High Point, Pinehurst and Highlands are the three North Carolina communities named grand winners of the 2009 Traffic Safe Community of the Year today, one for each population category, by AAA Carolinas’ Foundation for Traffic Safety.
Granite Quarry was recognized for leadership in traffic safety.
“More people have died on North Carolina roads since 9/11 than died in the attacks in New York and soldiers killed in the wars in Afghanistan and Iraq since,” said Tom Crosby, president of the Foundation of Traffic Safety.
The winners are:
– High Point, Guilford County (population greater than 30,000). This year marks the third time High Point has been in the top spot for large communities in N.C. The police department participates in Operation Stop Arm to focus on stopping motorists who pass stopped school buses. They are also implementing a texting while driving course to demonstrate to citizens how dangerous this activity is.
– Pinehurst, Moore County (population between 10,000 and 30,000). Pinehurst has been in the top five for the past three years. The village claims its first top prize this year as Sgt. Raymond Evans credits aggressive enforcement, cooperation with non-traffic officers and progress working with the NCDOT to redesign some intersections into roundabout, which are shown to reduce collisions.
– Highlands, Macon County (population less than 10,000). Highlands takes top honors for the third year in a row.
The foundation recognized 12 other communities with outstanding awards for leadership in traffic safety including:
Population greater than 30,000:
– Cary, Wake and Chatham Counties.
– Apex, Wake County.
– Huntersville, Mecklenburg County.
– Wilson, Wilson County.
Population between 10,000 and 30,000:
– Henderson, Vance County.
– Kings Mountain, Cleveland and Gaston Counties.
– Kinston, Lenoir County.
– Wake Forest, Wake County.
Population less than 10,000:
– Granite Quarry, Rowan County.
– Marion, McDowell County.
– Littleton, Halifax County.
– Topsail Beach, Pender County.
Traffic safe communities are selected by looking at crash statistics, number of law enforcement officers per capita, presence of a formal traffic safety program and/or existence of a special traffic division.
The University of North Carolina at Charlotte provided the statistical analysis and the Carolina Motor Club Foundation chose winners in each category giving extra emphasis to those communities that are proactive in enhancing traffic safety efforts.
AAA Carolinas’ Foundation for Traffic Safety is a non-profit organization founded by AAA Carolinas and funded by AAA Carolinas’ member contributions that works to promote traffic safety initiatives in North and South Carolina.