The N.C. Highway Patrol is reminding motorists to be careful as they enjoy the July 4th holiday. Motorists who slow down and travel at posted speeds will not only increase their chances of arriving at their destination safely, they will also conserve fuel.

There will be an increased presence of troopers on the interstates and major four lane highways.

Speed is the leading cause of traffic collisions and fatalities in the state. Troopers will be cracking down on speeders during the holiday and will be using LIDAR and other speed timing devices to assist them in enforcing the speed laws.

Last year in North Carolina, 18 people died and 471 were injured over the July 4th holiday period. The 2011 July 4th holiday travel period officially begins at 6 p.m. on Friday, July 1 and ends at midnight, Tuesday, July 5.

Troopers will target aggressive drivers who tend to cause the most crashes. The aggressive driver has been identified as those drivers who flagrantly violate the motor vehicle laws, including but not limited to: excessive speeding, following too closely, erratic lane changes, safe movement violations, and other forms of reckless endangerment.

“I have instructed our troopers to crackdown on traffic violators on our highways and to apply strict enforcement to those motorists who are traveling at dangerous speeds or in a careless manner,” said Col. Michael Gilchrist, Highway Patrol Commander. “Speed is the number one factor in fatal collisions and our troopers will be looking for aggressive drivers, drunk drivers, and other violators while patrolling throughout the state during the holiday week.”

Additionally, state and local law enforcement officers will be out in force over the Fourth of July holiday as part of the “Booze It & Lose It: Operation Firecracker” campaign. Checkpoints and stepped-up patrols will be conducted from now through Monday, July 4 across the state in an effort to remove impaired drivers from the roads.

Officers charged more than 1,200 North Carolina motorists with driving while impaired during the 2010 “Booze It & Lose It: Operation Firecracker” campaign. More than 4,600 stepped-up patrols and checkpoints were conducted.

Reuben Young, Secretary of the Department of Crime Control and Public Safety, said, “We are committed to doing our part to reduce traffic collisions throughout our state. Motorists should do their part by obeying all traffic laws while traveling to their holiday destination.”

Citizens may report crashes, drunk drivers, stranded motorists or other highway situations to the Highway Patrol by dialing *HP (*47) on their cellular telephones. This is a toll free call that connects the caller with the nearest Highway Patrol communications center.

Additionally, state and local law enforcement officers will be out in force over the Fourth of July holiday as part of the “Booze It & Lose It: Operation Firecracker” campaign. Checkpoints and stepped-up patrols will be conducted from now through Monday, July 4 across the state in an effort to remove impaired drivers from the roads.

Officers charged more than 1,200 North Carolina motorists with driving while impaired during the 2010 “Booze It & Lose It: Operation Firecracker” campaign. More than 4,600 stepped-up patrols and checkpoints were conducted.