The City of Salisbury is proud to announce significant improvements in traffic safety enforcement as part of its participation in the Governor’s Highway Safety Program (GHSP) for the 2024 grant year. These efforts have resulted in notable increases across key enforcement metrics, reinforcing the city’s commitment to maintaining road safety within the community.
Compared to the 2022-2023 grant year, Salisbury Police officers achieved the following increases in activity while working GHSP-specific patrols:
- Hours Worked: 36% increase
- Traffic Stops: 65% increase
- Seat Belt Citations: 41% increase
- Child Restraint Citations: 100% increase
- Speeding Citations: 85% increase
- Drug-Related Charges: 150% increase
- Miscellaneous Criminal Offenses: 33% increase
- Careless & Reckless Drivers Charged: 75% increase
- Total Contacts Made: 35% increase
These achievements were made possible through dedicated, grant-funded traffic safety initiatives and do not include statistics from conventional patrol efforts. The Salisbury Police Department’s ongoing participation in the GHSP has not only improved road safety but also strengthened the department’s standing with the program, reflecting positively on our team and the community we serve.
Salisbury Police Chief PJ Smith commended the officers for their dedication, stating,“Our officers’ commitment to keeping the roads of Salisbury safe has resulted in substantial improvements, making our community safer for everyone. These results reflect the professionalism and diligence of our officers, and I am immensely proud of their continued efforts.”
For approximately four years, the Salisbury Police Department has benefited from the North Carolina Governor’s Highway Safety Program (NCGHSP) overtime grant. This grant helps combat vehicle fatalities by providing overtime funds for officers to conduct high-visibility traffic law enforcement.
Since the grant’s implementation in fall 2021, the department has reduced its annual average of vehicle fatalities from approximately 5.5 to 4.
Chief Smith emphasized that these results are due in no small part to the officers who willingly sacrifice their free time to participate in these shifts, ensuring the grant’s success year after year. Their efforts have made a tangible difference in reducing vehicle fatalities and improving road safety in Salisbury.
For more information on the Salisbury Police Department's traffic safety initiatives or to learn more about the Governor’s Highway Safety Program, visit www.salisburync.gov.