The North Carolina State Highway Patrol along with the Governor’s Highway Safety Program will be joining forces with local law enforcement agencies from across the state by participating in the N.C. Interstate Challenge Campaign. This campaign will focus special attention to all major interstate highways within North Carolina during the Thanksgiving holiday weekend. The purpose of the campaign is to combat fatal collisions along targeted highways in hopes of obtaining a desired goal of zero deaths within the campaign’s allotted time frame. The philosophy entitled “Vision Zero” is being used by all agencies on the state and local level.
Increased patrols will be used during this initiative by placing a trooper or local officer every 20 miles throughout each interstate corridor to include I-26, I-40, I-73, I-74, I-77, I-85, and I-95 during the most heavily traveled periods of the holiday weekend. The campaign will be conducted on Wednesday, November 25 from 11 a.m. to 11 p.m. and again on Sunday, November 29 from 9 a.m. to 9 p.m.
To run concurrent with the N.C. Interstate Challenge, the Highway Patrol will also be participating in a national campaign entitled the I-40 Challenge. Neighboring states to include Arizona, Arkansas, California, New Mexico, Oklahoma, Tennessee, and Texas will be targeting several violations to include speeding, distracted driving, seat belt use, following too closely, and driving while impaired.
“Thanksgiving is a time when families come together to enjoy one another,” said Colonel Bill Grey, commander of the State Highway Patrol. “Our mission is to ensure every motorist arrives safely to their destination. This will be accomplished through partnerships with law enforcement agencies both statewide and nationally.”
Last year during the Thanksgiving holiday season, the State Highway Patrol investigated 14 fatal collisions, 440 injury collisions, and 1,386 property damage collisions.
Motorist can report vehicle collisions, impaired drivers, stranded motorist and other highway situations to the State Highway Patrol by dialing *HP (*47) on their cellular telephone. This is a toll free call that will connect the motorist to a Highway Patrol communication center.