RALEIGH - Distracted motorists, car ejections, and drunk drivers - not exactly what comes to mind when visitors think of the fair. But this year, free information and safety training around those very topics could be what helps save someone’s life visiting the 2018 N.C. State Fair.
“In 2017, more than 100,000 people walked through our exhibit, which means at least that many drivers and pedestrians were exposed to some highway hazard coming to and leaving the fair,” said Mark Ezzell, Director of the Governor’s Highway Safety Program. “Fairgoers are parents, children, families and friends whose very lives could be saved by the information being provided here.”
GHSP sponsors the Safety City exhibit: a virtual highway safety community at the fair that seeks to decrease roadway injuries and fatalities by educating attendees about highway safety issues.
“Last year 1,396 people died as a result of incidents on North Carolina roads. This exhibit is an interactive way to insure that attendees are provided educated with safe driving information that could very well save their lives,” echoed Ezzell.
Some of the ‘Safety City’ national, state and local agencies include:
• Mothers Against Drunk Driving
• Safe Kids NC
• Watch for Me NC
• Be Rail Safe NC
• Operation Lifesaver
• AARP
• Choices for Chase
• DHHS Forensic Alcohol Testing Division and
• First responders
‘One of the top attractions is the Impaired Driving Simulator, a virtual reality simulator that demonstrates the effects of driving after drinking. Other interactive tools include a train exhibition, child safety seat demonstration and a crash simulator,’ added Ezzell.
The 10-day exhibit is open during the duration of the fair, Oct. 11 through Oct. 21 and is located behind Dorton Arena on the N.C. State Fairgrounds at 1025 Blue Ridge Road in Raleigh.
‘Safety City’ compliments the NC Vision Zero initiative, North Carolina’s effort to achieve a long-term goal of zero deaths on North Carolina roadways. This ambitious program brings together multiple agencies and stakeholders to engineer safer roads, educate road users and enforce traffic laws.
For more information, visit ghsp.nc.gov, or follow GHSP on Facebook and Instagram.