Description of North Carolina Department of Transportation
Since 2001, NCDOT has made great strides in improving roadway safety. We installed more than 1,000 miles of median barriers across the state, saving an estimated 96 lives. We improved safety at railroad crossings by adding signals and gates at 352 locations and increased the use of rumble strips throughout the state to prevent run-off-the road crashes. Although it is impossible to prevent all traffic crashes, North Carolina must continue to seek practical solutions to help reduce the number and severity of traffic crashes and injuries on our state's highways. In 2003, the North Carolina Executive Committee for Highway Safety was formed to address highway safety issues. The committee's mission is to establish highway safety goals and objectives to prioritize, implement and evaluate policies and programs to reduce fatalities, injuries and economic losses related to crashes. Secretary Lyndo Tippett has identified improving highway safety through innovative programs and the work of this committee as one of the department's top commitments.