NEW HANOVER COUNTY — Law enforcement across the state will increase road patrols this week in an effort to curb speeding this summer travel season.
The increase is part of a national campaign titled “Speeding Wrecks Lives” created in conjunction with the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration. The initiative will take place from July 18 through July 24.
“Speeding-related crashes are at all-time high levels across the country, including North Carolina, and one proven way to prevent speeding is an increased law enforcement presence on the roads,” said Mark Ezzell, director of the Governor’s Highway Safety Program.
According to the North Carolina Department of Transportation, there was a 17% increase in speed-related crash fatalities from 2017 to 2021.
Last year, 424 people died statewide in speeding-related crashes. Speed was a contributing factor in nearly a quarter of all fatal crashes in 2021.
“Campaigns like these are key pieces to decreasing crashes, even as we work on more long-term solutions such as safe road design, safer cars and quality driver education,” Ezzell said.
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