Before putting the car into drive, more people are buckling up, according to a new report released Monday by the U.S. Department of Transportation.

However, according to the same report, 1.4 million Virginians still do not.

Campaigns are underway to change that and to improve overall driver safety on Virginia roads.

The annual "Click It or Ticket" initiative is going on, with law enforcement agencies across the country taking part.

In addition, Virginia State Police conducted the Air, Land, and Speed campaign on interstates 81 and 95 Sunday and Monday.

"I definitely think a lot of effort has to be put into certain campaigns like this, just to send the big enforcement and reminders to the community," says Mary-Hope Vass, public information officer for the Harrisonburg Police Department.

Not wearing a seat belt is a secondary offense in Virginia, meaning you have to be stopped for another reason to be cited for a seat belt violation.

During the "Click It or Ticket" campaign last year, seat belt violations made up just under ten percent of charges in Harrisonburg. According to the police department, officers issued 785 traffic charges during saturation patrols and checkpoints.

According to the Virginia Department of Motor Vehicles, there are more drivers than ever on the Commonwealth's roads.

In 2008, there were more than 5.4 million licensed drivers. That same year the number of fatalities in car crashes dropped to the lowest level in more than 30 years.

Gas prices also spiked in 2008, and overall driving decreased.

However, Virginia State Police 1st Sgt. Scott VanLear says the number of fatalities in Augusta County continued to drop in 2009.

"We're proud of that. But we're a little bit cautious too because we realize it can change at the blink of an eye," says VanLear.

While crashes involving deaths or injuries have been on a general downward trend since 1973, the number of those kinds of crashes spiked in 2007.

"That got a lot of press. So, that put it in people's minds right at the forefront," says VanLear.

He says there are many reasons the numbers are generally improving, including increased education efforts and more aggressive media campaigns. He also points out there has been a change in organization that has more troopers out patrolling.

"Visibility is important in law enforcement," says VanLear. "And that changes driving behavior."

VanLear says, so far this year, deaths on the roads are starting to trend up again in Augusta County. There have already been five, which is two more than at this time last year.