STATEWIDE, NC (WECT) – Remember to slow down when you're driving.
Speeding is one of the main causes of crashes and fatalities on North Carolina
roads and was a factor in nearly 400 deaths last year, according to the NC
Department of Transportation.

The Governor's Highway Safety Program has teamed up with law
enforcement agencies across the state to step up enforcements throughout the
week as part of its "No Need 2 Speed" campaign.

"We are all busy and we all have places to be," said
GHSP Director Becky Wallace. "That extra couple of minutes you might save isn't
worth your life or the life of a loved one -- slow down and obey the speed
limit."

According to a press release about the campaign, officers
will focus their efforts on all roads, including interstates, major highways,
rural two –lane roads and city streets across the state.

During the 2012 "No Need 2 Speed" campaign nearly 13,500 drivers
were cited for speeding.

COLUMBUS COUNTY, NC (WECT) – A new study ranks Columbus County as the unhealthiest county in North Carolina...again.

The University of Wisconsin released the rankings, which shows 37 percent of children in the county are living in poverty, compared to 25 percent statewide.

The study says 28 percent of its residents are in poor or fair health.

According to the study, Bladen County didn't do much better, and was only ranked two place higher than Columbus at #98.

Most of the unhealthiest counties are in southeastern or northeastern North Carolina. The healthiest counties tend to be clustered around cities.

Wake County was ranked the healthiest county in the state, and New Hanover County was ranked 9th. Pender County came in at #20 on the list and Brunswick at #37.