PORTSMOUTH, Va. (WAVY) – June is National Safety Month, and there are few places more important than the roads to practice safe habits. With summer travel picking up this June, AAA wants to remind drivers to look out for workers on our interstates.
Just last week, a Virginia State Trooper was hurt when an allegedly impaired driver slammed into the back of their patrol vehicle during a traffic stop.
The trooper is expected to live, but it’s a prime example of the danger first responders face when working on our highways.
When safety takes a backseat, AAA says lives are on the line. In 2022, statistics show 94 roadworkers and five state troopers died in crashes across the country.
During National Safety Month, advocates are working to bring both of those numbers down to zero. Holly Dalby with AAA says its as easy as putting your phone down, researching your route ahead of time and not letting safe driving habits take a back seat this summer.
“As we’re all out on the roads this summer and all year long, but particularly as roads get more congested this summer, please remember that when you see emergency lights on the side of the road, police, fire, ambulance, tow trucks, slow down and move over to give them safe space to work,” said Dalby. “No one should be afraid of they’ll come home or not because they work on the side of the road.”
Sometimes all it takes is a quick reminder before the summer season is in full swing. If you want to test your safety knowledge, you can click here to take a quiz before hitting the roads this summer.
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