NCDOT Archives | Randolph News Now

Feb212024 by Randolph News NowNo Comments

TRAFFIC ALERT – I-73 Near Randleman for Monday

(photo / map from NCDOT TIMS website) RANDLEMAN N.C. - The North Carolina Department of Transportation has issued a traffic alert for Monday March 4th, 2024, on I-73 near Randleman. On Monday March 4th, 2024, from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m., NC DOT will be closing the right lane at mile markers 84 and 83, located just north of the W Academy Street exit for road work. High impacts to traffic are epected durring this time. You can track this incident on the NCDOT's DriveNC website.

Dec212023 by Randolph News NowNo Comments

Construction Suspended for Holiday Travel

Traffic & Roads

Photo by: suwichan / Adobe Stock RALEIGH N.C. (NCDOT) –The N.C. Department of Transportation will suspend most construction activity on major highways to make travel easier during the upcoming holiday season. Most work along interstates, U.S. and key state routes will be suspended starting Friday morning and will resume Jan. 2, 2024. Exceptions include bridges being replaced, long term lane construction that cannot be temporarily removed and highway work that does not impact travel. One such spot is Interstate 40 in Haywood County, where lane closures will stay in place for safety reasons. Before you hit the road, be sure to visit DriveNC.gov for the most up-to-date information.AAA forecasts 3.5 million North Carolinians will travel by automobile this holiday season. These saf...

Dec182023 by Randolph News NowNo Comments

Teen Driver Law Changes Take Effect in the New Year

Government

rocketclips / Adobe Stock ROCKY MOUNT N.C. (NCDOT) – The N.C. Division of Motor Vehicles wants to remind teen drivers and their parents of changes to the Graduated Driver Licensing (GDL) system made by the legislature that will go into effect in the new year. Beginning Jan 1st, 2024, teen drivers will need to have their Level 1 Limited Learner Permit for nine months instead of the current six months before being able to get their Level 2 Limited Provisional License. DMV Commissioner Wayne Goodwin said, “The law doesn’t allow for grandfathering anyone in, so if someone has their six months of Level 1 in before the end of the year but doesn’t get in to take their road test by Dec. 29, they will have to wait until they hit nine months to take the road test and get their Level 2. Anyo...

Oct242023 by Scott PelkeyNo Comments

How Safe are School Buses? – A Look at the Data

Investigative

Vehicle crash involving a school bus on Hwy 64 in Asheboro in 2019. [Acme News Archive Photo] ASHEBORO N.C. - Two separate school bus crashes on October 12th, 2023, raised questions online about the safety of school buses, so we decided to look at the data to see just how safe children who ride the bus to school are on the road. According to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) school bus accidents account for less than 1% of all traffic fatalities. While that 'less than 1%' is a national figure, here in NC, the data backs up that number. Using crash report numbers from the N.C. Department of Transportation's annual traffic facts publication for 2015 through 2022, we analyzed the numbers for school bus accidents for North Carolina. In the eight years we l...

Sep212023 by Randolph News NowNo Comments

Temporary Closures Upcoming for U.S. 421 in Randolph County

Traffic & Roads

Credit - Microsoft / TomTom via NC DOT Website LIBERTY N.C. (NC DOT) – A contractor for the N.C. Department of Transportation will perform nightly closures of the southbound lanes of U.S. 421 next week in Randolph County, weather permitting. From 9 p.m. to 5 a.m. from Sept. 25 to Sept. 28, crews from Ames Construction plan to close U.S. 421 South as part of ongoing interchange work. A signed detour to Shiloh Road will be in place during the southbound closure. Lane closures with no detour will be in place during the same timeframe for on Sept 29, and Oct 2-6. Motorists are encouraged to slow down and use caution when approaching the work zone and detour. For real-time travel information, visit DriveNC.gov or follow NCDOT on social media.

