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“No Need 2 Speed” Campaign Begins Today

Posted 3/25/2013 4:29:25 PM

Law Enforcement Officers will be out in full force to target speeders   RALEIGH –Speeding is one of the main causes of crashes and fatalities on North Carolina’s roads, and was a factor in 399 deaths last year.  In an effort to get motorists to slow down, the Governor's Highway Safety Program has teamed up with law enforcement agencies across the state to step up enforcement as part of its “No Need 2 Speed” campaign.    Law enforcement officers will be out in full force across the state to cite speeders. The campaign kicked off today and lasts through Sunday, March 31. “We are all busy and we all have places to be,” said GHSP Director Becky Wallace. “That extra couple of minutes you might save isn’t worth your life or the life of a loved one -- slow down and obey the speed limit.”   Officers will focus their efforts on all roads, including interstates, major highways, rural two-lane roads and city streets across the state. During the “No Need 2 Speed” campaign in April 2012, state and local law enforcement agencies cited 13,435 motorists for speeding.   Dangerous driving can be reported to local law enforcement by dialing 911 from anywhere in the state.  For more information on “No Need 2 Speed,” visit the Governor's Highway Safety Program website.   ***NCDOT***

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NCDOT Invites Public to Comment on First Draft of Walk Bike NC Plan

Posted 3/7/2013 10:13:44 AM

RALEIGH — The N.C. Department of Transportation has released the first draft of the Walk Bike NC statewide pedestrian and bicycle plan, which will guide future investments to walking and bicycling in North Carolina. The public is invited to review the plan online and submit comments until April 30.  “The statewide plan for walking and cycling demonstrates collaboration as we establish a vision for the state, connecting residents from the mountains to the sea. I look forward to making this plan a reality,” said Transportation Secretary Tony Tata.The plan was prepared through a unique partnership between NCDOT, the state departments of Natural Resources, Commerce and Health and Human Services, Blue Cross and Blue Shield of North Carolina, the Federal Highways Administration, and private donors. Tens of thousands of residents, employers and experts submitted input as part of a public involvement process this past fall. The plan identifies current conditions, goals and action strategies related to five main pillars – mobility, economics, safety, health and environment. “A statewide plan is necessary to identify partners in implementation, develop a funding strategy for addressing need, and create innovative ways to effectively deliver transportation benefit to pedestrians and bicyclists in North Carolina,” said Bicycle and Pedestrian Division Director Lauren Blackburn. ***NCDOT***

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NCDOT Offers Halloween Safety Tips From Watch for Me NC Campaign

Posted 10/31/2012 11:20:26 AM

RALEIGH — The N.C. Department of Transportation, through its Watch for Me NC pedestrian safety campaign, urges parents, motorists and trick-or-treaters to be safe this Halloween. More than 2,200 people are injured or killed in collisions with motor vehicles in North Carolina each year, and more than a third of those collisions occur in the evening or at night. With thousands of children expected to be parading the streets on Oct. 31, the Watch for Me campaign is offering these safety tips to help make this year’s Halloween safer and more enjoyable: For ParentsBefore children start out on their trick-or-treat rounds, parents should:·         Plan and discuss a safe route trick-or-treaters intend to follow and establish a return time. Instruct your children to travel only in familiar areas and along the established route. ·         Make sure that an adult or an older responsible youth will be supervising the outing for children under age 12. ·         Make sure your child carries a flashlight, glow stick or has reflective tape on their costume to make them more visible to cars. ·         Let children know that they should stay together as a group if going out to Trick or Treat without an adult. ·         Review all appropriate trick-or-treat safety precautions, including pedestrian/traffic safety rules.For Trick-Or-Treaters To have a safe Trick-or-Treating adventure, trick-or-treaters should: ·         Stay in familiar neighborhoods along the established route and stop only at familiar houses unless accompanied by an adult. ·         Walk on sidewalks, not in the street.  If there are no sidewalks, walk on the left side of the road, facing traffic. ·         Cross streets at crosswalks when available. Look both ways before crossing streets and cross when the lights tell you to cross, after you check for cars in all directions. ·         Carry a flashlight, wear clothing with reflective markings or tape, and stay in well lit areas. Wear a watch you can read in the dark. ·         Don't cut across yards or driveways. For Motorists Motorists should be especially alert on Halloween and should: ·         Drive slowly through residential streets and areas where pedestrians trick-or-treating could be expected. ·         Watch for children darting out from between parked cars. ·         Watch for children walking on roadways, medians, and curbs. ·         Enter and exit driveways and alleys carefully. ·         At twilight and later in the evening, watch for children in dark clothing. About Watch for Me NC The Watch for Me NC campaign is a collaborative effort to reduce pedestrian crashes through enhanced education and enforcement of pedestrian safety laws. The campaign, which is being coordinated by a group of partners, including the North Carolina Department of Transportation, UNC Highway Safety Research Center, Institute for Transportation Research and Education at NCSU, area universities, and planning, engineering, transportation, and police departments in Raleigh, Durham, Chapel Hill and Carrboro, consists of pedestrian and driver-focused safety messages as well as concerted efforts by area police to enforce pedestrian laws. ***NCDOT***
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Fall Season Brings Increased Risk of Crashes Between Vehicles, Pedestrians

