Local News - January 2004

Fatal wrecks decline

Published January 9, 2004

By ALICE SMITH, Staff Writer

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A combined effort among local law enforcement agencies has led to a lower number of traffic fatalities in 2003 than in years, authorities said.

There were 10 traffic-related deaths on Lincoln County roads in 2003, according to 1st Sgt. Doug Norwood with the Lincoln County Sheriff’s Office.

That’s 41 percent fewer fatal wrecks than in 2002, he said.

And it’s also fewer than the county has seen in the past eight years, Norwood said.

Norwood attributes the decline in fatalities to communication between the Sheriff’s Office, North Carolina State Highway Patrol and Lincolnton Police Department.

He also credits the Sheriff’s Office’s new Traffic Enforcement Unit for the drop.

“I believe the first year for the Sheriff’s Traffic Enforcement Unit was a great success,” Norwood said.

“The combined efforts of the Sheriff’s Office Traffic Team and Patrol Division, the Highway Patrol and the Lincolnton Police Department has made Lincoln County roads safer for the traveling public.”

Two sheriff’s deputies hit the roads in June as Lincoln County’s part of the 321 Connection Traffic Safety Team.

State grants paid for counties in the region to devote manpower especially to traffic issues. The money also provided the Sheriff’s Office with equipment.

Lincoln County’s Traffic Team works with the Highway Patrol and other counties’ teams to conduct saturation patrols and checkpoints.

During a Click It or Ticket campaign last summer, Lincoln County hit another milestone.

Lincoln was No. 2 in the state for seat belt usage between the campaign dates of May 16 and June 1. Ninety-four percent of drivers checked were buckled up.

State officials said the increased compliance could result in fewer fatalities and injuries.

In July, Norwood even predicted that more people buckling up would lead to a “very low fatality year.”

Local agencies also took part in Booze It and Lose It programs throughout the year.

The most recent, running from Nov. 20 to Jan. 4, led to the arrest of 75 people for driving while impaired.

The 76 checkpoints and 126 saturation patrols also netted 164 people for seat belt violations and 17 for child safety seat violations.

Almost 500 people were cited for speeding, figures show.

The total number of traffic and criminal violations in Lincoln County during that period equaled 1,753.

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© 2001 Lincoln Times-News  

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