WASHINGTON, D. C. (Monday, February 10, 2020) –– Three lifesaving changes to Virginia’s traffic safety laws, passed by the House of Delegates and the Senate, will move to the opposite chamber for consideration tomorrow - Crossover Day at the General Assembly. Prohibitions on the use of hand held electronic devices while driving and open containers of alcohol in the passenger compartment of vehicles, along with a change that would allow police officers to pull over and ticket those not wearing seat belts are critical measures for which AAA and traffic safety advocates have been advocating for many years. If passed they would save lives and reduce injuries resulting from crashes on Virginia roads.

“Virginia lawmakers are on the verge of making dramatic progress toward safer roadways. These three changes are long overdue and represent major advancements in the fight to save lives,” said John B. Townsend II, Manager Public and Government Affairs for AAA Mid-Atlantic. “AAA urges lawmakers to continue to approve these bills and send them to the governor for his signature. Lives depend on it.”

Less than a year ago, AAA surveyed Virginia drivers and found that nearly two-thirds support expanding Virginia’s law to prohibit hand held devices while driving on any road and not just in work zones as in the current law. An overwhelming 93% of those surveyed are concerned about their safety due to others who are distracted by electronic devices, yet new research released by the AAA Foundation for Traffic Safety found that those concerns are not changing dangerous driving behaviors. Even though 97% of drivers reported texting/emailing while driving is a serious threat to their safety, 45% admit to having read a text or email while driving in the past month, and 35% admit to having typed one. 

There is a clear disconnect. Drivers are afraid of others using hand held devices, yet they continue to use them. That disconnect must be addressed. Currently in Virginia only 18% report using hands free technology while driving according to AAA’s poll. “AAA urges lawmakers to take action this year and not look in the rear view mirror again next year at the treasured lives lost at the hands of distracted drivers,” said Townsend. Stand-alone bills before lawmakers that address this issue include HB874 (Bourne) and SB160 (Surovell). 

Likewise, in Virginia, police officers cannot pull over and ticket those not wearing their seat belts unless they first witness the driver breaking another law. If a primary enforcement seat belt law (HB1439 (Jones) / HB1414 (Filler-Corn) were enacted in Virginia, more people would buckle up and traffic fatalities would be further reduced.  

All states surrounding Virginia have primary laws (Maryland, West Virginia, Kentucky, Tennessee and North Carolina) and a total of 34 states have enacted primary enforcement of seat belt laws. States with a primary enforcement seat belt law experience seat belt usage rates 10%-12% higher than those states with a secondary enforcement law.

The nationwide seat belt use rate in 2019, according to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) was 90.7%, whereas Virginia’s seat belt use rate has ranged from 79-85% over past few years. Research has found that lap/shoulder seat belts, when used, reduce the risk of fatal injury to front-seat passenger car occupants by 45% and the risk of moderate-to-critical injury by 50%.

Lastly, if passed, it would be illegal for anyone to “possess any alcoholic beverage other than in the manufacturer's unopened original container” in the passenger compartment of motor vehicle on public roads (HB1439 (Jones) / HB1414 (Filler-Corn).  “It took our country almost 50 years to make impaired driving socially unacceptable, yet some drivers still drive drunk. We must address this issue by removing any temptation from the passenger compartment of the car,” Townsend added.

Exceptions to the current proposed law include containers a locked glove compartment or in the trunk of the motor vehicle. Other exemptions apply to allow for specific situations

“Preventable deaths are heartbreaking. Amending the commonwealth’s laws to avert tragedy after tragedy, police death notification after notification, and scores of senseless serious and permanent injuries is paramount,” Townsend concluded.

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AAA provides automotive, travel and insurance services to 60 million members nationwide and nearly 82,000 members in the District of Columbia.  AAA advocates for the safety and mobility of its members and has been committed to outstanding road service for more than 100 years.  The not-for-profit, fully tax-paying member organization works on behalf of motorists, who can now map a route, find local gas prices, discover discounts, book a hotel and track their roadside assistance service with the AAA Mobile app for iPhone, iPad and Android. For more information, visit  https://aaa.com