Thus far, there have been fewer traffic fatalites statewide this year, according to recent statistics released by the Department of Motor Vehicles.

State police say, though the trend is encouraging, 481 people have still died on Virginia roadways this year. They say many of those people could have survived had they been wearing a seat belt.

"We hope through enforcement, we hope through education that we can try to change driving behavior," says Virginia State Police 1st Sgt. Scott VanLear.

To change driving behavior, troopers use campaigns like Checkpoint Strikeforce to curb drunk driving; Operation Air, Land and Speed to slow cars down; and Click It or Ticket to force people to buckle their seatbelts.

According to driver Frank Wood, the state police effort is making a difference.

"I think it's working. I think it's working, and I think they should do more of them," says Wood.

He's been buckling up for 44 years but says he still sees people drive off unbuckled.

According to VanLear, safer vehicles are also helping to bring down the death toll, but drivers can't rely on just car safety ratings.

"Automobiles are now designed very safe as long as you stay in that passenger compartment for all those airbags and those crumple zones to work, and there's only one way to stay in that area, and that's with the use of a seatbelt," adds VanLear.

He also cautions that 2010 isn't over yet, and Augusta County is about to enter what is historically its deadliest month.

"We don't know what's causing it, but there is usually a spike in October," says VanLear.

VanLear says he hopes drivers will be vigilant this October, keeping the traffic fatalities down.

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