In a sample of just four weeks this year, Fairfax County police officers pulled over tens of thousands of drivers for speeding, driving while using their cell phones and other traffic violations.
The Fairfax County Police Department issued 60,818 citations and warnings as part of its 2026 “Road Shark” campaign, which began in April and wrapped up with a fourth and final wave of increased traffic safety enforcement earlier this month.
Conducted from Oct. 12-18, the fourth wave resulted in 19,272 citations and warnings, according to a press release.
The Road Shark campaign aims to crack down on dangerous driving through targeted enforcement in areas known for speeding and other hazards as well as driver education. The Virginia State Police also participates.
“The Road Shark campaign has resulted in hundreds of Driving While Intoxicated (DWI) arrests and citations for Reckless Driving and the Unlawful Use of Handheld Devices While Driving, reinforcing the commitment to reducing dangerous driving behaviors across Fairfax County,” the FCPD said.
This year’s total of over 60,000 citations and warnings represented a 23% increase over last year’s campaign, which concluded with 49,304 citations and warnings issued.
Introduced in 1999, the FCPD’s Road Shark campaign made a comeback in 2023 after Fairfax County saw fatal crashes surge in 2022. The 66 traffic-related deaths reported that year, nearly half of them (32) pedestrians, remains the most seen in any year since the Virginia Department of Motor Vehicles launched its online Traffic Records Electronic Data System (TREDS) in 2010.
According to TREDS, there have been 42 fatalities so far this year, but not all crashes have been recorded in the preliminary data. For instance, the database shows only one death in October, even though police have reported four fatal crashes, including two that killed pedestrians, this month.
A spate of five deaths in two days in June, which saw a whopping 10 fatalities overall, led the FCPD to urge both drivers and pedestrians to pay attention and avoid risky behaviors, such as drinking alcohol or crossing outside a crosswalk, when on the road. Crashes involving motorcycles have also been a concern this year.
“As the Road Shark campaign concludes, we remind all drivers to do their part in keeping our roads safe,” the FCPD said. “Plan ahead, stay focused behind the wheel, obey posted speed limits, and never drive under the influence.”
