While North Carolina has a dynamic community of issue-specific transportation safety advocates, what was missing was one organization with expertise in conducting high-impact public communications efforts, providing effective grassroots and grasstops citizen engagement, and serving to champion public policies that promote better behaviors to combat perils to safety across all forms and manner of transportation.

The North Carolina Alliance for Safe Transportation (NCAST) was created to be that organization, with one goal in mind: reduce the number of transportation-related crashes, injuries and fatalities in North Carolina.

A major focus of NCAST is promoting awareness of safety issues specific to younger motorists.

Teen drivers are especially at risk on the roads, with vehicle crashes the leading cause of death in America among those under 21.

The inexperience and impulsiveness of teen drivers is a significant reason for their high crash rates, making important the safety features of the vehicles they drive as well as getting plenty of supervised driving practice.

‘4/20 DAY’ CREATES HIGH STAKES ON THE ROAD

On average, someone is killed in a car crash every 12 minutes on our nation’s roads, primarily due to four factors: distractions, not buckling up, speed and impaired driving. Recent AAA research revealed an alarming stat: About 85% of cannabis users admit to driving the same day after consumption.

By partnering with roadway safety organizations like NCAST, community groups, and drivers themselves, AAA aims to prevent senseless tragedies. “The road requires clear heads not clouded minds,” said Tiffany Wright, spokesperson for AAA – The Auto Club Group in the Carolinas. “If you plan to celebrate 4/20, find a safe ride before taking any impairing substances. This is critical so motorists are not in the position of having to decide if they’re sober enough to drive.”

Find more AAA information regarding cannabis-impaired driving here.

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