RICHMOND – Out of all 179 miles of Interstate 95 within Virginia, there were only six traffic crashes that involved injuries and there zero fatal traffic crashes this past weekend. These statistics resulted from the “I-95 Drive to Save Lives” traffic safety operation that took place Friday, April 19, 2024, through Sunday, April 21, 2024. Virginia was among 15 states, from Maine in the north to Florida in the south, to participate in the operation. Virginia devoted additional patrol resources along Interstate 95 within the Commonwealth’s borders during the enforcement effort. The initiative focused on all aspects of safe driving behaviors, to include distracted driving, as April is National Distracted Driving Awareness Month.
During the enforcement time period, Virginia State Police troopers did cite 153 drivers for reckless driving. Troopers worked 50 crashes total, and made two DUI (Driving under the Influence) arrests.
In 2023, according to Virginia Department of Motor Vehicle (DMV) statistics, there were 39 fatal traffic crashes on Interstate 95. In addition, in 2022 (the last year DMV statistics are available), more than 20,000 traffic crashes and 95 traffic-related deaths were attributed to driver distraction. *
With the summer travel season only a month away, state police is already preparing for the traditional increase in traffic on I-95 and all interstates across the Commonwealth. The more vehicles on the road the more attention is required of every driver. Motorists are encouraged to drive responsibly by sharing the road with all vehicles, complying with posted speed limits, buckling up and putting the phone down.
* 2022 Virginia Traffic Crash Facts, Virginia Department of Motor Vehicles.
