Safety campaigns are an effective tool for law enforcement and local governments to raise awareness on traffic dangers and other issues. These campaigns can be especially beneficial during certain times when people face more hazards than usual. Many car crashes occur in West Virginia and across the country during the winter holidays, when people may face poor weather conditions, drunk drivers and other dangers as they travel to visit relatives and friends.
Thousands of people are killed in auto accidents every year on the country’s busy freeways, including Interstate 95 along the East Coast. Authorities in West Virginia have launched a holiday safety campaign called “Drive to Save Lives,” which began mid-December and is scheduled to end after New Year’s Eve. Officers will be on the lookout for drivers who are engaging in dangerous behaviors such as distracted driving, drunk driving and speeding. In addition to these factors, the campaign is helping to educate the public on the importance of seatbelt use.
Authorities expressed satisfaction that the program helped to raise traffic safety awareness earlier this month, when officers began patrolling Route 83 in anticipation of the holiday travel season. The program was expanded to include 14 additional states along the East coast.
Statistics from the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration revealed that 272 people were killed in traffic accidents in West Virginia last year. Some of these deaths would have occurred on Interstate 95 and other high-speed roadways in the state. An experienced personal injury attorney may be able to assist those injured in accidents to obtain compensation.
Source: Bluefield Daily Telegraph, “‘Drive to Save Lives’: Va. State Police joining 14 states in effort,” Bill Archer, Dec. 26, 2015
