NORFOLK, Va. — Author's note: Virginia State Police originally said four motorcyclists were involved in crashes. After this article was published, they corrected that number to three and an ATV. The article has been changed to reflect the current information.
Virginia State Police have released numbers on traffic incidents from Friday, July 1 to Monday, July 4 that show that fatalities this year for the holiday weekend were down 25% compared to last.
The statistics were released as part of Operation Crash Awareness Reduction Effort (C.A.R.E.).
"Operation C.A.R.E. is a state-sponsored, national program intended to reduce crashes, fatalities and injuries due to impaired driving, speed and failing to wear a seat belt," police said in a news release.
This year, nine people died in crashes on the highway during the period counted for the Fourth of July. That number is down from 12 people last year.
During the four-day Operation C.A.R.E. initiative, state police arrested 69 drivers for driving under the influence of drugs or alcohol.
Speeding tickets were issued to 4,262 people, and 1,585 people were cited for reckless driving.
Also during the four-day period, 429 citations were made to individuals for not wearing a seatbelt. 131 citations were handed out for children not being properly secured in a vehicle.
The nine fatal crashes occurred in the cities of Danville, Franklin, Norfolk and Portsmouth, and the counties of Botetourt, Chesterfield, King William, Loudoun and Warren.
Three of the crashes involved motorcycles, and one involved an ATV.
Two of the three motorcycle crashes were single-vehicle crashes and involved the rider losing control before the crash.
The crashes in Danville and Warren County involved pedestrians.
Colonel Gary T. Settle, Virginia State Police Superintendent, stressed the importance of safe and defensive driving.
"Virginia has already recorded 423 traffic deaths statewide, and we’re only halfway through 2022 and the summer months," he said. "I cannot stress enough the need for drivers to slow their speed, wear a seat belt, drive distraction-free, and never drive under the influence of alcohol or drugs."