The first week of July is typically one of the busiest American travel periods of the year. It’s also one of the deadliest. Virginia State Police urge motorists to practice safe, sober and distraction-free driving to avoid becoming a statistic in 2025.
During 2024’s holiday weekend, state police reported 772 injuries and 10 fatalities over a five-day period, which spanned from Wednesday, July 3, to Sunday, July 7.
“We are in the height of the summer travel season, so traffic safety should be of the utmost importance for all Virginians,” said Col. Gary T. Settle, state police superintendent. “Excessive speeding, drivers and passengers failing to buckle up, and distracted driving continue to put all at risk traveling on our highways. We need Virginians to put forth the extra effort and comply with speed limits, buckle up and put the phone down, and avoid distractions.”
The Virginia State Police implemented Operation Crash Awareness Reduction Effort to help keep Virginia highways safer by reducing traffic fatalities during the holiday period. The initiative resulted in 4,044 speeders and 1,868 reckless drivers cited. Additionally, police investigated a total of 1,027 crashes statewide.
“Pull over to a safe place when you are doing something that will take your eyes or mind off the road,” said Virginia Farm Bureau Mutual Insurance Co. senior actuarial manager David Tenembaum. He serves as treasurer for DRIVE SMART Virginia, a nonprofit partner charged with raising awareness and changing behavior to improve roadway safety.
“When free of distractions, a driver can be prepared for the unpredictability of other motorists who may be distracted themselves,” he said.
Arranging sober transportation is another preventable action motorists can take to keep themselves and others safe during the celebratory weekend.
Troopers arrested 95 drivers for operating under the influence of alcohol or drugs during the July Fourth holiday period last year. The Department of Motor Vehicles reported that 4,306 people were injured and 318 were killed as the result of alcohol-related traffic crashes in Virginia during all of 2024.
“With just a few drinks you could be too impaired to safely drive,” Tenembaum noted. “So, designate before you celebrate! Plan to use a rideshare app or designate a sober driver before kicking off the holiday weekend.”
