RICHMOND, Va. (WRIC) -- For drivers planning to hit the road this weekend for Labor Day, DRIVE SMART Virginia is offering some helpful tips, so drivers' trips are smooth.

Drivers can expect our area highways to be congested this weekend, and DRIVE SMART Virginia Public Relations and Outreach Manager Rich Jacobs said the "biggest" way to stay safe is to wear a seatbelt.

According to the latest annual report from DRIVE SMART Virginia, 322 people died in 2024 because they did not buckle up their seatbelts. Virginia law also requires all drivers and passengers to wear a seatbelt while driving, regardless of where they are sitting.

"It can make the difference between going to the hospital and going to the morgue. It's that simple," Jacobs said. "They're there for a reason. The airbags do not

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