a state-sponsored, national program intended to reduce crashes, fatalities and injuries due to impaired driving, speed and failing to wear a seat belt.

The 2015 July Fourth statistical counting period began at 12:01 a.m., Friday, July 3, 2015, and continues through midnight Sunday, July 5, 2015.

“Last year, there were 11 deaths on Virginia’s roads due to a traffic crash during the July Fourth holiday weekend*,” said Colonel W. Steven Flaherty, Virginia State Police Superintendent, in a press release.

He added, “We will do our part to patrol and reduce the number of negligent drivers but motorists need to do theirs. Safe driving begins with each driver following the rules of the road – this includes never driving impaired and wearing your seatbelt.”

During the 2014 July Fourth weekend, Virginia State troopers arrested 77 drunk drivers and cited 11,705 speeders and 2,688 reckless drivers. They also cited 822 individuals for failing to wear a seat belt and 336 motorists for child safety seat violations. Of the 11 traffic fatalities, not one was wearing a seat belt. Troopers investigated a total of 566 traffic crashes during the 2014 three-day holiday statistical counting period.

As more troopers patrol the highways during the Independence Day weekend, Virginia State Police reminds drivers of the “Move Over” law.

It requires motorists to move over when approaching an emergency vehicle stopped on road. If unable to move over, then drivers are required to cautiously pass the emergency vehicle. The law also applies to workers in vehicles equipped with amber lights.