North Carolina Troopers Issue 9,000 Citation to Teen Drivers

Highway Patrol troopers in North Carolina have issued nearly 9,000 citations during a campaign aimed at reducing the number of traffic accidents involving teenagers.

Thirty-one drivers under age 21 were cited for driving while intoxicated, and more than 3,000 speeding violations were issued during Operation Drive to Live 2009. Troopers visited 720 high schools and issued 8,750 citations during the initiative, conducted from Feb. 23 through last Friday.

Troopers also issued 1,623 citations for seat belt violations, 35 drug violations and 13 citations for passing stopped school buses, among other things.

Traffic collisions are the leading cause of teenage deaths in North Carolina and nationally. In the last four years, 554 teenagers have been killed in crashes investigated by the patrol.