Transportation Safety
Personal Transportation Safety
Some dangers exist within your vehicle, such as distractions and alcohol. Other dangers, such as unanticipated situations or people, exist on the other side of your windshield. Reduce your chances of becoming a victim by following these tips while cruising in your personal vehicle.
Familiarize yourself with how the buttons and locks operate on vehicle before you drive it, regardless of whether the vehicle is yours or a rental.
When approaching your vehicle, perform a visual scan around, beneath and in it. Once you determine the coast is clear, lock your doors immediately before even starting your vehicle.
Park only in well-lit locations and avoid parking near shrubs or dark spots where someone could hide. When possible, park in a lot with an attendant or in a well populated area.
Avoid unsolicited offers for help. If someone points out damage to your vehicle, take it to a reputable repair shop at your convenience to assess the damage instead of going with the person who offers to fix it on the spot.
Be conscious of breakdown ploys criminals use to lure victims in. For example, a criminal might approach you and tell you he sees fluid leaking from your vehicle and can give you a ride to the nearest shop. Instead of getting in his car, stay in yours and call the Police
It Can All Wait
We often hear the slogan "It Can Wait", from the campaign designed to help raise awareness about the dangers of texting while driving. A texting driver is 23 more times likely to get into an accident than a non-texting driver. Despite how many lives have changed in an instant due to distracted driving, 75% of teens say texting and driving is "common" among their friends (source: AT&T).
Be aware of your surroundings at all times by limiting distractions in your vehicle. Remember that other kinds of distractions while driving can also lead to a dangerous situation.
Limit your need to text while driving by communicating before you hit the pavement. Then, let the person whom you're texting know that you're about to get on the road so he or she doesn't expect a text until you reach your destination. If you absolutely need to pull over in order to send a message, do so in a safe, well-lit location. While stopped, stay aware of your surroundings and remember to keep your doors locked and windows rolled up at all times.
As a responsible passenger, never tolerate texting and driving in the driver's seat. Offer to
read or send a text for the driver and tend to other things that might otherwise distract him or her, such as finding a radio station, plugging directions in the map, or even opening a bottle of soda.
Take the Pledge to never text and drive and encourage your friends and family to do the same.
Click It or Ticket
Regular seat belt use saves thousands of lives across Virginia each year. According to the DMV Highway Safety Office’s TREDS (Traffic Records Electronic Data System), there was a total of 355 fatalities in 2015 involving unrestrained passengers at the time of the crash.
Seasonal Click It or Ticket enforcement mobilizations run annually in May and November, but motorists should know that officers are out enforcing seat belt and other traffic laws day and night, year-round. So what can you do to increase your chances of survival in a collision and avoid being ticketed by Police? It’s simple. Buckle up!