May62023 by Randolph News NowNo Comments

Teen Driver Law Changes to Take Effect Monday, May 8

Government

ROCKY MOUNT N.C. (NCDOT) – Upon passage of a bill by the North Carolina General Assembly, the N.C. Division of Motor Vehicles is announcing changes to the graduated driver licensing (GDL) program for teens. Effective May 8, teen drivers will again need to have their Level 1 Limited Learner Permit for six months before being able to get their Level 2 Limited Provisional License. Teen drivers will still be required to: be at least 16 years old, log 60 hours of driving time, pass a road test and show printed proof of insurance in the teen driver’s name. The requirement to advance to Level 2 had been 12 months for most of the last 25 years since the GDL system was put into place in 1997. During the COVID-19 pandemic, the legislature temporarily shortened this requirement to six months. T...

Jan102023 by Randolph News NowNo Comments

Scam Alert | DMV/DOT Emails with Payment Link

Scam Warning

(Editor's Note: The previous version of this news release contained an incorrect version of customer email protocols. The correct version indicates DMV will send customer emails on some occasions regarding driving violations but not for payment of fines or fees.) ROCKY MOUNT N.C. (NC DOT) – The N.C. Division of Motor Vehicles routinely receives complaints from customers who have been targeted by scammers claiming to be representatives of either the DMV or the N.C. Department of Transportation. Recently, several law enforcement agencies have reported that many unsuspecting DMV customers are receiving scam emails from a group claiming to be from the “Department of Transportation” and encouraging targeted individuals to click on a link to pay a fine for an alleged driving violation. ...

Nov182022 by Randolph News NowNo Comments

Buckle Up. It Could Save Your Life – Thanksgiving Safety Campaign

Traffic & Roads

Traffic on I-73/74 near Asheboro (Stock Photo / Acme News Archive) RALEIGH N.C. (NC DOT) - Please buckle up if you’re driving or riding anywhere this Thanksgiving. That’s the message coming from the N.C. Governor’s Highway Safety Program as part of this year’s Thanksgiving Click It or Ticket campaign. “This is traditionally one of the busiest times for travel, but we want people to get where they’re going safely,” said Mark Ezzell, director of the North Carolina Governor’s Highway Safety Program. “The sad truth is most of these deaths and injuries are preventable. If people wore seat belts every time they get into a vehicle, we would save so many lives.” The campaign, which runs from Nov. 21-27, aims to encourage motorists to buckle up through innovative and extensive enforceme...

Aug172022 by Randolph News NowNo Comments

State Transportation Officials Urge Safety Around Railroads

Traffic & Roads

RALEIGH N.C. (NCDOT)– The N.C. Department of Transportation is reminding people to stay off railroad tracks after multiple incidents involving a train and either a vehicle or pedestrian. Already this year there have been 51 incidents with vehicles and pedestrians on railroad tracks in North Carolina; 10 people have died. “That’s why we’re always reminding people to be very careful around railroad tracks,” said Jason Orthner, director for NCDOT’s Rail Division. “Railroads are only meant for trains. Drivers should obey traffic laws and never stop on the tracks. Also, people should never walk, jog or take pictures on railroad tracks. Doing so is extremely dangerous.” Staff in NCDOT’s Rail Division also urge people to follow these tips: If there is an emergency at a railroad crossing,...

Apr82022 by Randolph News NowNo Comments

NCDOT “Work Zone Awareness Month and Speed A Little, Lose A Lot”

Traffic & Roads

Andrey / Adobe Stock RALEIGH N.C. (NCDOT) – Construction is ramping up across the state, and officials are using the upcoming week as a reminder to drive safely in work zones. April 11-15 is Work Zone Awareness Week across North Carolina. Drivers should always use caution when traveling through a work zone and follow these tips: Turn on headlights so workers and other drivers can see you.Dedicate your full attention to the road.Never change lanes in a work zone. Earlier this week, the North Carolina Governor’s Highway Safety Program unveiled the National Work Zone Memorial, as it made a stop at a Welcome Center off Interstate 95. The traveling memorial honors those killed in work zones nationwide, including 37 fallen workers in our state. In 2021, there were 6,200 crashes in...