NHTSA Region 3 Operation Crash Reduction Initiative
October 7-10, 2022
Many motorists will take to area roadways during the upcoming long weekend in search of that last summertime adventure.
More driving appears to mean more motor vehicle crashes—at least in NHTSA Region 3 (Delaware, District of Columbia, Kentucky, Maryland, North Carolina, Virginia, and West Virginia) - a region that sees some of the nation's highest numbers of traffic crash-induced fatalities.
To help remind drivers and passengers of the importance of seatbelt use, the Virginia Department of Motor Vehicles, it's partners, law enforcement and NHTSA are teaming up for Operation Crash Reduction.
Operation Crash Reduction runs from October 7 through October 10, with the goal of promoting seatbelt use to save lives and prevent injuries due to traffic crashes. During this awareness campaign, police will be enforcing applicable traffic laws with the goal of educating drivers and passengers of the dangers of traveling without a seatbelt, as well as other risky driving behaviors.
In October 2021, in Virginia there were 11,964 crashes in vehicles equipped with safety restraints, 86 fatalities and 5,254 injuries. 49% of the fatalities were unrestrained.
Agencies can choose to focus only on Occupant Protection / Seat Belts and Speed, or you can also incorporate other types of enhanced education and enforcement (e.g., Distracted Driving, Impaired, etc.) to accompany the OP enforcement—based on your own problem identification and crash data. This allows the enforcement efforts to be more effective, and gives state and local jurisdictions more autonomy to address their own specific traffic safety issues. Speeding is a type of aggressive driving behavior. Speed also affects safety even when driving at the speed limit but too fast for road conditions, such as during bad weather, when a road is under repair, or in an area at night that isn't well lit.
Virginia law requires everyone under age 18 to be properly secured in a safety belt or child safety seat, no matter where they are sitting in the vehicle, and the driver is responsible for making sure this happens. In addition, Virginia law requires everyone in the front seat of vehicles to be properly restrained, regardless of age, and those 18 and older can be ticketed.
Seat belts have been proven to be one of the most effective ways to save lives in vehicle crashes. That's why the Virginia Highway Safety partners are encouraging you to buckle up on every trip, every time.
Please notify your respective DMV Program Manager as to your participation in the campaign. Also, the attached resources are available for you to use during the Operation Crash Reduction campaign.
PLEASE REPORT YOUR ACTIVITIES IN TREDS UNDER 2022 OPERATION CRASH REDUCTION. DUE OCTOBER 19, 2022.
Region 3 Operation Crash Reduction Resources
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