'Click It or Ticket' safety campaign begins Nov. 22 in Virginia
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As the holiday season begins and millions of Virginians hit the road, the Virginia Department of Motor Vehicles and Virginia State Police are reminding travelers to drive safely and buckle up – and police will be reinforcing that message during the nationwide "Click It or Ticket" seat belt enforcement campaign, which begins Nov. 22 and runs through Nov. 30.
Seat belts are mandatory in Virginia for everyone who rides in the front seat. Virginia car seat laws also outline that:
• all children under the age of eight must ride in a federally approved, secured safety seat;
• children between eight and 15 must use a safety seat, booster seat, or seat belt, no matter where in the vehicle the child is riding;
• it is the driver’s responsibility to make sure all children, age 15 and under, are secured properly.
Virginia law allows police to cite anyone driving a car in which an occupant under age 16 is not wearing a safety belt or is not in a child safety seat. Drivers also may be cited if they are not properly restrained when stopped for other violations.
“Whether you’re traveling across the Commonwealth to visit family or just heading down the street, remember that everyone wants to make it home safely for the holidays,” said DMV Commissioner Gerald Lackey, the governor’s highway safety representative. “Be patient, be courteous, and buckle up. The best gift you can give your loved ones is your safe arrival.”
During last year’s five-day Thanksgiving travel period in Virginia, there were 768 injuries and 8 fatalities resulting from traffic crashes. Five of the people who died were not wearing seat belts. Those numbers were slightly lower than the year before.
