The Highway Patrol will be targeting speeders and aggressive drivers on North Carolina interstates and major four lane highways through the Thanksgiving holiday weekend. Operation Slow Down began last Tuesday and will end on Sunday, November 25th. Last year 11 motorists were killed on North Carolina highways during the holiday in crashes investigated by the Highway Patrol.
"I have instructed our Troopers to crackdown on speeders this holiday weekend; speed is the leading cause of fatal collisions on our highways," said Colonel W. Fletcher Clay, Commander of the State Highway Patrol. "Getting to your destination safely should be your number one 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."
Speed is the leading cause of traffic fatalities and collisions in the state and the Highway Patrol receives numerous citizen complaints concerning motorists traveling at dangerous speeds on the highways.
Troopers will be using helicopters at the following locations for speed enforcement during the campaign:
- I-77 near the Mecklenburg and Iredell County Lines on Wednesday, Nov 21st from 1:00-3:00 pm
- I-40 near the Wake and Johnston County Lines on Wednesday, Nov 21st from 1:00-3:00 pm
- I-95 in Robeson County near the 36 mile marker on Friday, Nov 23rd from 1:00-3:00 pm
- I-26 in Henderson County between 42 and 46 mile markers on Friday, Nov 23rd from 1:00-3:00 pm
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, (Operation C.A.R.E). Sobriety checkpoints are being held throughout the state during the entire week.
The Thanksgiving holiday weekend officially begins at 6:00 p.m. on Wednesday, November 21st and ends at midnight, Sunday, November 25th.