Driver safety

If you are in a crash

Check for injuries. If anyone is injured, call 911 immediately. If no one is injured, and traffic is blocked, move the vehicles to the nearest safe location, then call 911.

Notify law enforcement when:

• There are injuries or fatalities.
• Vehicles can’t be moved.
• One of the drivers appears to be intoxicated.
• Damage exceeds $1,500.
• One of the drivers has no insurance.
• One of the drivers leaves the crash scene.

When calling 911 to report an accident, give an exact description of the crash location:

• Routes
• Streets
• City or county
• Distance to nearest landmark (exit number, mile marker, bridge, intersection, etc.).

Warn oncoming traffic to prevent other crashes:
Raise your hood or use flares. 

Don’t become a pedestrian fatality on the highway:
Be patient while waiting for help. If you must leave your car, keep away from traffic and walk on the right side of the road. Crossing a highway or trying to stop traffic is dangerous, especially at night or when visibility is low.

If you need help:

• Tie a white handkerchief to your antenna or door.
• Wave a red flag.
• Use a flashlight at night.

Exchange information. Everyone involved in a crash should share:

• Name
• Address
• Phone number
• Driver’s license number
• License plate number
• Vehicle make/model/year
• Insurance information

From the Code of Virginia § 46.2-894:
“Duty of driver to stop, etc., in event of accident involving injury or death or damage to attended property: The driver of any vehicle involved in an accident in which a person is killed or injured or in which an attended vehicle or other attended property is damaged shall immediately stop as close to the scene of the accident as possible without obstructing traffic, and report his name, address, driver's license number and vehicle registration number forthwith to the State Police or local law-enforcement agency, to the person struck and injured if such person appears to be capable of understanding and retaining the information, or to the driver or some other occupant of the vehicle collided with or to the custodian of other damaged property.”

‘Move over’ and ‘move it’

Slow-moving equipment

Slow-moving equipment operates at 25 mph or less. This equipment is used in nearly all aspects of the Virginia Department of Transportation's work, from mowing to plowing to construction.

However, it may not always be operating in a work zone. You may see this equipment anywhere on our roads.

Signs are not always out to indicate slow-moving equipment is ahead, such as when a work zone is getting ready to set up or has shut down for the day and the equipment is being transported to and from its lot.

When in use and in transit, slow-moving equipment can leave highway workers vulnerable, especially alongside traffic going as fast as 70 mph.

If you see equipment with the slow-moving emblem, slow down, pay attention and only pass when it is safe and legal.
This may save the life of an operator or motorist.

We want to get everybody where they need to be safely.

In addition to the orange and red reflective triangle emblem, some pieces of slow-moving equipment may have the following to increase visibility:

• Flashing amber lights
• Reflective tape
• Amber beacons

Frequently asked questions