Wythe County Sheriff’s Office to launch Vehicle Based Enforcement (VBE) Work Zone Safety Program on I-77

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Wythe County, VA- The Wythe County Sheriff’s Office will be launching a Vehicle Based Enforcement (VBE) Work Zone Safety Program in the active construction zone of I-77. Speed studies conducted in 2026 at this work zone identified a significant problem with speeding in this area, recording 4,341 violations in a 5-day period.

 

In Wythe County at I-77, we had 134,075 drivers a week in the work zone with 4,341 speeding vehicles. Of those speeding, 3,146 of those speeders exceeding 11-14 MPH over the posted enforceable speed limit (72.47% of speeders).  Another 1,120 of those speeders exceeding 15-20 MPH over the posted enforceable speed limit (25.8% of speeders). Finally, and most dangerously, 75 more of those speeders were exceeding 21+ MPH over the posted enforceable speed limit (1.73% of speeders).

 

Across the State of Virginia, there are an average of 7.3 work zone crashes per day or once every 15 hours with 4 out of 5 fatalities being drivers of vehicles. Speed continues to be the leading cause of Virginia roadway fatalities, and, according to NHTSA, only 89% of Virginia drivers wear a seatbelt, making any speeding or any crash that much more deadly and dangerous for the driver, any passengers, and other vehicles.

 

Our goal is to increase safety for our local construction workers, the motoring public traveling through our work zones, and passengers in the vehicles. Work zones are clearly marked with posted speed limit signs.

 

Live enforcement via civil summonses begins on Sunday, November 10. VBE-enforced work zones will have additional road signs to give advance warnings to the driver of the upcoming photo enforced work zone. Cameras on the VBE will be used to identify any non-compliant motorists traveling at 11 MPH or greater over the posted, enforceable speed limit.

 

Motorists that exceed the posted work zone speed limit at 11 MPH will receive a civil summons in the mail.  These summonses carry a $100 fine, but do not come with points against your license or insurance penalties.

 

We are committed to changing driver behavior, slowing speeders down, and protecting our community members while they work and travel. Please drive safely in our construction zones and throughout our community. Working together, we can achieve our goal of ZERO. “Zero injuries, Zero crashes, and Zero fatalities.”