RICHMOND, Va. (WDBJ) - Just in time for Memorial Day, the DMV along with law enforcement agencies around the state, including Virginia State Police, are reminding Commonwealth drivers and passengers to buckle up or be cited.

Beginning July 1 , a new law will require drivers and passengers in every seat (including the backseat), no matter their age, to wear a seat belt, says the DMV.

Law enforcement has already begun high-visibility enforcement along busy roads.

According to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration , buckling your seat belt can reduce your risk of death in a crash by 45%.

AAA predicts 87% of Memorial Day travelers, or more than 39 million people, will be traveling by automobile through Memorial Day.

“Whenever there are more vehicles on the road, the potential for crashes rises,” said Morgan Dean, Manager of Public and Government Affairs for AAA Mid-Atlantic in Virginia.