RICHMOND, Va. – The 4th of July weekend may be stuffed with celebratory enjoyable, however it additionally comes with elevated visitors and doubtlessly extra intoxicated drivers on the highway.

Virginia State Police launched an announcement Tuesday that urged drivers to place security first and even provided some recommendation for consuming safely over the vacation weekend.

Colonel Gary Settle, Virginia State Police Superintendent, expressed the significance of security, particularly through the vacation.

“Summer season days are stuffed with celebrations, holidays, outside festivals and yard cookouts, however regardless of the place your plans take you, please make security your precedence,” mentioned Colonel Settle. “With deadly visitors crashes on tempo this 12 months to imitate final 12 months’s document quantity, I urge all Virginians to buckle up, get rid of distractions and by no means drive buzzed, drunk, or below the affect. Collectively we will make this Independence Day the most secure on document!”

The VSP assertion advised that drivers that plan on celebrating might plan forward and organize a delegated driver or different transportation to make it residence safely, and to keep away from placing others in danger.

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Within the launch, VSP inspired celebration hosts to supply non-alcoholic drinks to assist forestall any visitors from consuming and driving residence afterward.

To extend security and cut back visitors incidents over the 4th of July weekend, VSP mentioned they may improve patrols from 12:01 a.m. Friday by way of midnight Monday as a part of the Operation Crash Consciousness Discount Effort, a nationwide program supposed to scale back crashes, fatalities and accidents as a consequence of impaired driving, velocity and failing to put on a seat belt.

VSP mentioned that final 12 months through the operation there have been 12 visitors deaths on Virginia highways. They went on to say that troopers arrested 61 drivers below the affect, cited 4,025 speeders and 1,434 reckless drivers, and issued 510 citations to individuals not sporting a seatbelt.

Troopers additionally assisted 1,550 disabled or stranded motorists, VSP mentioned.

VSP added that since there will likely be extra patrols over the weekend, drivers must be reminded of Virginia’s “Transfer Over” legislation that requires motorists to maneuver over when driving towards emergency automobiles stopped alongside the highway, and if a driver is unable to maneuver over, then they’re required to cautiously go the emergency automobile. The legislation additionally applies to staff in automobiles geared up with amber lights.