Route 340 traffic safety operation in Page County nets speeders, reckless drivers

Virginia State Police recently conducted a special traffic safety enforcement operation on Route 340 in Page County.

From 6 a.m. to 4 p.m. on March 16, state troopers issued a total 89 traffic citations on Route 340. Troopers stopped 44 speeders and three reckless drivers. The average speed of the violators was 68 mph in the posted 55 mph zone.

Four drivers were cited for failing to wear a seat belt plus one child safety seat violation was cited. Troopers also cited 22 vehicle equipment violations.

“We are hopeful this traffic safety initiative has had a positive impact on the motoring public here in Page County,” said 1^st Sgt. Burdette Andrews, Area 14 Commander.  “We plan to continue these types of enforcement efforts in the future.  Dangerous drivers aren’t unique to just the interstate, which is why state police will continue to focus its traffic safety efforts on US Route 340 and other secondary roadways in the region.”

In 2017, Page County  experienced 247 traffic crashes with three of them resulting in a fatality and 199 involving injuries.* Of those 247 traffic crashes, speed was a causative factor in 73 of the crashes and two of the fatalities. Twenty-six of the traffic crashes were the result of a drunken driver; and 26 of the traffic crashes involved individuals who were not buckled up.

The Virginia State Police Area 14 Office is part of the Culpeper Division and encompasses the Page and Shenandoah counties.