SMITHFIELD – The North Carolina State Highway Patrol will be out in full force this weekend due to forecast of frozen precipitation.
Sgt. Nathan White with the State Highway Patrol in Johnston County said, “We will have plenty of Troopers on the roadway to assist anyone in need this weekend, but we encourage everyone to stay home and don’t go out unless it’s an emergency.”
“The first question we ask anyone involved in a collision during an ice/sleet/snowstorm is why are you out? Please stay home and hunker down and enjoy the weather from your residence,” Sgt. White told The Johnston County Report. “However, if you do have to go out and drive make sure you have water, flashlights, a fully-charged cell phone, full tank of gas, and blankets in your vehicle in case you get stranded.”
“Please slow down and reduce your speed, give yourself a good following distance between yourself and any other vehicles. Black Ice will be an issue at night especially around bridges.”
“If you do get in a collision please stay in your vehicle. Getting out and walking around will cause a greater risk of you getting struck by another vehicle,” Sgt. White said. He said the weather is always dangerous for first responders responding to assist people in need.
If you need to contact the Highway Patrol, you can call *HP from your cell phone, 919-733-3861, or dial 911 for any emergency.
