STATE TROOPERS READY FOR BUSY THANKSGIVING HOLIDAY

RALEIGH -- The N.C. Highway Patrol will put special emphasis on enforcing traffic laws on some of the state’s most dangerous highways over the Thanksgiving holiday weekend. 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 Thanksgiving holiday periods for the past five years. The Patrol has targeted those roads for selective enforcement during the holiday period.

“Our goal is to reduce the number of crashes on these roads,” said Colonel Richard W. Holden, Commander of the State 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 long Thanksgiving holiday period.”

The highway corridors where the Patrol will concentrate enforcement are: Guilford Co. I-40 and I-85; Mecklenburg Co. I-77, I-85, and US 74; Wake Co. I-440, US 64, and I-40; Durham Co. I-85; Rowan Co. I-85; Catawba Co. US 70; Gaston Co. I-85; Onslow Co. US 17; Robeson Co. I-95; Iredell Co. I-77; Alamance Co. I-40; Johnston Co. US 70; Cabarrus Co. I-85; Union Co. US 74; Forsyth Co. I-40; Duplin Co. US 117; Davidson Co. I-85; Randolph Co. US 64; Burke Co. I-40; and Haywood Co. I-40. From 1996 to 2000 during the Thanksgiving holiday period; there were 927 crashes, 654 injuries, and three fatalities on these roads. (A list of these roads and the numbers of crashes, injuries and fatalities is attached to this news release.)

“This high-volume holiday travel period is traditionally one of our busiest and deadliest,” said Bryan E. Beatty, secretary of the Department of Crime Control and Public Safety, which oversees the Highway Patrol. “Getting to your destination safely should be your only 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,” said Beatty.

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, (C.A.R.E). Sobriety checkpoints are being held throughout the state during the entire week.

“We’ve put a lot of manpower into this safety campaign, but it’s because we want to make sure everyone has a safe and enjoyable holiday weekend,” said Secretary Beatty. “I encourage everyone to give yourself plenty

of time to get to your destination and take frequent rest stops, and of course, to obey the traffic laws.”

The Thanksgiving holiday weekend officially begins at 6:00 p.m. on Wednesday, November 21st and ends at midnight, Sunday, November 25th. Last year, there were 2,304 crashes, 1,351 injuries and 24 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.

*Thanksgiving* *Holiday* *Crash Corridors* *(Unincorporated)*
*Included Crashes Reported During the Official* *Holiday* *Time Periods 1996-2000*
County	Route	Total Crashes	Fatalities	Total Injuries
GUILFORD	I 40	118	1	93
ROWAN	I 85	57	0	76
MECKLENBURG	I 77	55	1	36
MECKLENBURG	I 85	46	0	23
WAKE	I 440	46	0	29
GUILFORD	I 85	44	0	21
ALAMANCE	I 40	37	0	32
IREDELL	I 77	35	0	35
WAKE	US 64	35	0	14
MECKLENBURG	US 74	34	0	30
ONSLOW	US 17	33	0	17
ROBESON	I 95	33	0	37
CABARRUS	I 85	32	0	32
GASTON	I 85	32	0	17
DAVIDSON	I 85	29	1	25
FORSYTH	I 40	29	0	20
WAKE	I 40	29	0	14
CATAWBA	US 70	27	0	12
HAYWOOD	I 40	27	0	14
BURKE	I 40	26	0	10
UNION	US 74	26	0	18
DURHAM	I 85	25	0	11
JOHNSTON	US 70	25	0	7
RANDOLPH	US 64	24	0	20
DUPLIN	US 117	23	0	11
Top 25 Totals		927	3	654

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