State Troopers Remind Motorists the Thanksgiving Holiday Weekend is the Deadliest

 

RALEIGH- The Highway Patrol will be targeting speeders and aggressive drivers on North Carolina interstates and major four lane highways beginning Wednesday and continuing through the Thanksgiving holiday weekend. Last year 24 motorists were killed on North Carolina highways during the holiday.

“This high-volume holiday travel period is traditionally one of our busiest and deadliest,” said Colonel W. Fletcher Clay, Commander of the State Highway Patrol. “Getting to your destination safely should be your number one goal. Don’t try to cut off a few minutes of your drive time by speeding or driving aggressively. It’s just not worth it.”

Speed and aggressive drivers are the leading cause of traffic deaths in our state. The aggressive driver has been identified as those drivers who flagrantly violate the motor vehicle laws, including but not limited to: excessive speeding, following too closely, erratic lane changes, safe movement violations, and other forms of reckless endangerment.

During the Thanksgiving holiday, the Patrol will also be participating in the state’s Booze It and Lose It anti-drunk driving campaign and the national Combined Accident Reduction Effort, (Operation C.A.R.E). Sobriety checkpoints are being held throughout the state during the entire week.

The Thanksgiving holiday weekend officially begins at 6:00 p.m. on Wednesday, November 23 and ends at midnight, Sunday, November 27. Citizens can report highway problems to the Patrol by dialing *HP (*47) on their cellular phones. The toll’free call goes directly to the nearest Highway Patrol communication center.