Memorial Day weekend is one of the deadliest holidays on Virginia's roadways. Sixteen people died in 11 fatal crashes during the four-day 2007 Memorial Day holiday, according to preliminary data from the Department of Motor Vehicles' Virginia Highway Safety Office. Eleven people died during the four-day weekend in 2006 and 15 died in 2005.

"This Memorial Day weekend, you can help save lives by obeying speed limits and making certain everyone in your car is buckled up at all times," says D.B. Smit, the Governor's Highway Safety representative and DMV's commissioner. "We hope all Virginians and visitors to our state have a safe, enjoyable and crash-free Memorial Day weekend."

DMV's Highway Safety Office reminds motorists to:

- Arrive at your destination early to avoid nighttime driving.
- Stop and rest at least every two hours to avoid driver fatigue.
- Use caution when taking medications, especially those that might make you drowsy or sleepy.
- Provide appropriate distance when changing lanes after passing another vehicle.
- Use your signals to indicate a turn or lane change.

In an effort to save more lives on Virginia’s roadways, DMV's Virginia Highway Safety Office is partnering with law enforcement across Virginia and the nation this month to increase seat belt and child safety seat use with the Click It or Ticket enforcement mobilization.

According to preliminary numbers from the Highway Safety Office, 1,026 people died on Virginia roads in 2007, and 749 of those deaths occurred in vehicles equipped with safety restraints. Sixty percent, 452 of the 749 people who died, were not wearing restraints.

“Virginia experienced the highest number of roadway fatalities in a decade in 2007, and far too many of these tragedies were due to someone not buckling up," says Smit. “Clearly, this needs to change, and that is why we are joining with law enforcement to enforce all traffic laws so that needless deaths will be prevented.”

In Virginia, law enforcement can cite drivers of vehicles where occupants under age 16 are not wearing seat belts or are not properly restrained in a child safety seat. Drivers stopped for other violations can be cited if they are not buckled up. This law also applies to all front seat passengers 16 years and older.

"As health professionals, the Virginia Department of Health is pleased when preventive steps are taken to protect the health and safety of our children," says State Health Commissioner Karen Remley, M.D., M.B.A. "We hope Virginians will continue supporting changes in the law requiring children to be properly secured in a child safety seat or booster when traveling during the summer."

To help parents and caregivers safely transport their children, the Virginia Department of Health supports a statewide network of inspection sites where certified technicians can inspect safety seats for free and teach parents how to install and use them correctly.

VDH also provides free safety seats to families who otherwise could not afford them. More than 102,000 safety seats have been distributed since VDH’s Low Income Safety Seat Program began in 1996. Seats are available at more than 130 distribution sites across the state.

Along with maintaining safety, Virginians have three main reasons to slow down and comply with speed limits while traveling during the Memorial Day weekend:

- To save gas. Driving too fast is not only reckless, but also uses up more gas. Drive the speed limit and conserve on fuel.

- To save money. Fewer trips to the gas pump mean more savings. Tickets cost money, too. State police will be out in full force during the holiday weekend patrolling for speeders and aggressive drivers.

- To save lives. According to the DMV, in 2007, speed accounted for 19 percent of all crashes involving injuries and fatalities in Virginia. Speed costs lives. Plus, Virginia law requires all motorists to slow down and/or move over when passing an emergency vehicle stopped on the side of a road. With more troopers on the highways during the Memorial Day weekend, motorists need to be compliant and safely share the road.

During the holiday weekend, Virginia State Police will increase visibility, checkpoints and traffic enforcement efforts as part of the 2008 Combined Accident Reduction Effort program. Operation C.A.R.E., as it is known, is a state-sponsored, national program designed to reduce crashes, fatalities and injuries caused by speeding, impaired driving and failure to use occupant restraints, particularly during the national holidays. The 2008 statistical counting period begins Friday, May 23, and ends at midnight on Monday, May 26.

“Complying with speed limits is critical to the safe and efficient flow of traffic on Virginia’s highways,” says Col. W. Steven Flaherty, VSP Superintendent. “Overall safety on the road, including buckling up, driving drug and alcohol free and limiting distractions, must be exercised not just this holiday weekend but all summer long if Virginians want to save lives and reduce crashes.”

During the 2007 Operation C.A.R.E. Memorial Day enforcement period, Virginia State Police cited and/or arrested:

- 10,198 speeders
- 3,319 reckless drivers
- 1,206 safety belt violations
- 346 child restraint violations
- 235 impaired drivers

A total of 16 people died in Virginia as a result of traffic crashes over the 2007 Memorial Day weekend. Eleven lives were lost on Virginia’s highways during the holiday period in 2006.