Operation Slow Down/No Need 2 Speed Begins

North Carolina State Troopers using motorcycles, helicopters, Chargers, and unmarked patrol vehicles for this campaign

November 13, 2007

ORANGE COUNTY NC NEWS -- The North Carolina State Highway Patrol and the Governor's Highway Safety Program have once again started Operation Slow Down/No Need 2 Speed to catch speeders on North Carolina's highways. Local law enforcement agencies will join troopers from November 13, 2007 through November 25, 2007, to encourage drivers to slow down and follow the speed limit. Stepped-up enforcement and patrols will be conducted across the state, focusing on motorists speeding on interstates and major four-lane highways.

North Carolina Governor Easley said, "North Carolina law enforcement will be going after speeders who recklessly endanger our citizens. We lost 554 of our citizens last year due to speed-related crashes. I urge motorists to slow down and obey the speed limit."

Speeding is the leading cause of traffic fatalities and collisions in North Carolina and the Highway Patrol receives numerous citizen complaints concerning motorists traveling at dangerous speeds on the highways. North Carolina State Troopers are using motorcycles, helicopters, Chargers, and unmarked patrol vehicles for this campaign. During the combined Operation Slow Down/No Need 2 Speed campaign in April, state and local law enforcement agencies cited 17,512 motorists for speeding.

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 Highway 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 North Carolina during the entire week.

Darrel Jernigan, Director of the Governor's Highway Safety Program joined Bryan Beatty, Secretary of the Department of Crime Control and Public Safety, and Colonel Fletcher Clay, Commander of the North Carolina Highway Patrol, at the I-40 Hillsborough Weigh Station in Orange County to announce the start of this month's Slow Down/No Need 2 Speed Operation. Motor vehicle drivers are reminded to watch their speed, and ensure their vehicle's registration and inspection is up to date to avoid receiving a traffic citations,Troopers will be out in force.