Summer is one of the deadliest times of year for Virginia drivers

Evening traffic on Interstate 95 through Richmond. (Wyatt Gordon/For the Virginia Mercury)

National Roadside Safety Awareness Month is in third gear now. And with lots of summer still left on the calendar, agencies like AAA and the Virginia Department of Transportation want drivers to remember a few key things before heading out on a road trip.

VDOT stats suggest July is the deadliest time of year for drivers. 

So far this year, there have been more than 450 fatalities on Virginia roadways, according to VDOT’s safety dashboard. 

July has already logged over 70 fatalities on interstates, data from the Department of Motor Vehicles website shows. This year to date, there have been 11,000 interstate crashes and roughly 4,000 injuries. 

“Drivers tend to overestimate how much time they will save by speeding, but underestimate the danger that comes with those higher miles per hour,” said Morgan Dean, AAA Mid-Atlantic Spokesperson. “The faster a driver is going before a crash, the less likely they will be able to get down to a survivable speed even if they’re braking before impact.”

To help prevent some of these fatalities, both AAA and VDOT are reminding drivers of the Move Over law, which went into effect last year. 

“We can’t talk about roadside safety awareness and not talk about the state’s Move Over law,” said Dean. “AAA proposed the change to the law and advocated for it during the 2023 General Assembly session. It passed with wide bi-partisan support.”

The law, (first passed in 2002, according to VDOT) was expanded last year. Previously the law stated that drivers must move over for any flashing emergency lights, such as red, blue or amber lights such as those found on emergency vehicles. But the law didn’t give specific guidance concerning cars that may use hazard lights. 

The new law extends the move over directive to any stationary vehicle that displays any type of hazard lights, flares, or reflective signs like a triangle, said Dean. The law doesn’t apply in work zones. Violations can result in fines and, in some cases, jail time.

“The change to the law should remove any confusion among drivers as to when they need to slow down and move over for someone on the roadside – the answer is always,” said Dean. “That extra few feet of space may be the difference between life and death for someone who is stopped.”

VDOT issued a press release, cautioning drivers that they must move over into the next lane, and if they can’t move over safely, they should simply slow down.

“We want to remind people that move over is a law and not a suggestion,” said Jessica Cowardin, VDOT spokesperson.

Cowardin said the updated law will also help protect VDOT’s Service Safety Patrol, agency staffers who wear easy-to-spot reflective uniforms and, driving specially marked vehicles,  roam highways helping drivers with tire changes, jump starts and extra fuel. 

“Our Safety Service Patrol team typically have light boards, they set out cones, they’re in high visibility gear,” she said. “And, you know, most people who have to pull over don’t have these protective items, and that’s why we wanted to highlight this law.”

So far this year, the patrol has been involved in 66 crashes which injured three workers and killed one worker who was assisting a driver.

Tips before heading out

The National Highway Transportation Safety Administration offers some Summer Driving Tips before heading out on a road trip, which include checking your vehicle’s air conditioner, tire pressure and all belts, hoses and fluid levels. 

Also, make sure the car is stocked with an emergency roadside kit that includes a cell phone and charger, a first aid kit, a flashlight, flares and a white flag (which should be displayed if your car breaks down), the agency says. Plus, don’t forget food and water.

Before heading out, be sure to plan your route and check for weather conditions. And, if you’re driving an electric vehicle, plan where you can charge up and allow extra time for that charging to take place. 

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