The Shadow
SALEM, Va. (VR) – The Virginia State Police and our Law Enforcement partners in Bedford,
Botetourt, Roanoke and Montgomery Counties combined efforts made a positive impact with
“Operation Drive Safe 460,” the 24-hour safety initiative held on September 26. The focused
effort along Route 460 successfully reduced risky driving behaviors, increased driver
awareness, and highlighted making safe choices behind the wheel.
During the initiative officers conducted targeted patrols along key stretches of the highway
focusing on speeding, distracted driving and impaired driving. The operation led to 535
citations, four criminal charges, and one impaired driver removed from the roadway.
Crash data shows a reduction on the same Friday in September over the past five years, and
during the operation only one traffic crash occurred, and there were no fatalities.
“Our goal was simple: to remind drivers that safety on Route 460 is a shared responsibility,”
said Captain David J. Edwards, Jr. “The results show that highlighted awareness and
enforcement can make a real difference.”
Community support also played a key role in the operation’s success. Highway safety partners
promoted the effort through social media and media outreach, reminding residents to buckle
up, slow down, and never drive impaired.
Building on the success of Operation Drive Safe 460, the Virginia State Police plan to continue
targeted safety campaigns along major corridors in the coming months.
The agencies that participated were: the Town of Bedford, the Town of Christiansburg, Virginia
Tech Police Department, Bedford County Sheriff’s Office, Botetourt County Sheriff’s Office,
Montgomery County Sheriff’s Office, Roanoke County Police Department and the Virginia State Police.
