More Traffic Enforcement Near Alexandria This Weekend

ALEXANDRIA, VA—Reckless drivers beware: Virginia State Police will be among 15 multi-state authorities increasing traffic enforcement on Interstate 95 this weekend, Oct. 20-21.

Drivers can expect to see an increased presence of state troopers along Virginia’s entire 179 miles of I-95, from the borders of Maryland to North Carolina. The increased enforcement will close out National Teen Driver Safety Week.

“With traffic deaths in Virginia having dramatically spiked this year in comparison to 2016, this multi-state operation could not come at a more critical time,” said Colonel W. Steven Flaherty, Virginia State Police superintendent, in a statement. “Traditionally there is always an increase in the number of traffic crashes on Virginia’s highways during the last three months of the year, so it is even more imperative for every Virginian to ‘Drive to Save Lives’ no matter the distance of one’s travels.”

Virginia has seen more traffic-related deaths compared to last year. As of Thursday, authorities say there have been 638 reported traffic deaths on Virginia highways. On the same date last year, there were 568 reported traffic deaths, an increase of 70. Of those, 22 were teenagers.

Other states participating in the effort are: Maryland, Delaware, Pennsylvania, New Jersey, New York, Connecticut, Massachusetts, Rhode Island, New Hampshire, Maine, North Carolina, South Carolina, Georgia and Florida.

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