Highway Patrol Conducting Operation Slow Down

 

RALEIGH – -- The Highway Patrol will conduct Operation Slow Down 2006 to crackdown on excessive speeders on North Carolina highways. Operation Slow Down 2005 will be conducted statewide and will primarily focus on motorists exceeding the posted speed limits on the interstates and major four-lane highways.

Operation Slow Down was implemented last year in an effort to reduce traffic collisions across the state. “The Highway Patrol is determined to reduce fatal collisions in North Carolina by going after speeders who recklessly endanger our citizens,” said Bryan Beatty, Secretary of the Department of Crime Control and Public Safety. “Speeding and irresponsible driving are the leading causes of traffic deaths and collisions in our state.

Operation Slow Down 2006 will help in our efforts to reverse that trend.” During Operation Slow Down 2005, troopers issued more than 16,000 traffic citations, the majority for speeding. More importantly, traffic fatalities investigated by the Patrol dropped 6.6 percent and speed related collisions dropped 17 percent from the previous year. Operation Slow Down enforcement efforts will be conducted statewide through the Thanksgiving weekend.

The campaign will focus on motorists exceeding the posted speed limit on interstates and major four-lane highways. Troopers will be using helicopters, motorcycles and unmarked patrol vehicles to target the most dangerous roadways in each county. They will also be looking for speeding commercial motor vehicle drivers who may be committing serious traffic violations. These violations include following too closely, improper or erratic lane change, careless and reckless driving and any violation of the motor vehicle laws that can result in serious injury or death.

Motorists may report dangerous driving to the Highway Patrol by dialing *HP on their cellular phones from anywhere in the state.

For more information about Operation Slow Down 2006, visit the N.C. Department of Crime Control and Public Safety's website at www.nccrimecontrol.org/shp.