RICHMOND - Preliminary statistics from the Virginia Department of Motor Vehicles (DMV) show a startling increase in the number of crash fatalities in the Bristol region last year.
In 2022, 90 people were killed in crashes in the Bristol region, a 20% increase compared to 2021.
DMV urges drivers to keep safety at the front of mind every time they get behind the wheel in 2023.
"We provide this data to give folks a look at what's going on right now in their communities. We hope drivers will be motivated to make a change and put a stop to the behaviors that we know contribute to these devastating crashes," said Acting DMV Commissioner Linda Ford, the Governor's Highway Safety Representative. "Each of these numbers represents a real person and many are people in your community. We all have the power to make a difference by watching vigilantly for pedestrians, buckling up, slowing down and never driving distracted or impaired."
DMV also notes increases in pedestrian, motorcyclist and unrestrained fatalities locally in 2022. The chart below lists preliminary crash statistics for the Bristol region as of December 31. DMV's Bristol region encompasses the cities of Bristol, Galax and Norton, and the counties of Bland, Buchanan, Carroll, Dickenson, Floyd, Giles, Grayson, Lee, Patrick, Pulaski, Russell, Scott, Smyth, Tazewell, Washington, Wise and Wythe.
Throughout the Commonwealth in 2022, 1003 people have died in crashes, a 4% increase compared to 2021. (Please note these statistics are preliminary.)
Editor's Note: Fully customizable data is available through TREDS.