The Governor’s Highway Safety Program announced today that state and local law enforcement officers cited 13,435 motorists for speeding during the No Need 2 Speed Campaign, which ran April 2-8. A total of 39,150 traffic and criminal citations were issued statewide.
The Highway Patrol ended its Operation Slow Down campaign on April 6. The campaign which began on April 2, was conducted in combination with GHSP’s No Need to Speed campaign.
“State and local law enforcement agencies made a tremendous effort to make our highways safer and to remind motorists to obey the speed limit during this campaign,” said Becky Wallace, director of GHSP.
Officers also issued 2,832 safety belt and 426 child passenger safety violations and 1,003 drug charges. In addition, they apprehended 819 fugitives from justice and recovered 51 stolen vehicles.
Rowan County had a total of 390 violations, 146 for speeding; four DWI charges for people under 21 and six charges for people over 21; 37 seatbelt and child restraint violations; 22 charges of driving while license revoked; and five counts of reckless driving. Adding up all the charges, which included other infractions, Rowan’s total charges and violations were 390.
Cabarrus County had a total of 1,051 charges, with 319 for speeding; 41 DWI charges; 52 seatbelt and child restraint charges; 45 driving while license revoked.
Speed remains the leading cause of traffic collisions and fatalities in North Carolina and across the country. Last year 1,687 people were killed on North Carolina highways statewide. Of those, 298 deaths were contributed to speed. In 2010, 319 deaths were reported.
Despite the end of the campaign, troopers will continue to aggressively enforce the speed limits on North Carolina highways. “Our number one priority is to ensure the safety of the motoring public,” said Michael Gilchrist, commander of the North Carolina Highway Patrol.