Keep in Mind: Your chances of becoming a Labor Day weekend traffic safety statistic

The odds of having a fantastic Labor Day weekend are in your favor, though the chances of becoming a traffic safety statistic are something to keep in mind.

According to Virginia Traffic Crash Facts, 673 injuries resulted from 1,216 crashes throughout 2023’s holiday weekend.

A total of 14 people died in 10 of those Virginia traffic crashes. Half of them involved motorcycles; seven motorcycle operators and passengers lost their lives.

The fatal crashes occurred in the city Virginia Beach, and the counties of Campbell, Hanover, James City, Montgomery, Nelson, Pittsylvania, Rockbridge, Scott and Wythe counties. Last year’s 14 fatalities were up from 12 in 2022, and 10 in 2021.

Transportation officials, law enforcement and outreach organizations like Drive Smart Virginia work to push the number of crashes and fatalities toward zero. But it can’t be done without motorists who are free of distraction or impairment, said David Tenembaum, senior actuarial manager at Virginia Farm Bureau Mutual Insurance Co., Tenembaum is also Drive Smart Virginia (DSV) treasurer.

“No matter where you are in Virginia, or how you plan to celebrate this long holiday weekend, we all share the responsibility of roadway safety,” he said. “Part of that responsibility is knowing traffic safety laws recently adopted in Virginia.”

It has been illegal to hold a mobile device while driving in Virginia since 2021. A “Do Not Disturb” app can block incoming correspondence while the vehicle is in motion. Otherwise, use your device’s hands-free options carefully.

Virginia’s Move Over law for emergency vehicles changed in 2023. Drivers must now change lanes when possible or slow down for any vehicle on the roadside flashing amber or hazard lights, triangles or flares. This includes utility, tow and roadside assistance trucks.

The American Red Cross offers tips for safe Labor Day travel:

Be well rested and alert, use your seatbelts, and observe speed limits. Clean your headlights, and turn them on as dusk approaches or in inclement weather.
Don’t drink and drive. Have a designated driver available.
Give your full attention to the road.
Use caution in work zones (Virginia’s Move Over law does not apply in highway work zones).
Don’t follow other vehicles too closely.