Troopers encourage ENC drivers to travel safe over Labor Day weekend

GREENVILLE, N.C. (WITN) – The North Carolina Highway Patrol says troopers will be out in full force as residents travel in large numbers over the next few days for Labor Day.

As the holiday approaches, drivers are being encouraged to follow the rules of the road.

According to AAA, an estimated 1 million North Carolinians will travel 50 miles or more this Labor Day weekend, with the majority driving.

Trooper Rico Stephens with the State Highway Patrol says the most common infractions are speeding and not wearing a seatbelt.

“All the time, speed is the number one factor. It contributes to the majority of the collisions that we investigate, and then when people are not wearing their seatbelts and they’re involved in that collision, it usually results in a lot of injury to them,” Stephens said.

To help keep everyone safe, the Governor’s Highway Safety Program began running its annual Booze It & Lose It campaign. This is where law enforcement agencies increase the number of saturation patrols and set up checking stations.

Jacqueline Pippins says with current gas prices, drivers should think of creative ways to save money.

“I say stay home or either just get together and carpool, you know, with more people,” Pippins said.

As far as the best and worst times to travel by car? AAA says drivers should hit the road in the morning unless they’re leaving on Saturday. Drivers should avoid the afternoon and early evening hours of Thursday and Friday, as those times will be the most congested.

Stephens says the law will be enforced. “If you choose to get out on our roads and drink and drive—not just over the holidays, just any day—we’re gonna remove you. We’re going to take you to jail and arrest you and charge you with DWI, if we catch you speeding, we’re going to write you that citation, if we catch you without a seatbelt on, we’re going to issue you a seatbelt citation.”

AAA also says travelers taking road trips should expect to pay less for gas compared to last year when the national average over Labor Day weekend was $3.81.

Nationwide, AAA expects to rescue more than 300,000 stranded motorists this weekend, with the three most common reasons being flat tires, dead batteries, and lockouts.

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