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Virginia Legal News

Fewer Traffic Deaths over Thanksgiving Holiday


Posted on Dec 06, 2008

Fatalities caused by car accidents declined this year over the Thanksgiving holiday, as compared to last year.  This year, there were fewer than half the number of reported deaths last year in Virginia, according to the Virginia State Police.

Based on preliminary figures, nine people were killed on Virginia roads and highways during the five day holiday travel period, which is significantly lower than last year that had 19 deaths.  In 2006 there were 16 fatalities resulting from auto accidents.  This year’s total was the lowest reported since 2002, when there were also nine deaths.

The figures for Virginia and three other states seem to be in line with the predictions made by traffic safety specialists that fewer miles traveled would result in fewer deaths.  AAA Mid-Atlantic made a statement last week commenting on trends observed earlier this year by saying, “as Americans began driving less, fewer people were being killed and injured in traffic crashes.”

AAA Mid-Atlantic spokesman John Townsend said that at first, high gasoline prices were the cause of the decline in miles traveled, but now it has to do with motorists’ worries about the economy.  Townsend predicted last week that there would be 9,200 fewer Washington area residents on the roads during the Thanksgiving holiday period.  Ohio and California officials also reported a dramatic decline in holiday weekend traffic deaths.

Virginia State Police said that two victims of the crashes that occurred this year were teenagers, two were bicyclists and one was a pedestrian.  At least two of the nine fatal crashes took place in Northern Virginia.  There were also fatal accidents reported in Carroll, Louisa, Powhatan, Rockbridge, Rockingham and Southampton counties, according to police.  The crash in Carroll involved a driver who was wanted in connection to a murder in Staunton.  The driver was charged with DUI, resisting arrest and possession of a firearm.

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Michael S. Weisberg, P.C.
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Norfolk, VA 23510
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