making it click: day 1 part 1

Traffic crashes kill motorists and passengers every year in almost every corner of Virginia. But rural Virginia is nota bly high for one type of traffic death that’s among the most preventable: the unbelted fatality . From the coalfields to rural Roanoke, from Southside to Alleghany County, traffic crashes have lethally hurled unbelted travelers through windshiel ds, windows and sun- roofs and against the insides of rolling and tumbling vehicles at the highest rates of the state. Experts say many of those deaths could have been prevented. Of the 1,677 people who died unbuckled in Virginia during the five years that ended June 30, at least 600 of them, maybe 700, would have survived if they had been belted, given the effectiveness of seat belts found in vehicles today. The figures are from a Roanoke Times analysis of data from the Virginia Department of Motor Vehicles. Seat belt use is generally widespread. But according to statistics gathered in annual statewide belt-use surveys, nearly a quarter of people traveling in the largely rural chunk of Virginia west and north of Richmond do not buckle up, leaving them especially vulnerable in crashes. Three people died unbelted in the Roanoke area since Jan. 1 alone, including a Willis woman on Feb. 17, after at least 11 such deaths in late By Jeff Sturgeon [email protected] | 381-1661 Nearly a quarter of motorists on rural Va. roads put their lives on the line and don’t buckle up MAKING IT CLICK Unheeded warnings, shattered dreams BREAKING THE HABIT Alex Havens, 44, of Boones Mill says he often ignored his pickup truck’s seat belt warning signal. But he changed his habits after his brother Ernie, who wasn’t wearing a seat belt, was killed in a 2012 crash. KYLE GREEN | The Roanoke Times FIRST OF THREE PARTS Monday: Va. is one of 18 states without a primary seat belt law; Christiansburg makes belts a cause Tuesday: Despite safety education, young still dying Online: Visit roanoke.com to leave your comments, watch video and answer our poll: Do you buckle up? UNBELTED TRAFFIC FATALITIES IN THE REGION Data for the Roanoke and New River valleys, 2011-12: 3 2 % of cases involve alcohol 3 1 % are 21 to 35 years old, the most common age group 21 % Percentage of crashes between 6 and 9 p.m. 31 * Number of unbelted traffic fatalities *Excludes pedestrians and fatalities in vehicles not equipped with restraints such as motorcycles, mopeds, bicycles and buses. Source: Virginia Department of Motor Vehicles Since 2007, 1,677 Va. motorists not wearing seat belts have died. Simply buckling up could have saved at least 600 of them. ROANOKE, VIRGINIA $2.00 SUNDAY FEBRUARY 24, 2013 RICHMOND — After weeks of starts, stops and near crashes, a bipartisan coali- tion of state legislators has delivered a long- awaited transportation funding package to Gov. Bob McDonnell. After some last-minute drama that threatened to derail the deal, the Virginia Senate on Saturday passed a compromise plan that will pump $3.5 billion into roads, rail and transit over the next five years. The Senate’s 25-15 vote came one day after the House of Delegates passed the bill with a bipartisan majority. “This is a historic day in Virginia,” McDonnell said in a written statement Sat- urday after the Senate vote. “We have worked together across party lines to find common ground and pass the first sus- tainable long-term transportation funding plan in 27 years. There is a ‘Virginia Way’ of cooperation and problem solving, and we saw it work again today in Richmond.” The transportation deal may stand as the signature legislative achievement of McDonnell’s four-year term, which ends in January. The governor made the issue a top priority in this legislative session, and pushed for a compromise even after his own plan was overhauled and members of Rep. Bob Goodlatte may not think that President Barack Obama can sell the country on a path to citizenship for illegal immigrants — but the Roanoke County Republican thinks he might be able to find a consensus on letting at least some have the right to stay here. Transit plan gets OK from assembly Goodlatte seeks middle ground on immigration See LEGISLATURE, 6 By Michael Sluss [email protected] 981-3373 By David Ress [email protected] 981-3253 The package, which no w goes to Gov . Bob McDonnell, will pump $3.5 billion into transportation. If he pushes for a comprehensive bill, the political risks are high, advocates across the spectrum say. Fans hurt in wreck At least 33 injured in stands; Daytona 500 to start as scheduled | SPORTS DAYTONA INTERNATIONAL SPEEDWAY MORE INSIDE Compromise, conflict mark General Assembly session’s end. Page 6 INSIDE 50+ SPECIAL SECTION HELPING YOU STA Y ACTIVE AND HEALTHY

making it click: day 1 part 1

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