Safe driving jingle contest opens for Virginia teens
YOVASO, or Youth of Virginia Speak Out About Traffic Safety, is encouraging Virginia youth ages 11-19 to help everyone jingle their way to a safe holiday by creating a safe driving song or tune for a statewide competition with cash prizes up to $500.
The Jingle Your Way to a Safe Holiday: Buckle Up and Celebrate Responsibly Contest is now under way and accepting submissions until 11:59 pm on December 7th.
The safe driving jingle must be submitted as a video and no longer than 30 seconds.
The winning jingle in the high school division will receive a $500 cash prize with additional cash prizes for the top 3 high school and middle school participants.
Winners will be chosen by public vote on the Holiday Campaign webpage.
The contest is an effort to reduce teen fatalities during a high risk period for young drivers.
Over the past three years in the month of December, 17 teens have died and 1,235 were injured in motor vehicle crashes.
During that time period, teen drivers have accounted for an additional 4,245 crashes and 14 fatal crashes.
YOVASO is a peer-to-peer education group that advocates for safe driving and is supported by the Virginia State Police and DMV.
A link for more information or to enter the contest is available here.
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Click It or Ticket Campaign begins
The Virginia Department of Motor Vehicles and local law enforcement are teaming up for the annual “Click It or Ticket” Campaign November 19-30.
So far this year, fatalities among drivers and passengers who were not wearing a seatbelt are down 12% from last year.
Of the fatalities, 73% were male and 20% in their 20s.
The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration reports that wearing a seatbelt can reduce the chances of a fatal crash by 55%.
DMV Commissioner Gerald Lackey said, “The good news is that fewer people who weren’t wearing a seatbelt were killed in crashes so far this year, but we can’t become complacent.”
The DMV provided a few refreshers to help make sure you start your holiday journey safely.
Those include making sure any children are buckled securely and in the correct safety seat, making sure the seat belt clicks and is tight across your hips and chest, as well as keeping your seatbelt on the whole trip, every time.
No matter how close you are to home.
For more news from across the Shenandoah Valley, click here.
Are you prepared for winter weather?
Days are getting shorter and colder temperatures are moving in.
The Virginia Department of Transportation (VDOT) and Virginia Department of Motor Vehicles (DMV) offer safety tips during winter travel and recommends keeping an emergency supply kit in the vehicle this winter to stay safe.
VDOT encourages all motorist to plan ahead for traveling during winter weather and to observe extreme caution when on the roadways.
Before travel, motorists should inspect their vehicle tires and fluid levels and clear all ice and snow from the windows, windshield and mirrors, which could block visibility.
You should also follow forecasts and prepare for any unpredictable conditions.
For more news from across the Shenandoah Valley, click here.
Farm use tag update
Beginning July 1, 2024, unregistered farm use panel trucks, pickup trucks, and sport utility vehicles must display a DMV-issued permanent farm use plate.
Previously, an unofficial farm use tag, not issued by DMV, was sufficient.
A DMV-issued farm placard will be required for unregistered farm use for any of the mentioned vehicles.
The DMV-issued permanent farm use plate is nontransferable and is valid for as long as the owner uses the vehicle exclusively for one of the farm use purposes.
It must be returned to the DMV within 30 days of the vehicle being sold or if the vehicle is no longer being used exclusively for one of the purposes listed above.
For more information about permitted uses, please visit the Virginia DMV website.
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DMV unveils new and improved website
The Virginia Department of Motor Vehicles unveiled a new and improved website to help customers find information online more easily to expedite their next visit or avoid an unnecessary trip altogether.
The new site offers many time saving features and can conduct more than 50 services including renewals of your license or registration, replacing IDs and titles, updating personal or vehicle information, and more.
The new platform also prioritizes inclusive web design which is fully compliant with accessibility standards creating a better browsing experience for everyone.
Head to the all new dmv.virginia.gov before your next visit to see how it can enhance your DMV service.
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Blood type can now be added to ID cards in Virginia
Virginians can now choose to indicate their blood type on driver’s licenses and ID cards to help assist first responders in the event of an emergency.
Residents will have the option to place their blood type on cards when they renew or replace a license or ID card online or through any in person DMV customer service center.
The blood type will be displayed with a small icon on the front of your license or ID.
Proof of blood type is not required by the DMV, it is the responsibility of the individual to self-certify and make sure the correct blood type is selected.
The decision to add blood types to identification cards was originally introduced by Virginia Senator George L. Barker as a state senate bill.
DMV Commissioner Gerald Lackey supported the decision stating, “The law was intended to aid individuals and first responders when every second counts in an emergency. DMV is proud to provide Virginians with options.”
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DMV unveils new card design
The Virginia Department of Motor Vehicles released a refreshed design of the Commonwealth’s driver’s licenses and ID cards today.
The new cards will feature the next generation of enhanced security features that are resistant to counterfeiting and illustrate iconic imagery of Virginia.
The previous design featured images of the outside of the State Capitol while the new card looks inside the domed rotunda.
The new cards also feature the state insect and state flower in the Eastern Tiger Swallowtail butterfly and the American Dogwood.
Those designs double as state of the art security features making them more difficult to counterfeit.
Some features will remain the same such as banner colors to help with rapid recognition.
Those under 21 will continue to receive vertical cards for easy identification.
If you apply for a new license, ID Card, Real ID, renewal, or replacement, you will receive the new design.
Cards featuring the old design will remain valid until the printed expiration date.
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System outage limits DMV services
The Virginia Department of Motor Vehicles will not offer Driver’s License services at customer service centers throughout the state today due to an external system outage.
Verizon is performing network maintenance which will effect the DMV’s ability to access the National Driver Register.
The DMV is required to check the federal NDR database before issuing a driver’s license, so all driver related transactions will be unavailable.
The DMV offices are still open for other services but will be unable to renew or replace a license, learners permit, CDL , or driver privilege card.
Online renewal services may be available during the outage but replacements of driver’s licenses will not be available.
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Motorcycle accident closed 66 Wednesday
I-66 West was shut down by an accident involving a motorcyclist with significant injuries.
The call came in after 3:30 pm Wednesday afternoon near the 10 mile marker in Warren County.
When personnel arrived, they found a bystander rendering aid to a motorcyclist who was down in the roadway.
Emergency Medical Services personnel provided immediate aid and determined air medical transport to a trauma center was needed.
I-66 West was shut down temporarily to allow the arrival of Air Care 4 out of Front Royal.
Warren County Sheriff’s Office, Virginia State Police and Virginia Department of Transportation assisted in traffic control and offered additional assistance throughout the incident.
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Game plan for a safe Super Bowl
The Virginia Department of Motor Vehicles wants to remind residents to have a game plan to get home safely after this year’s Super Bowl.
Last year in Virginia, 245 people died from alcohol-related crashes.
36 alcohol-related accidents resulted in 15 injuries and two deaths on the day of the big game last year.
Some tips from the DMV include planning your ride home beforehand, downloading a ride sharing app or gathering a list of local cab companies, and preparing for any weather or travel advisories.
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