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Highway Patrol Announces Operation Slow Down 2014

Last Updated on April 14, 2014 9:33 am

The Highway Patrol has kicked off its annual Operation Slow Down 2014 campaign to catch excessive speeders on North Carolina’s highways.

Operation Slow Down, which begins on Monday, April 14 and ends on Sunday, April 20, was created in an effort to reduce traffic collisions across the state. The campaign will be conducted in combination with the Governor's Highway Safety Program’s No Need to Speed campaign.

Speed remains the leading cause of traffic collisions and fatalities in North Carolina and across the country. Last year, the Highway Patrol investigated 815 fatal collisions on North Carolina highways statewide. Of those, 208 deaths were contributed to speed. In 2012, 242 deaths were reported.

“Our number one priority is to ensure the safety of the motoring public,” said Bill Grey, commander of the North Carolina Highway Patrol. “The Highway Patrol is determined to reduce fatal collisions in North Carolina by targeting speeders who recklessly endanger our citizens,”

During Operation Slow Down 2013, troopers issued more than 19,581 citations for numerous traffic violations to include 8,634 speed-related charges.

Operation Slow Down 2014 enforcement efforts will be conducted across the state. The campaign will focus on motorists exceeding the posted speed limit on interstates and major four-lane highways. Troopers will be using marked and unmarked patrol vehicles to target the most dangerous roadways in each county. They will also be looking for speeding commercial motor vehicle drivers who may be committing serious traffic violations. These violations include following too closely, improper or erratic lane change, careless and reckless driving and any violation of the motor vehicle laws that can result in serious injury or death.

Motorists may report dangerous driving to the Highway Patrol by dialing *HP on their cellular phones from anywhere in the state.

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