‘These tragedies are preventable’: CMPD reports 44% spike in deadly crashes

CHARLOTTE, N.C. — Police are urging Charlotte drivers to be more cautious after they have seen a dangerous trend -- 44% more deadly crashes so far this year compared to 2019.

Officers said this means 62 people have died in traffic-related collisions in 2020 compared to 46 during the same time last year.

Police said there are a number of factors playing into the increase in fatal crashes.

According to CMPD, in 32 of the cases, speeding was involved, while 16 other crashes involved drivers who had been drinking.

Poice said 16 pedestrians have been hit and killed by cars.

During a press conference Wednesday morning, Sgt. Adam Jones said something needs to change.

“This is frustrating for us, personally and professionally, because so many of these tragedies are preventable,” Jones said. “We’re going to redouble our efforts in trying to reduce those numbers, but we really need your help from the community.”

Officers said they are going to continue running speed enforcement operations, education campaigns and working with the department’s DWI Task Force. But they asked people to slow down when they are driving and, if they have been drinking, to use ride-share or call a friend.

CMPD and the city have also teamed up on a project called “Vision Zero,” which is intended to reduce the number of deaths and serious injuries.

According to CMPD, Vision Zero is a “collaborative, multi-layered and transformative program that builds on the foundation of the three 'E’s of traffic safety: education, engineering and enforcement.”

Officials said the project is not designed to be a crash reduction strategy but to reduce the number of injuries through education, law enforcement and improvements to trouble roadway and intersections.

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