Highway Patrol Encouraging Motorists to Slow Down During the July 4th Holiday

 

RALEIGH – The N.C. Highway Patrol is reminding motorists to be careful as they enjoy the July 4th holiday. Troopers are prepared for a busy weekend and holiday as motorists travel to their holiday destinations. This means more people will be on our highways, increasing the chance of traffic crashes. There will be an increased presence of Troopers on the interstates and major four lane highways.

State Troopers will be conducting Operation Slow Down during the holiday. Operation Slow Down is an effort by the Highway Patrol to reduce speed related collisions on North Carolina highways. Troopers will increase patrols on all interstates and major four lane highways during the holiday. Speed is the leading cause of traffic collisions and fatalities in the state.

“Troopers will be busy this holiday week. I have instructed our troopers to crackdown on traffic violators on our interstates and to apply strict enforcement to those motorists who are traveling at dangerous speeds or in a careless manner,” said Colonel W. Fletcher Clay, Highway Patrol Commander. “Our Troopers will be looking for aggressive drivers, drunk drivers, drivers not wearing their seatbelts, and other violators while patrolling throughout the state this July 4th holiday week.”

Included in the crackdown will be commercial motor vehicle drivers who are speeding and who may be committing serious traffic violations. These include speeding over the posted speed limit, following too closely, improper or erratic lane change, careless & reckless driving, and any violation of the motor vehicle laws that result in serious injury or death.

Troopers will also increase patrols on the interstates and other heavily traveled corridors targeting the aggressive drivers who tend to cause the most crashes. 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.

Bryan Beatty, Secretary of the Department of Crime Control and Public Safety, said, “We are committed to doing our part to reduce traffic collisions throughout our state. Motorists should do their part by obeying all traffic laws while traveling to their holiday destination.”

Last year in North Carolina, 15 people died in 1,392 collisions during the July 4th holiday period. The 2006 July 4th holiday begins at 6:00 p.m., Monday, July 3rd and ends at midnight, Tuesday, July 4th.

Troopers will be participating in the nationwide “Operation C.A.R.E.” (Combined Accident Reduction Effort). “Operation C.A.R.E.” is a coordinated education and enforcement effort involving all Highway Patrol and state police agencies across the nation. These high visibility patrols during national holiday periods are designed to prevent crashes and ensure voluntary compliance with the motor vehicle laws.

Penalties for a violation of the Move Over law become effective July 1st. Fines increase from $25 to $250 for a conviction of violating the Move Over law, a $500 fine for a Move Over violation that results in injury or property damage and Felony charge if death occurs.

Troopers will also increase their efforts to enforce the state's litter laws. Troopers will crackdown on litter bugs and keep litter off of North Carolina's roads. Tougher littering laws passed by the N.C. General Assembly first-time offenders can be fined as much as $1,000 and be ordered to perform up to 24 hours of community service. Repeat offenders can get a $2,000 fine and 50 hours community service.

The Department of Transportation's Office of Beautification maintains the website where litterbug reports can be submitted. The address is www.dot.state.nc.us/litterbug . The page can also be found by going to the SHP website at www.ncshp.org .

Citizens may report crashes, drunk drivers, stranded motorists or other highway situations to the Highway Patrol by dialing *HP (*47) on their cellular telephones. This is a toll free call that connects the caller with the nearest Highway Patrol communications center.