ROANOKE

The Virginia Department of Motor Vehicles commended 20 Virginia cities and counties, including Franklin, that reported zero traffic fatalities in 2018. These cities and counties were honored at a ceremony on May 22 during the 2019 Virginia Highway Safety Summit in Roanoke.

The city of Franklin also reported zero traffic fatalities in 2017.

“Making this list is no easy feat, and I salute these 20 cities and counties for saving lives by dedicating countless hours to enforcement and outreach efforts,” said DMV Commissioner Richard D. Holcomb, the Governor’s Highway Safety Representative. “We can all do our part to make Virginia’s roadways safer and help our community reduce or eliminate traffic fatalities. Always wear your seat belt, focus your full attention on the task of driving, follow the rules of the road — including posted speed limits — and never drive after drinking alcohol. If everyone followed these four simple rules, we would save so many lives.”

Virginia is an active participant in the national “Toward Zero Deaths” initiative, which brings together engineering, enforcement, education and emergency medical services professionals to work toward a goal of eliminating all traffic fatalities. The adoption and implementation of the Toward Zero Deaths vision by many highway safety offices across America demonstrates a unified commitment to the effort to transform traffic safety culture. To learn more, visit TZDVA.org.