Stay Patient, Sober and Alive This Memorial Day and Beyond: Summer Driving Season Kicks Off Across Virginia

As Memorial Day weekend approaches, Virginia State Police is urging drivers to make smart, safe decisions behind the wheel. The start of the summer travel season brings heavier traffic and greater risks on the road.

Last year, during the four-day Memorial Day statistical counting period, 13 people died in crashes on Virginia highways. In the week following the holiday, state troopers investigated an additional 25 traffic fatalities. That’s 38 lives lost in just 11 days.

This year, with more Virginians expected to travel, officials are reminding everyone to take extra care. AAA Mid-Atlantic predicts more than one million Virginians will travel for the holiday weekend, with nearly 90 percent of them driving. That means congestion, delays, and the need for extra patience.

“This is a tremendously busy time of year, with graduations, vacations, parties, and moves,” said Colonel Matthew D. Hanley, Superintendent of Virginia State Police. “We need Virginians to slow down, exercise patience, drive safely, and arrive alive. We would rather you arrive late and alive than not at all.”

Beginning Friday, May 23, 2025, the Virginia State Police will participate in Operation Crash Awareness Reduction Effort (C.A.R.E.), a national enforcement initiative aimed at reducing traffic crashes, injuries, and fatalities caused by speed, impaired driving, and failure to use seat belts.

The 2025 Memorial Day statistical counting period begins at 12:01 a.m. on Friday, May 23, and continues through midnight on Monday, May 26. During this time, all available Virginia state troopers will be on patrol to help ensure roads remain safe.

During last year’s Memorial Day effort, state police issued more than 3,500 speeding citations and over 1,400 reckless driving violations and arrested 92 drivers for DUI or DUID. Troopers also cited 303 drivers for violating Virginia’s hands-free phone law, which prohibits the use of handheld devices while driving.

Seat belt safety remains a key focus, especially as part of the ongoing Click It or Ticket campaign. Over the 2024 Memorial Day weekend, state troopers issued 535 seat belt citations and 112 child safety restraint violations. These are not just statistics—they represent real lives at risk in crashes that could be preventable.

State officials emphasize that the goal of enforcement efforts like Operation C.A.R.E. and Click It or Ticket is not just to issue tickets but to save lives. Funds generated from traffic citations issued by Virginia State Police are directed to the state’s Literary Fund, which helps support public school construction, technology initiatives, and teacher retirement.

With the roads expected to be packed, Virginia State Police is asking all drivers to:

• Plan ahead and leave early to avoid rushing.
• Obey posted speed limits and watch for changing road conditions.
• Wear seat belts and make sure children are properly restrained.
• Avoid distractions, including phones, food, or adjusting controls while driving.
• Never drive impaired by alcohol, drugs, or fatigue.

Virginia’s Memorial Day message is simple but serious: Stay patient. Stay sober. Stay alive.

For more information on safe driving tips and enforcement updates, visit www.vsp.virginia.gov.