Virginia had far fewer traffic deaths during this year’s Labor Day weekend than it did during last year’s holiday weekend, police said. From Friday through Monday, there were six deaths from traffic crashes, according to preliminary data. During the 2011 Labor Day weekend, there were 16 people killed in traffic crashes in Virginia, and the 2010 and 2009 holiday weekends each saw 13 traffic fatalities.
This year’s fatalities took place in the city of Hampton and in Bedford, Fauquier, Rockingham, Russell and Stafford counties. One crash involved a pedestrian, one involved a motorcycle, and in the rest of the crashes the deceased weren’t wearing seat belts. Alcohol was a factor in at least one of the incidents, Virginia State Police said.
During the four-day weekend this year, Virginia State Police arrested 112 drunk drivers. Troopers cited 8,187 people for speeding and 2,459 people for reckless driving, and they issued 718 safety belt violations and 251 tickets to adults who didn’t properly secure their infants and children.
