CARY POLICE to conduct OPERATION PATIENT payoff THROUGHOUT CARY TO prevent AGGRESSIVE DRIVING

CARY , NC – In its continuing effort to maintain safe driving conditions, the Town of Cary Police Department will kick off another round of its quarterly aggressive driving campaign, “Operation Patient Payoff,” on Tuesday, May 12, 2009 , this time on major thoroughfares throughout Cary .  As part of the campaign, the Traffic Safety Team will monitor motorists to detect speeding, tailgating and lane change violations from 6 a.m. until 8 p.m.  During the past year in Cary , there have been six fatalities involving motor vehicles and 2,760 reports of motor vehicle accidents (more than $1,000 in damage or injuries involved).

During the campaign, motorists may see both uniformed officers in their assigned Police vehicles, and unmarked Police cars and motorcycles.  Officers’ vehicles will be equipped with radar and LIDAR (laser detection technologies) to identify aggressive drivers.

“We are conducting this campaign throughout Cary in hopes that all motorists will be more vigilant for their safety and the safety of others,” said Lt. Randall Rhyne. He added that police are reminding motorists to allow a distance of at least three seconds between their vehicle and the one in front of them to allow for an adequate distance to react to changing conditions.

The Town of Cary kicked off the first round of Operation Patient Payoff along U.S. 1 from Walnut Street to Cary Parkway in March 2007.  Since that time, Operation Patient Payoff has netted 292 citations and 410 traffic stops. 

To further decrease the number of aggressive drivers, the Town has established a “Road Watch” hotline at (919) 319-4521 for motorists to report aggressive driving.  If numerous complaints are received for one particular area, the Police Department responds by increasing visibility on the street through patrols, radar trailers and speed sentries that display speeds to oncoming drivers.  For complaints received on individual drivers not witnessed by the police, courtesy letters are sent reminding these drivers of the need to slow down.

The campaign comes in part from a grant award from the N.C. Governor’s Highway Safety Program.  In the fall of 2006, the Cary Police Department received a grant award that funded two traffic safety team officers and two fully equipped vehicles, including radars.

Additional campaigns are planned for later this year. 

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MEDIA NOTE:  For media interested in footage of the campaign, please contact Lt. Randall Rhyne at (919) 469-4338