Posted January 9, 2025

~Your voice matters: Join the conversation Jan. 14 from 5 - 7 p.m. at Main Street Station~ 

Richmond, VA – The City of Richmond, in partnership with the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety (IIHS), and Drive Smart Virginia, is launching a community-led seat belt safety initiative to further reduce traffic-related injuries and fatalities. The effort builds on Richmond’s ongoing Vision Zero commitment to eliminate traffic deaths and serious injuries through safer streets, safer speeds, and safer behaviors using education, engineering, and enforcement.  

This initiative will launch with a series of free, public community meetings to increase seat belt safety and usage. The first meeting is scheduled for Wednesday, January 14 from 5 – 7 p.m. at Main Street Station, 1500 East Main Street.

Subsequent meetings will also be held at Main Street Station on the following dates: January 28, February 5, and February 19. The meetings will provide residents with a forum to share their experiences, ideas, and recommendations for improving seat belt use. Feedback from the meetings will help ensure messaging reflects community needs. 

"Improving seat belt use is a critical part of keeping people safe, but our Vision Zero work goes beyond cars to protect everyone on our streets," said Mayor Danny Avula. "Seat belts remain one of the simplest ways to save lives, yet unbelted occupants account for 65% of local crash deaths, and too many residents remain unbuckled. Through partnerships with IIHS, Drive Smart Virginia, and the community, we're working to prevent pedestrian deaths and make every street safer for all."

“Community engagement is at the heart of sustainable behavior change,” said Kristin Pettway, Executive Director for Drive Smart Virginia. “By incorporating residents’ perspectives, Richmond is setting a model for how cities can protect drivers, passengers, and pedestrians.” 

“Richmond’s work demonstrates the power of pairing research-based strategies with community input,” said David Harkey, President of IIHS. “Engaging residents in traffic safety initiatives helps ensure interventions are tailored to local needs.” 

The community is encouraged to attend, share their voice, bring a neighbor or friend, and register for the meeting at [email protected] to help increase seat belt safety across Richmond. 

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The City of Richmond Department of Public Works (DPW) is one of only 225 currently accredited public works agencies in the United States. DPW’s portfolio comprises a wide array of services to include leaf collection; street, sidewalk, and alley maintenance; trash collection; recycling; grass cutting; graffiti removal; parking enforcement; urban forestry; street signs; traffic signals and pavement markings and civil engineering. In addition, DPW issues permits for working in the city’s right-of-way; manages Main Street Station, the RVA Bike Share program. DPW’s operating budget comes from the general fund of the City of Richmond.  For more information about DPW services, click here or call 3-1-1

 The Insurance Institute for Highway Safety (IIHS) is an independent, nonprofit scientific and educational organization dedicated to reducing deaths, injuries, and property damage from motor vehicle crashes through research and evaluation and through education of consumers, policymakers, and safety professionals.

DRIVE SMART Virginia is a non-profit organization charged with raising awareness and changing behavior to improve the safety of the roadways of the Commonwealth. We have endeavored to improve the lives of all Virginians through our public information and education initiatives. Founded in 1995, the organization is led by a diverse board representing safety advocates, the insurance industry and law enforcement.