Sgt. Jesse Gober told Onslow County Today that the DWI task force focuses on public education to reduce impaired and distracted driving and the crashes that follow. "We want everybody to be safe on our roads. We want people to, not drink and drive, not drive impaired, and obey the speed limits," he said.

Gober said in-car distractions and speeding increase crash risk and that holiday periods often bring a more hurried driving culture. He warned drivers against trying to beat yellow lights or driving aggressively, saying those behaviors "can lead to crashes" that injure motorists or cause death.

On school-bus safety, Gober said drivers must stop for buses that display flashing red lights or extend a stop arm while receiving or discharging children. He said failure to stop can carry a fine and potentially license consequences for repeat offenses: "If you see that bus stopped, with that stop arm out or those lights flashing or both, and they are receiving or discharging children, you must stop. And failure to do so can result in a $500 fine, and multiple convictions can result in a revocation of your driver's license."

Gober also explained North Carolina's move-over requirement: drivers must move over to an adjacent lane when safe or, if no lane is available or conditions prohibit safely moving, slow down well under the posted limit to pass emergency, law-enforcement, public-service and roadway-service vehicles displaying flashing lights. He specifically included tow trucks, wreckers and garbage-collection vehicles among those covered and said drivers should be prepared to stop if necessary.

He closed with a holiday reminder to slow down, allow extra travel time and prioritize safety so that first responders and motorists return home safely.