President & CEO
The President & CEO (CEO) facilitates and manages the Association’s work to enable member collaboration in developing best practices and model programs that meet the priorities of AAMVA’s Strategic Framework.
Virginia
GHSA maintains data on state laws surrounding a number of highway safety issues. Below is information regarding laws in the state of Virginia. For more information, consult the State Highway Safety Office.
Virginia
Motorcycle Helmet Required?
Universal helmet law enacted 1970.
Virginia
Length of Regular Renewal Cycle
8 years
Virginia
Provisions for Mature Drivers
75 and over: renewal every 5 years in person with vision test (in person or physician report)
Virginia
Other Limited Access Roads: Cars (MPH)
65
Virginia
Other Limited Access Roads: Trucks (MPH)
65
Virginia
Rural Interstates: Cars (MPH)
70
Virginia
Rural Interstates: Trucks (MPH)
70
Virginia
Urban Interstates: Cars (MPH)
70
Virginia
Urban Interstates: Trucks (MPH)
70
Virginia
Increased penalty for high BAC
.15 and .20
Virginia
Administrative license suspension on first offense
7 days
Virginia
Limited driving privileges during suspension
None
Virginia
Ignition Interlocks
Mandatory for repeat convictions; highly incentivized for first convictions
Virginia
Open container laws
No
Virginia
Repeat Offender Laws
yes
Virginia
Child Restraint Required
Under 2 years old in rear-facing seat (or until minimum weight requirement reached)
7 yrs or under
Children in rear-facing devices must be in a rear seat if available - otherwise, in front only if front passenger airbag is deactivated
Virginia
Adult Safety Belt Permissible
8-17 yrs (4-7 yrs with physician's exemption)
Virginia
Learner Stage: Supervised Driving Hours (Night Hours in Parenthesis)
45 (15)
Virginia
Intermediate Stage: Minimum Age (Years/Months)
16 / 3
Virginia
Intermediate Stage: Nighttime Driving Restriction
Midnight - 4 a.m. (secondary enforcement)
Virginia
Intermediate Stage: Passenger Restrictions (Except Family, Unless Noted)
First 12 months: no more than 1 under 21 (secondary enforcement) Thereafter: no more than 3 under 21 under certain conditions (secondary enforcement)
Virginia
Full Privilege Minimum Age
18 years
Virginia
Learner Stage: Minimum Age (Years/Months)
15 / 6
Virginia
Learner Stage: Minimum Duration (Months)
9
Virginia
Type of Law
Secondary; Primary for occupants under 18
Virginia
Who is Covered?
All drivers; passengers 18 and over
Virginia
In What Seat?
Front Under 18: All (primary enforcement)
Virginia
Hand-Held Ban?
Yes. Primary law.
Virginia
All Cell Phone Ban? School Bus Drivers
Yes. Primary law.
Virginia
All Cell Phone Ban? Novice Drivers
No
Virginia
Text Messaging Ban?
All drivers. Primary law.
Virginia
Speed Cameras: State Law
Permitted by state law
Virginia
Speed Cameras: Where Permitted
School crossing zones and highway work zones
Virginia
Red Light Cameras: State Law
Permitted by state law and city ordinance
Virginia
Red Light Cameras: Where Permitted
Statewide; no more than one intersection for every 10,000 residents in each community, except for communities under the Northern Virginia Regional Commission, which are allowed systems at not more than 10 intersections or no more than one intersection for every 10,000 residents, whichever is greater
Virginia
Marijuana Possession and Use
Decriminalized and legal for recreational and medical use
Virginia
Marijuana Impaired Driving
None
Virginia
DUID Zero Tolerance or Per se Laws for Some Drugs
Per se >0 for some drugs
Effort Underway to Decrease Pedestrian Crashes in Northern Virginia
The D.C. region is dealing with a dangerous and sad increase in pedestrian crashes. Transportation reporter Adam Tuss talked with safety experts and police about what's going wrong and better ways to improve safety.
Multipronged Anti-Speeding Effort Succeeds in Slowing Traffic
A combination of enforcement, engineering and public outreach successfully reduced speeding during a demonstration project aimed at testing solutions to one of the most persistent road safety problems.
'This Is a Crisis': U.S. on Track to Lose More than 40,000 Lives on the Roads in 2021
“The most important thing you can do is wear your seatbelt, slow down, and let’s look out for each other,” said Jonathan Adkin, the Executive Director of the Governors Highway Safety Association. “Put your phone down and just drive.”
Virginia Aims to Slow Down Drivers. Will It Work?
The coming anti-speeding pilot program represents a multi-state, multi-organization effort in cooperation with Maryland, the Governors Highway Safety Association, the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety and the National Road Safety Foundation.
Traffic Safety Advocates Worry About 70% Drop in Citations in Fairfax County in 2020
- Read more about Traffic Safety Advocates Worry About 70% Drop in Citations in Fairfax County in 2020
Memorial Day weekend is one of the deadliest times on the nation's roads. And as you hit the road for the holiday weekend, police are hitting the roads too.
Traffic Safety Advocates Worry About 70% Drop in Citations in Fairfax County in 2020
Story by Nick Minock
May 27, 2021
GHSA and Distracted Driving Survivor Advocates Team Up to Reinforce the Need for Comprehensive Approach to Driver Inattention
GHSA and StopDistractions.org are teaming up to reinforce the critical role of equitable enforcement in effectively combating distracted driving.
GHSA and Distracted Driving Survivor Advocates Team Up to Reinforce the Need for Comprehensive Approach to Driver Inattention
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
April 23, 2021
CONTACT: Adam Snider, 202-580-7930
202-365-8971 (after hours)
'They Are Up Significantly': Safety Association Says DMV Crashes Have Spiked
“2020 was a terrible year in many regards including traffic safety,” said Jonathan Adkins with the Governors Highway Safety Association.
Speeding Increases During Pandemic, Prompting Safety Groups To Take Action
In a recent year, the death toll in the United States as a result of speed-related collisions was nearly 9,500 lives, about 26% of traffic fatalities.