STARTING POINT
SAFE TRAVELS NC
ISSUE 9 | JUNE 2025
Summer’s Here
Memorial Day starts a grim timer: Nearly half of deaths involving teen drivers happen in the 100 days between Memorial Day and Labor Day. Tell the people in your life: Be extra careful this summer.
Also this month: an interview with the recently retired head of the NC DMV. Don’t be surprised if those lines slack soon, as planned changes come to fruition, the state legislature (at least considers) adding dozens of DMV workers and now that the federal REAL ID deadline has passed.
Plus: Safety on the farm, summer driving tips and we take a look at vehicle safety sensors to see which ones work best. Thanks for reading!
Complaints about the NC Division of Motor Vehicles may have finally hit a threshold: The North Carolina House of Representatives, in its 2025 budget proposal, suggests adding 85 DMV workers.
It’s not a done deal – for starters the state Senate isn’t on board yet. But change is in the air, including recently announced changes planned by Gov. Josh Stein’s administration.
Wayne Goodwin spent three years as head of the North Carolina Division of Motor Vehicles, stepping down last month for newly appointed Commissioner Paul Tine. Goodwin says the DMV’s biggest problem is that the state added some 2.5 million people over the last 20 years, but DMV staffing stayed pretty flat.
He spoke with Safe Travels last month. Among his thoughts:
“It’s simply a math problem. And with the 114 new people a day moving into Charlotte, about the same number … moving into the Raleigh area alone, by federal law they have to be in person at the driver’s license office.”
“We’re hemmed in by, in many respects, a combination of federal law, state law and the numbers problem. … The main reason you have to come in once every 16 years is because of a federal law that says your photograph has to be no older than 16 years.”
“Many of the people who visit the DMV are there for tests, and I believe that we could move practically all of those tests online.”
“I do think it’s important that we continue the graduated drivers license program … (it) helps us have safer drivers.”
100 Deadliest Days
This is an important time to talk to young people about safe driving: Nearly half of deaths involving teen drivers happen in the 100 days between Memorial Day and Labor Day.
Why? Teens often have more free time and less structure during the summer. They’re more likely to be in cars with other passengers, which can be distracting. An average of eight people die a day in a teen-related crash during these 100 deadliest days.
Talk to your teens, and model good driving behavior. Teach them to be good drivers by being one yourself!
Let’s Grow Safely
Agritourism now generates more than $4.5 billion a year for American farms, despite just a small percentage of farms opening their land to visitors or selling direct to consumers.
That’s fantastic! And there are resources to help farmers think things through and provide maximum safety.
SafeAgritourism.org offers tons of resources, including photo walkthroughs explaining does and don’ts, printable checklists covering dozens of aspects (including hayrides, corn mazes and petting zoos), along with advice on potential insurance needs, food safety and traffic/parking management.
If you’re visiting a farm, have fun! Take the kids! But make sure everyone understands this is a working farm.
Slow down as you turn in and park, walk only where you’re supposed to, watch where you step and remind kids to be cautious around vehicles and animals.
Ask a Trooper
“Have you got any summer driving advice?”
This month’s question comes from Selah in Charlotte.
Got a question? Ask it in a short video and send it here.
Walking Safety Tips
Pedestrians make up 17% of U.S. traffic fatalities. Remember, and remind young people:
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If there’s no sidewalk, walk facing traffic and as far from traffic as possible.
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Cross at crosswalks or intersections. 75% of fatal pedestrian crashes happen mid-block.
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Look for cars in ALL directions, including those turning left or right.
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Keep watching for traffic as you cross.
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Watch for cars backing out of driveways!
In the News
Charlotte-based, women-led rideshare app for safer travels
- Axios Charlotte
7,000 roads still need repairs after Helene
- The Washington Post
New Study: Teen drivers safer with more practice
- Virginia Tech Trans. Inst.
Congrats!
The NC Alliance for Safe Transportation won two Telly Awards recently for safe driving awareness campaigns featuring Stormy - the Carolina Hurricanes mascot - and Homer The Dragon, mascot for the Charlotte Knights.
These are prestigious awards in the advertising and video worlds – the Tellys have been around for 46 years! Well done team!
Go Canes! Go Knights!
Safe The Date
The N.C. Alliance for Safe Transportation’s annual Sweethearts of Safety event will be Feb. 12, 2026 at the beautiful Park Alumni Center on N.C. State’s campus. ‘Safe’ the date, and if you know someone who’s gone above and beyond for safety, nominate them for a 2026 Sweetheart of Safety award. You can read about last year’s winners here!
One Last Thing…
Do Safety Sensors Work?
Absolutely, but the sensors and cameras that come standard these days are also expensive and raise costs for commonly damaged items – often by thousands of dollars, as Consumer Reports has noted.
This chart shows crash reduction estimates for different features based on data from the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety and the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration.
NCAST | Safe Travels NC
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Raleigh, NC