News

May 24, 2012
Virginia State Police Boost "C.A.R.E." Patrols for Holiday Weekend Enforcement
Click It or Ticket Mobilization Campaign Underway (May 21 - June 3, 2012)

RICHMOND –  If you plan to travel this Memorial Day holiday then prepare to buckle up, slow down and expect to see more Virginia State troopers on the roadways as part of the annual Operation C.A.R.E. traffic enforcement campaign. The Operation Combined Accident Reduction Effort (C.A.R.E.) is a state-sponsored, national program designed to reduce crashes, fatalities and injuries caused by speeding, impaired driving and failure to use occupant restraints. As a participating agency, State Police willincrease its visibility and traffic enforcement efforts throughout the Commonwealth beginning Friday morning, May 25, 2011, at 12:01 a.m. and continuing through midnight, Monday, May 28, 2012.

In addition to Operation C.A.R.E., the Virginia State Police is also actively participating in the nationwide Click It or Ticket educational and enforcement effort. The traffic safety project, which runs May 21 through June 3, 2012, is aimed at increasing seat belt use in Virginia and intended to save lives. During the 2011 May Click-It-Or-Ticket enforcement wave, Virginia State Police troopers issued 1,653 summonses for adults failing to wear safety belts and another 488 summonses for child safety restraint violations.

“We should never take for granted the importance of wearing a seatbelt as statistics have proven it can help save your life or reduce your chance for injuries in a crash,” says Colonel W. Steven Flaherty, Virginia State Police Superintendent. “Buckling up works. When you get into a vehicle, make the choice to follow the speed limit, drive sober, drive distraction-free and always buckle up.”

During the 2011 Memorial Day weekend, 12 individuals lost their lives in traffic crashes statewide – at least nine of them were unbuckled. In 2010, 11 were killed; and seven were killed in 2009.*

As a result of the 2011 Operation C.A.R.E. initiative, 8,977 speeders and 2,541 reckless drivers were stopped. Troopers also took 132 impaired drivers off the road. Additionally, 941 individuals were cited for seat belt violations and another 335 summonses were issued for children not being properly secured in either a child safety seat or booster seat.

With increased patrols and more troopers patrolling Virginia’s roadways this holiday weekend, the Department reminds all motorists about Virginia’s “Move Over” law. The law requires drivers to change to another travel lane or, when unable to, to cautiously pass all emergency personnel stopped on the side of a road. The law also applies to emergency response vehicles, highway maintenance vehicles and tow trucks equipped with flashing amber lights. For more information on the Move Over law and a PSA, go to www.vsp.virginia.gov.

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*Statistics provided by DMV, Highway Safety Office