Virginia State Police urges safe driving during holiday season

RICHMOND, Va. (WRIC) -- Virginia State Police have urged drivers throughout the Commonwealth to make safe choices while on the roads over the holiday season.

Virginia State Police said preliminary data shows that deaths on the roads are down for 2025.

As of Dec. 15, Virginia State Police said 704 people died on Virginia roads, and 813 people died on Virginia roads at this time in 2024.

“While we are pleased with fact that fatalities continue to trend lower, there are still far too many deaths on Virginia’s roadways,” said Colonel Matthew D. Hanley, Superintendent of Virginia State Police. “We will continue to do all we can to keep drivers safe on the roads.  We need people to continue to heed the messages of buckling up, driving the speed limit, avoiding distractions, and driving sober.”

In addition, police said that there were 318 people killed in alcohol-related crashes in Virginia in 2024.

If you plan to attend parties over the holiday season, Virginia State Police urged taking the following steps to stay safe:

• Plan ahead. Designate a sober driver or call a friend, call family, call a cab or use public transportation.
• If you know someone who has been drinking, do not let them drive. Arrange another safe way home. 
• Remain alert for impaired drivers and do not hesitate to notify law enforcement by dialing #77 -- hands-free only or have a passenger call -- to notify your nearest Virginia State Police Emergency Communications Center.

Virginia State Police said it is once again participating in Operation C.A.R.E. (Crash Awareness and Reduction Effort), which starts at 12:01 a.m. Friday, Dec. 19, 2025, and runs through 11:59 p.m., Thursday, Jan. 1, 2026. 

State law also changed this year to require that all people inside a vehicle, no matter where they are seated, wear a seatbelt. In 2024, police said 322 people who were not buckled up died in a Virginia car crash.