Posted 10/11/2012 2:29:14 PM

RALEIGH — The fall season in North Carolina brings cooler weather, shorter days – and a higher risk of accidents between pedestrians and vehicles than at any other time of year. In the month of October alone, an average of 240 people are struck by cars across the state annually. Click here to view detailed crash information by county. With days growing shorter and the school year in full swing, now is a critical time to be vigilant and do your part as a pedestrian or a motorist to prevent accidents from happening. Here are tips to be safe from the N.C. Department of Transportation’s Watch for Me NC pedestrian safety campaign. Motorists: ·         Watch for people crossing the street near bus stops and school buses. More than half of all pedestrian-vehicle crashes in the Triangle occur near bus stops or on roads with bus routes. ·         Watch for people walking at night. ·         Watch for people when you are making a turn. ·         Pay attention in parking lots – check your rearview mirror to make sure no one is walking behind you. ·         Yield to people in crosswalks. Pedestrians: ·         Cross the street safely on your way to or from the bus stop. ·         At night, wear light clothing and reflective gear and carry a flashlight if possible. ·         Watch for drivers who are turning, even if you have the walk signal - they may not see you. ·         Pay attention in parking lots – look for brake lights to indicate a driver is backing up. ·         Be predictable – cross at the nearest crosswalk or intersection. To learn more about pedestrian safety, visit the Watch for Me NC campaign website.   ***NCDOT***

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Triangle-area law enforcement to begin major enforcement of pedestrian laws as part of Watch for Me NC campaign

Posted 10/2/2012 3:32:46 PM

RALEIGH — Triangle-area law enforcement agencies will be stepping up efforts to enforce pedestrian safety laws as part of the N.C. Department of Transportation’s Watch for Me NC campaign. While the campaign began in August with a series of advertisements promoting safer pedestrian and driver behaviors, the campaign now begins its second phase with strategic enforcement of pedestrian laws, such as assuring that drivers yield to pedestrians in crosswalks. The campaign, which is funded in part by the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration, is intended to reduce motor vehicle-pedestrian crashes in the Triangle through greater awareness and enforcement of pedestrian safety laws. Each year in the region, more than 400 people are hit while walking and of those, approximately 350 people are injured or killed. “State law requires drivers to yield to people in crosswalks. Through this enforcement effort, we hope to raise awareness and encourage drivers and pedestrians alike to follow the law and do their part to keep our roads safe for everyone,” said NCDOT Deputy Secretary of Transit Paul Morris. Through the month of October, Triangle-area law enforcement agencies will be conducting enforcement campaigns at areas where motor vehicle-pedestrian crashes are most prevalent. Those locations have been identified as high-risk crossings for pedestrians based on an evaluation of several years’ pedestrian crashes performed by the UNC Highway Safety Research Center. Law enforcement officers will be issuing warnings and citations to drivers and pedestrians who fail to follow state and local pedestrian laws. To learn more about the campaign, visit www.watchformenc.org. ***NCDOT***

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