GHSA maintains data on state laws surrounding a number of highway safety issues. Below is information regarding laws in the state of Virginia. For more information, consult the State Highway Safety Office.
Universal helmet law enacted 1970.
8 years
75 and over: renewal every 5 years in person with vision test (in person or physician report)
70
70
70
70
65
65
7 days
None
Mandatory for repeat convictions; highly incentivized for first convictions
No
yes
.15 and .20
Under 2 years old in rear-facing seat (or until minimum weight requirement reached)
7 yrs or under
Children in rear-facing devices must be in a rear seat if available - otherwise, in front only if front passenger airbag is deactivated
8-17 yrs (4-7 yrs with physician's exemption)
18 years
15 / 6
9
45 (15)
16 / 3
Midnight - 4 a.m. (secondary enforcement)
First 12 months: no more than 1 under 21 (secondary enforcement) Thereafter: no more than 3 under 21 under certain conditions (secondary enforcement)
Secondary; Primary for occupants under 18
All drivers; passengers 18 and over
Front Under 18: All (primary enforcement)
Yes. Primary law.
No
All drivers. Primary law.
Yes. Primary law.
Permitted by state law
School crossing zones and highway work zones
Permitted by state law and city ordinance
Statewide; no more than one intersection for every 10,000 residents in each community, except for communities under the Northern Virginia Regional Commission, which are allowed systems at not more than 10 intersections or no more than one intersection for every 10,000 residents, whichever is greater
Per se >0 for some drugs
Decriminalized and legal for recreational and medical use
None
Safety advocates around the country are desperately searching for anything that will get drivers to slow down. They've [speed cameras] earned the endorsement of prominent safety advocates, including Jonathan Adkins, the CEO of the Governors Highway Safety Association. "Automated enforcement works," Adkins said.
Speed kills. The likelihood of death grows rapidly with vehicle speed. A vehicle going 42 mph has a nearly fivefold higher probability of killing a pedestrian it hits than if it were going 25 mph. It’s quite common for vehicles to be traveling 42 mph in 25 mph urban/residential areas. Speed cameras can address these issues and more. They allow police forces to spend more time on other issues and they reduce risk associated with traffic stops for all. They are race/gender/wealth agnostic.
The United States has become a dangerous place to be a pedestrian. In 2022, more than 20 pedestrians were killed each day, the highest number in 40 years, according to the Governors Highway Safety Association. Between 2010 and 2021, pedestrian deaths increased 77%. In Richmond, there have been 88 pedestrian-involved traffic crashes since the beginning of the year, resulting in 86 pedestrian injuries and four deaths.
The D.C. region is dealing with a dangerous and sad increase in pedestrian crashes. Transportation reporter Adam Tuss talked with safety experts and police about what's going wrong and better ways to improve safety.
A combination of enforcement, engineering and public outreach successfully reduced speeding during a demonstration project aimed at testing solutions to one of the most persistent road safety problems.
“The most important thing you can do is wear your seatbelt, slow down, and let’s look out for each other,” said Jonathan Adkin, the Executive Director of the Governors Highway Safety Association. “Put your phone down and just drive.”
The coming anti-speeding pilot program represents a multi-state, multi-organization effort in cooperation with Maryland, the Governors Highway Safety Association, the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety and the National Road Safety Foundation.
Memorial Day weekend is one of the deadliest times on the nation's roads. And as you hit the road for the holiday weekend, police are hitting the roads too.
Story by Nick Minock
May 27, 2021
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
April 23, 2021
CONTACT: Adam Snider, 202-580-7930
202-365-8971 (after hours)
