National Youth Traffic Safety/Bicycle Safety/Motorcycle Safety Awareness Month
During May, various safety initiatives take place, such as National Youth Traffic Safety Month, Bicycle Safety Month and Motorcycle Safety Awareness Month. In 2024, Virginia recorded 38 fatalities among teen drivers, along with 25 bicyclist fatalities and 117 motorcycle-involved fatalities. Education is crucial in our efforts to engage communities on traffic safety and help bring these numbers down.
Youth Traffic Safety
As the school year comes to an end, the 100 Deadliest Days of Summer, which is recognized as a dangerous time for teen drivers as traffic crashes increase during this period, will begin around Memorial Day and through Labor Day weekend. Encouraging teens to adopt safe driving habits is important in preventing crashes. As new drivers with little experience on the road, teen drivers must understand and adhere to proper driving behaviors to keep themselves and others safe.
Bicycle Safety
To ensure the safety of bicyclists on the road, it’s important for drivers to safely share the road. Drivers and bicyclists must work together to share the road safely. Drivers can help ensure bicyclist safety by staying alert, giving them plenty of space, and being patient when passing. Bicyclists can stay safe by wearing protective gear, following traffic rules, riding predictably, and planning their route before heading out.
Motorcycle Safety
Motorcycle Safety Month highlights the shared responsibility of all road users to ensure safety for motorcyclists. Riders are urged to adopt safe practices, wear protective gear, and seek formal training through programs like the Virginia Rider Training Program (VRTP), which significantly reduces crash risks. At the same time, drivers must stay alert and respect motorcyclists' rights. Through mutual awareness and responsible behavior, we can create safer roads for everyone.
To work towards decreasing the number of crashes, injuries and fatalities, we encourage our partners to share the following resources within their communities to increase awareness concerning teens, bicycle and motorcycle safety.
Youth Traffic Safety Resources
- Rules for the Road | Traffic Safety Marketing
- Teen Safe Driving: How Teens Can Be Safer Drivers | NHTSA
- Teen Driver Safety | Virginia Department of Motor Vehicles
- Partners for Safe Teen Driving
- YOVASO – Youth of Virginia Speak Out About Traffic Safety
- VADETS - VADETS Home (wildapricot.org)
- Driver Education | Virginia Department of Education
- Virginia SADD | SADD Nation
- Teens and Young Driver Safety - Carsafetynow
- Christopher King Foundation
- Gweedo Memorial Foundation
Bicycle Safety Resources
- Bicycle Safety | Traffic Safety Marketing
- Bicycle Safety: Bike Safety Tips for Kids and Adults | NHTSA
- Bicycle Safety | Virginia Department of Motor Vehicles
- Rules of the Road | League of American Bicyclists (bikeleague.org)
- Bicycle Friendly Driver | League of American Bicyclists (bikeleague.org)
Motorcycle Safety Resources
- Motorcycle Safety Tips from Virginia DMV (youtube.com)
- Motorcycle Safety | Virginia Department of Motor Vehicles
- Motorcycle Safety Program - Richmond Ambulance Authority (raaems.org)
- Close Call: A Motorcycle Safety Message from the Virginia DMV
We thank you for your continued efforts to reduce the number of crashes, injuries, and fatalities on our roadways.