Local News

‘Speed A Little. Lose A Lot’ Campaign launches statewide

Published

2 weeks ago

April 14, 2025

The N.C. Governor’s Highway Safety Program (GHSP) is reminding drivers that speeding has life-threatening consequences.

Now through April 20, law enforcement officers throughout the state will conduct speed patrols and checkpoints to catch speeders.

The “Speed A Little. Lose A Lot.” initiative is one of many annual GHSP campaigns to curb reckless driving. The campaign emphasizes that even a small increase in speed significantly increases the risk of severe or fatal crashes.

“We refuse to accept the needless tragedies caused by speeding,” said GHSP Director Mark Ezzell. “This campaign sends a powerful message: drivers who choose to speed will face the consequences. We are determined to make our roads safer for every North Carolinian.”

In 2024, speeding was categorized as the fourth leading factor in crash fatalities in North Carolina. A preliminary report from the N.C. Department of Transportation states that 373 people died due to speed-related crashes.

Driving at high speeds is dangerous and decreases the driver’s ability to control the vehicle. In ideal weather conditions, a vehicle traveling 55 miles per hour will require more than 200 feet to stop completely, according to the N.C. Driver Handbook.

“Speed limits are set to keep all roadway users safe,” said Colonel Freddy Johnson Jr., commander of the North Carolina State Highway Patrol. “Maintaining the speed limit not only reduces the severity of a crash, but it will ultimately minimize the likelihood of being involved in a crash in the first place. When the operator of a vehicle drives above the speed limit, they are putting their lives, their passengers’ lives and the lives of those they are sharing the roadway within harm’s way. Drivers have a choice to obey the speed limit, but it’s a choice that can have very big consequences if they don’t follow the law.”

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Contributed article.

Local News

Highway ramp closes after sand truck overturns

Published

22 hours ago

April 28, 2025

Highland Cavalier Team

A highway ramp in Cameron was closed for several hours on Monday morning after a semi-truck overturned, spilling sand.

The truck was traveling on the Highway 24-27 exit to Highway 1 northbound when it overturned and spilled sand in the grass off the ramp.

Crews clean up sand after a semi-truck overturns in Cameron on April 28.

Motorists were delayed as they were rerouted around the single-vehicle wreck.

No injuries were reported, according to the Highway Patrol.

This is the second time Sandhills Sentinel has covered an overturned semi-truck this month. A semi overturned on Highway 1 in Southern Pines on April 4.

Feature photo: A semi-truck overturns in Cameron on April 28.

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Photos by Cheryl Gilmore.

Overturned semi slows U.S. 1 traffic in Southern Pines

Local News

Car flips in Southern Pines

Published

22 hours ago

April 28, 2025

Highland Cavalier Team

A Toyota driver traveling on May Street, just past Valley View Road in Southern Pines, swerved Monday afternoon to avoid crashing into a vehicle that was stopped and waiting to turn, according to officials at the scene of the single-vehicle wreck.

The Mazda flipped into a small ditch off the roadway. The car sustained significant damage, leaving its roof nearly flat.

No injuries were reported to the vehicle’s passengers, and no other cars were involved in the wreck, according to officials on the scene.

Responding agencies were Moore County EMS, Southern Pines Fire Department and the N.C. State Highway Patrol.

~Article and photo by Sandhills Sentinel breaking news reporter Brandi Grice.