Expect Increased Police Patrols During Memorial Day Weekend

RICHMOND, VA—Expect to see more troopers than usual over the Memorial Day holiday weekend, say Virginia State Police, who will be increasing patrols as part of the national Operation Crash Awareness and Reduction Effort, or C.A.R.E. Primary targets: impaired drivers, speeders and those not wearing seat belts.

Eleven people died in crashes on Virginia roads during last year's Memorial Day weekend, according to Virginia State Police. That was five more than the preliminary report because, said VSP spokesman Corinne Geller,"local police/sheriff's crash reports may come in after I send out the release and/or individuals may succumb to their injuries after we send out the post-holiday release."

The 11 deaths were an increase from the eight in both 2017 and 2016. None of last year's deaths were in the Northern Virginia area. The highest number of Memorial Day weekend deaths since 2013 was 14 in 2015.

"We hope Virginians make traffic safety a priority every day of the year, but are encouraging motorists to be extra attentive during the holiday weekend," Colonel Gary T. Settle, Virginia State Police Superintendent, said in a release. "More than a million drivers on Virginia's highways over the Memorial Day weekend means we have more than a million reasons to safely share the road, buckle up, drive distraction free, comply with speed limits and to not drive under the influence of alcohol or drugs."

Last year during Memorial Day weekend, troopers arrested 122 drunk drivers, cited 8,673 speeders and 2,704 reckless drivers. They also issued 218 citations for child safety seat violations and cited 856 people for not wearing a seat belt.

For Virginia State Police purposes, the Memorial Day weekend began 12:01 a.m. May 24 and runs until midnight Monday, May 27. There's also this:

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, then drivers are required to cautiously pass the emergency vehicle. The law also applies to workers in vehicles equipped with amber lights.