Public Radio for the Piedmont and High Country
Play Live Radio
Next Up:
0:00
0:00
0:00 0:00
Available On Air Stations

Traffic fatality numbers rise in Winston-Salem

Distracted driving, substance use, and speed are contributing factors to the increase in traffic-related fatalities. AdobeStock photograph.

Distracted driving, substance use, and speed are contributing factors to the increase in traffic-related fatalities. AdobeStock photograph.

The number of traffic-related fatalities in Winston-Salem has risen by nearly 25% from August of last year.

A recent accident claimed the life of a pedestrian, who was fatally struck by a vehicle traveling west on Akron Drive in Winston-Salem. It was the 21st traffic-related death this year compared to 15 during the same period last year.

The circumstances surrounding these fatalities fall into a few categories: speed-related accidents; those involving drugs or alcohol; and a few due to distracted driving.

Director of Transportation Jeff Fansler says all three dangerous driving patterns have been on the rise since COVID, and they’ve remained the leading contributors to elevated fatality numbers in each of the past three years. He says to address these trends, he and his team are constantly monitoring accident data.

"Safety and crash analyses is a day-to-day effort for our department and in coordination with the North Carolina Department of Transportation for improvements to be included into any of the roadway projects along the corridors of our city," he says.

Fansler says once negative patterns have been identified, DOT attempts to mitigate them through development and spot improvements. He uses the recently completed one-way traffic project downtown as an example of progress, where he says average speeds appear to be slowing. The city is also earmarking funding from the Governor’s Highway Safety Program to prioritize limiting impaired driving.

Before his arrival in the Triad, David had already established himself as a fixture in the Austin, Texas arts scene as a radio host for Classical 89.5 KMFA. During his tenure there, he produced and hosted hundreds of programs including Mind Your Music, The Basics and T.G.I.F. Thank Goodness, It's Familiar, which each won international awards in the Fine Arts Radio Competition. As a radio journalist with 88.5 WFDD, his features have been recognized by the Associated Press, Public Radio News Directors Inc., Catholic Academy of Communication Professionals, and Radio Television Digital News Association of the Carolinas. David has written and produced national stories for NPR, KUSC and CPRN in Los Angeles and conducted interviews for Minnesota Public Radio's Weekend America.

Support quality journalism, like the story above,
with your gift right now.

Donate