For Release: Immediate  Date: August 27, 2001

F/Sgt. Jeff Winstead Phone:(919) 733-5027 (ext. 238)

RALEIGH - The Labor Day holiday weekend marks the end of a busy summer vacation travel season and heavy traffic is expected statewide this year. The N.C. Highway Patrol will again put special emphasis on enforcing traffic laws on some of the state's most dangerous highways during that time. Working with the Department of Transportation, the Patrol has identified the highway corridors in North Carolina which have had the most crashes on them during the Labor Day holiday periods for the past five years, and has targeted those roads for selective enforcement during the holiday period.

"Our goal is to reduce the number of crashes on these roads, which will save lives and reduce injuries," said Bryan E. Beatty, secretary of the Department of Crime Control and Public Safety, which oversees the Highway Patrol. "We are working to put our resources where the needs are, and history tells us that these roads are especially dangerous during the Labor Day holiday period."

The highway corridors where the Patrol will concentrate enforcement are: Mecklenburg Co. I-77, I-85, and US 74; Guilford Co. I-40, US 29, and I-85; Wake Co. I-440, US 64, and I-40; Buncombe Co. US 19 and I-40; Iredell Co. I-40 and I-77; Onslow Co. US 17; Catawba Co. US 70; Durham Co. I-40; Union Co. US 74; Gaston Co. I-85; Forsyth Co. I-40; Burke Co. I-40; Haywood Co. I-40; Cabarrus Co. I-85; Orange Co. I-40; Robeson Co. I-95; Alamance Co. I-40. From 1996 to 2001 during the Labor Day holiday period, there were 668 crashes, 543 injuries, and seven fatalities on these roads. (A listing of these roads and the numbers of crashes, injuries and fatalities is attached to this news release.)

"We want to make the highways as safe as possible for our citizens and visitors," said Colonel Richard W. Holden, Commander of the State Highway Patrol. "Getting to your destination safely should be your only goal; don't try to cut a few minutes off your travel time by speeding or driving aggressively. It's just not worth it," said Holden.

The Highway Patrol will join other law enforcement agencies at "Click-It or Ticket" seatbelt checkpoints across the state throughout the week, and troopers will be participating in the nationwide Combined Accident Reduction Effort. "C.A.R.E." is a coordinated effort in which highway patrol and state police agencies increase their visibility along selected routes during holiday periods to prevent crashes.

"Buckling up and slowing down are keys to safe travel, both during the holiday period and year round," said Secretary Beatty. "I also encourage everyone to give yourself plenty of time to get to your destination, take frequent rest stops, and of course, to obey our traffic laws."

The Labor Day holiday weekend officially begins at 6:00 p.m. on Friday, August 31st and ends at midnight, Monday, September 3rd. Last year, there were 1,900 crashes, 1,434 injuries and 13 fatalities statewide during the holiday period.

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.

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F/Sgt. Jeff Winstead Public Information Officer State Highway Patrol