PORTSMOUTH, Va. (WAVY) – The Virginia Department of Motor Vehicles (DMV) launched a new campaign to encourage safe choices while driving. It’s a part of the DMV’s reoccurring Local Heroes Series.

“Before the first dispatch to the scene,” DMV said. “Before the fire trucks and the ambulances and the CPR. Before the rush through the ER doors. Before an officer delivers the news no family wants to hear. There are decisions to be made. Make the right ones.”

The DMV uses the above message in a new video that shows how first responders respond to crash scenes. The video is acted out by actual Virginia paramedics, firefighters, nurses and law enforcement officers.

“This year’s Local Heroes campaign features first responders from Goochland County Fire/EMS, Goochland County Sheriff’s Office, Virginia State Police, Botetourt County Sheriff’s Office, Virginia Beach General Hospital and Virginia Beach EMS,” DMV said. “The multimedia initiative, which includes local and cable TV and radio spots, as well as social and digital media placements, demonstrates to the motoring public that first responders care about their communities and want them to get home safely.”

According to the DMV, a 2023 study shows 1 in 4 Virginians don’t wear seat belts.

The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) found that proper seat belt use reduces the chance of suffering a fatal injury in a crash by nearly half.

2023 vehicle death causes:

  • 335 people who weren’t wearing their seat belts were killed in crashes in Virginia.
  • 449 people died in crashes involving speed.
  • 293 died in alcohol-related crashes across the state.

In May, 10 On Your Side did a deep dive into dangerous intersections, where drivers often speed.

Mercury Boulevard at Power Plant Parkway in Hampton had the most crashes in the area last year, according to the DMV.

The MLK Junior Freeway, between High Street and London Boulevard in Portsmouth, was found to be a non-intersection road with the highest fatality and serious injury rate.

DMV says Virginia has one of the strongest drunk driving laws. First time offenders lose their license for a year.

The Local Heroes campaign is expected to run throughout Virginia through Aug. 12.

More information on highway safety can be found on the DMV’s website here.