Taskforce Tackles Safety On Route 29

Posted: Thursday, December 17, 2009 4:03 PM EST Updated: Thursday, December 17, 2009 4:26 PM EST
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Albemarle County Police want to improve driver safety on Route 29 South of Charlottesville and they want to do it before someone else gets badly hurt.
Police are concerned about a string of fatal accidents on Route 29, south of Interstate 64. While they are focusing on speed enforcement, there is more to it than writing tickets.
County police created a Safety Taskforce after seven people were killed on Route 29 South during the first 10 months of 2009. Of the seven killed, five were not wearing seatbelts. That is proof that the risk is more than just ignoring the speed limit and that people need to start protecting themselves as soon as they sit down in the car.
"Your children learn from your example," said Windy VanCuren of AAA Mid-Atlantic. "So you want to instill that habit into your kids at a young age and teach by buckling up yourself."
The Safety Taskforce has already installed a seatbelt billboard, a speed monitoring device and "Buckle Up Virginia" sign on Route 29 South.
Albemarle County Lieutenant Hopwood says the department is relying on donations to help pay for the extra safety reminders along Route 29.
Reported By NBC29 HD New's Kasey Hott