PRESS RELEASE FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE:
September 30, 2016
The Southern Pines Police Department Announces: "Safe October" Traffic Enforcement Initiative
The Southern Pines Police Department announces the traffic enforcement and educational initiative "Safe October" will begin October 1, 2016, and run through October 31, 2016. This initiative will focus on distracted driving and occupant protection with educational opportunities directed toward young adults and local high schools. The traffic enforcement initiative will focus on distractive driving to include: texting while driving, talking to passengers, using cell phones, adjusting a radio, CD players, and watching videos while driving. Southern Pines police officers will conduct increased overt and covert traffic enforcement during this time period in an effort to reduce these driving behaviors. The occupant protection and educational initiative will focus on the dangers of non-seat belt usage. This educational effort is geared toward teenage and young adult drivers. Occupant protection facts provided by the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration report teen drivers have lower seat belt use rates than adults. Despite efforts aimed at increasing seat belt use in this age group, observed use among teens and young adults (16 to 24 years old) was the lowest of any age group at 80 percent. In fatal motor vehicle crashes, the majority of teens (16 to 20 years old) continue to be unbuckled. The Southern Pines Police Department will provide occupant protection and distracted driving educational support to students at Pinecrest High School and the Neal School.
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Contact: Deputy Chief Nick Polidori (910) 692-2732x 2864 or Community Services Coordinator Kathy Fernandez (910) 692-2732x 2852
