Governor Perdue issued a proclamation last week and a media event was held last Monday at Clayton High School in Johnston County announcing that troopers are conducting Operation Drive to Live. Twenty-two teenagers have been killed in car crashes in the last three years. Troopers are working with state and local officials to reduce this trend. The operation is an initiative by the Highway Patrol to reduce the number of teenage related traffic collisions in North Carolina.
Traffic collisions are the leading cause of teenage deaths in North Carolina and our nation. In the last four years 554 teenagers have been killed in crashes investigated by the Highway Patrol. Some collisions involving teenage drivers occur during their commute to and from high school and in 2004 North Carolina ranked fifth in the nation in total teenage deaths as compared to other states. Speed remains the leading cause of those traffic deaths.
Troopers will be enforcing all traffic laws around the state’s schools and conducting traffic safety education programs at the high schools.