Home State Police urge safe driving this Thanksgiving holiday weekend
Virginia

State Police urge safe driving this Thanksgiving holiday weekend

Chris Graham
interstate road
Photo Credit: monticellllo

As Virginians take to the roads this Thanksgiving to celebrate the holiday with family and friends, Virginia State Police is urging motorists to put down their phones and buckle up so everyone makes it safely to the holiday table.

With the onset of the 2019 winter holiday season, state police is proud to support the Virginia Department of Motor Vehicles (DMV) Highway Safety Office and AAA Mid-Atlantic with its new traffic safety campaign aimed at heightening awareness of the deadly dangers of distracted driving.

Earlier this month, Virginia State Police Superintendent, Col. Gary T. Settle, and Trooper-Trainees of the 131st Basic Academy Session signed a banner to pledge their support to the “Don’t Drive Intoxicated. Don’t Drive Intexticated” campaign and its life-saving messaging.

“The choices you make as a vehicle driver impact not only you and your passengers, but everyone else you happen to be sharing the road with at that given moment,” said Settle. “Avoid distractions, ensure everyone in your vehicle is buckled up, comply with speed limits and never drive drunk. If we drive like every car is filled with our friends and family, we can make sure there are no empty chairs at the Thanksgiving table this year.”

To further prevent traffic deaths and injuries during the Thanksgiving holiday, the Virginia State Police will once again be participating in Operation C.A.R.E., an acronym for the Crash Awareness and Reduction Effort. As part of the state-sponsored, national program, state police will be increasing its visibility and traffic enforcement efforts during the five-day statistical counting period, Nov. 27, 2019 through Dec. 1, 2019.

The 2018 Thanksgiving Holiday C.A.R.E. initiative resulted in troopers citing 599 individuals who failed to obey the law and buckle up, as well as issuing 199 citations for child safety seat violations on Virginia’s highways statewide. In addition, state police cited 7,629 speeders and 2,192 reckless drivers. A total of 102 drunken drivers were taken off Virginia’s roadways and arrested by state troopers.

There were 12 traffic fatalities during the 2018 five-day Thanksgiving statistical counting period and 14 traffic fatalities during the same period in 2017.

With increased patrols, Virginia State Police also reminds drivers of Virginia’s “Move Over” law, which requires motorists to move over when approaching an emergency vehicle stopped alongside the road. If unable to move over, drivers are required to cautiously pass the emergency vehicle. The law also applies to workers in vehicles equipped with amber lights.

Chris Graham

Chris Graham

Chris Graham, the king of "fringe media," a zero-time Virginia Sportswriter of the Year, and a member of zero Halls of Fame, is the founder and editor of Augusta Free Press. A 1994 alum of the University of Virginia, Chris is the author and co-author of seven books, including Poverty of Imagination, a memoir published in 2019. For his commentaries on news, sports and politics, go to his YouTube page, or subscribe to his Street Knowledge podcast. Email Chris at [email protected].

Latest News

Sports Betting

How To Bet On UFC 318 In Missouri

Sports Betting

How To Bet On UFC 318 In South Carolina

UFC 318 is set for Saturday, July 19, 2025, and South Carolina fight fans are looking for legal ways to bet on Max Holloway vs Dustin Poirier 3. While the state hasn’t launched licensed sportsbooks yet, you can still bet online using internationally licensed platforms. These offshore sportsbooks accept players from South Carolina, offer fast...

Sports Betting

How To Bet On UFC 318 In North Carolina

UFC 318 is set to take place in New Orleans on Saturday, July 19, and fans across North Carolina are already looking for ways to bet on the trilogy fight between Max Holloway and Dustin Poirier. While online sports betting in North Carolina is limited to state-approved apps with geolocation checks, there’s another option. Offshore...

chris graham acc
Football

Summer football media daze: I’ve attended my last ACC Kickoff

Sports Betting

How To Bet On UFC 318 In Florida

crime scene tape
Public Safety, Virginia

Henry County: Body found in roadway, investigation points to homicide

UVA Health sign
Health, Local

UVA Health’s Melina Kibbe is sole finalist for UT Health Houston presidency