Local News - December 2003

Law enforcement keeps vigil on holiday travel

Published December 24, 2003

By ALICE SMITH, Staff Writer

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Local and state law enforcement officers will be blanketing North Carolina roads this holiday season in an effort to reduce the number of injuries and deaths resulting from vehicle wrecks.

About 1.5 million North Carolinians will hit the road and travel more than 50 miles between Christmas and New Year’s Day, according to AAA Carolinas. That’s up 2.3 percent from last year.

A higher number of people on the road increases the likelihood of crashes, officials said.

The leading cause of collisions in North Carolina is speed, state Highway Patrol troopers said.

The patrol will be increasing the number of troopers and motor carrier enforcement officers on the interstates and heavily traveled corridors.

Lincoln County’s Traffic Safety Team will focus on U.S. 321 and its feeder roads.

“Holiday travel can be very dangerous on our highways if people don’t obey the lawns and use common sense when they travel,” said Col. Richard W. Holden, patrol commander.

Officers will continue this season’s Booze It and Lose It campaign which aims to take drunk drivers off the road and prevent alcohol-related crashes and injuries.

The campaign, now in its fourth week, has resulted in almost 100,000 traffic and criminal citations being issued since Nov. 20. More than 800 people were arrested for DWI during Booze It and Lose It’s fourth week alone.

The Highway Patrol and Lincoln County agencies held five checkpoints and 11 saturation patrols during that time period.

They arrested eight people for DWI, two of whom were younger than 21. They also gave out 10 citations for safety belt and child safety seat violations, 128 for miscellaneous traffic violations and 16 for criminal violations including drug charges.

“We take impaired driving very seriously and urge everyone to make the right choice — don’t drink and drive,” Holden said.

Last year during the Christmas and New Year holiday weekends, 18 people died on North Carolina roads, according to the Highway Patrol.

Between Thanksgiving and New Year’s Day, five people died in Lincoln County, 1st. Sgt. Doug Norwood with the Lincoln County Sheriff’s Office said.

Slowing down, not drinking and driving and getting enough rest are crucial to safe roadways, AAA Carolinas President and CEO David Parsons said.

Booze It and Lose It checkpoints will be held throughout the holiday week.

Staying aware of work zones will also lead to a smoother trip, North Carolina Department of Transportation officials said.

Interstate-40 in Haywood County is a spot that was particularly problematic during the Thanksgiving holiday. Between exits 15 and 20 the interstate is reduced to one lane in each direction.

A suggested west-bound detour is to take 19/23 into Tennessee, where Interstate-81 connects with I-40. This will add about 20 minutes to the trip.

Also look out for:

· I-40/85 in Alamance County — reduced to three lanes in each direction between exits 139 and 141

· I-440 in Wake County — reduced to two lanes in each direction from Poole Road to New Bern Avenue.

· U.S. 421 in Forsyth County — reduced to one lane in each direction between U.S. 54 and Lowery Street

· U.S. 29 in Guilford County — reduced to one lane north of Hicone Road to north of U.S. 158 in Rockingham County

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© 2001 Lincoln Times-News  

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