WV GHSP Joins National Passenger Safety Week

The West Virginia Governor’s Highway Safety Program (WV GHSP) is joining with more than 70 traffic safety and advocacy groups nationwide to observe National Passenger Safety Week, January 19-26, 2026. This critical initiative, led by We Save Lives and The National Road Safety Foundation, empowers passengers to take an active role in promoting safety and preventing crashes by speaking up when confronted with dangerous driving behaviors.
Reckless actions like speeding, driving impaired, and distracted driving continue to threaten lives across the nation. Last year, according to the U.S. Department of Transportation’s National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA), 40,901 people died on American roads and highways. Further national data shows that 11,302 unbuckled passengers were killed in crashes. According to the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety, passengers accounted for 24 percent of passenger vehicle fatalities nationwide.
This dangerous trend is acutely felt in our state, where West Virginia reported a preliminary total of 256 roadway fatalities in 2024. Passengers have a critical opportunity to prevent crashes and save lives by intervening against unsafe driving practices.
“When people understand the dangers of driving impaired, distracted, aggressively and drowsy, there’s a better chance they will speak up if they are passengers in a car being driven unsafely,” said Michelle Anderson, Director of Operations at The National Road Safety Foundation, a non-profit founded more than 60 years ago to promote safe driving behavior through education.
“All passengers should voice their concerns,” says Candace Lightner, founder and president of We Save Lives and a dedicated advocate for crash prevention for 45 years. “We can prevent crashes just by speaking up, but we must stop worrying about offending the driver or being labeled a ‘back-seat driver’.
Jack McNeely, Director of the WV GHSP, stated, “Passengers can voice their concerns for safety in numerous ways, such as remaining calm but being direct, incorporating humor, personal stories, or even offering alternatives or finding another ride, especially if the driver is impaired or distracted. In West Virginia, we urge all passengers to take this week to understand the power they hold to ensure everyone arrives home safely.”
National Passenger Safety Week highlights the critical role passengers play in roadway safety and encourages them to challenge unsafe driving behaviors. The campaign’s Courage to Intervene Promise serves as a guiding pledge:
*Stop drivers from driving buzzed, drunk, or drugged.
*Refuse to ride with impaired drivers.
*Discourage drivers from using cell phones while driving.
*Intervene to prevent unsafe driving, prioritizing safety for everyone on the road.
Every passenger has the power to shift the dynamic in a vehicle from passive rider to active safety participant. More information, including tips for how to speak up can be found at nationalpassengersafety.org. The site also has the downloadable Courage to Intervene Promise.