2026 Traffic Safety Summit comes to Statesville

The 2026 Traffic Safety Summits, hosted by state Sen. Vickie Sawyer, R-Iredell, chair of the Senate Transportation Committee, bring together community members, local leaders and elected officials to discuss traffic safety concerns and explore ways to make North Carolina roads safer.

Traffic safety concerns are not just a local concern but a statewide issue that the North Carolina Alliance for Safe Transportation (NCAST) wants to address. Below are 2024 statistics from North Carolina Department of Transportation: 

• 1,732 persons killed, a 2.7% increase from 2023

• 113,602 persons injured, a 1.2% decrease from 2023

• 15.68 persons were killed for every 100,000 people

• 21.4% of all fatalities were related to speeding 

• 35% of pedal-cyclists were killed between 40-59 years old 

• 11% of all pedestrians involved in a motor vehicle crash were killed 

• 281 pedestrians were killed in motor vehicles, a 12% increase from 2023 

“The idea is to gather people to get them talking about problems related to local traffic safety concerns,” said a NC Alliance Spokesman. “There is research out there and we want to educate people.” 

The summits hold an array of information sessions from the UNC Highway SafetyResearch Center, Institute for Transportation Research and Education (ITRE) at NC State University, traffic safety issues facing NC today and small group discussions.  

To learn more about traffic safety and to register to attend the summit, visit this website and register today.