RALEIGH - The N.C. Governor's Highway
Safety Program is partnering with state troopers and local law enforcement
agencies using high-visibility traffic enforcement in a new "Survive the Drive"
initiative to reduce speeding and distracted driving on North Carolina's rural
roads.
The campaign was launched Friday in five counties with high
fatality and crash rates - Cleveland, Harnett, Johnston, Sampson and
Randolph.
"There are too many lives lost each year in speed- and
distracted-driving-related crashes, and we are determined to change that," said
Mark Ezzell, director of the Governor's Highway Safety Program. "Any time
drivers speed or drive distracted, they are putting themselves, their
passengers, and other drivers and pedestrians at risk. We must all work together
to reach the vision of zero fatalities on our roads."
"Survive the Drive" is the result of recommendations in a report by
National Governors Association, "State Strategies to Reduce Highway and Traffic Fatalities and
Injuries: A Road Map for States". A task force including the Governor's
Highway Safety Program, State Highway Patrol, N.C. Department of Transportation
and the Institute for Transportation Research and Education at N.C. State
University devised a strategy to combat speeding and distracted-driving crashes
on North Carolina rural roadways.
"The primary mission of this initiative is to reduce the number of
fatalities on secondary roadways," said Colonel Glenn McNeill Jr., commander of
the State Highway Patrol. "Through the combined efforts of each organization
involved, we will work together to accomplish the shared goal of saving lives
across our state."
In the last five years there were 57,955 crashes and 1,154
fatalities related to speeding on North Carolina highways. During the same
period there were 53,313 crashes and 482 fatalities related to distracted
driving.
The Governor's Highway Safety Program has awarded $238,000 for the
six-month pilot program in the five counties. The campaign will conclude in
June, and a report will be available later this year.
Contact: Jonathan R. Bandy
Phone 919-814-3657
Email: jrbandy@ncdot.gov