The Highway Patrol completed its Operation "Road Watch" campaign after a two-day intensive enforcement effort on I-85 in Cleveland and surrounding counties. 

During the two-day event, which began on Tuesday, May 14, and ended on Wednesday, May 15, Troopers concentrated on commercial motor vehicle violations as well as focused their attention on motorists who were driving aggressively around big trucks, speeding, tailgating, and driving aggressively.

Established in 2007, Operation "Road Watch" was designed to improve commercial motor vehicle safety as well as the efficiency of commercial vehicle operations.

The North Carolina Department of Public Safety has released the total number of fatalities worked by the State Highway Patrol in 2012.

The total number of fatalities worked by SHP for 2012 is 87, compared to 74 in 2011. The total number of collisions was 12,450, compared to 12,113 in 2011, officials said.

This means the fatalities are up by 17.6 percent compared to 2011, and the total number of collisions is up by 2.8 percent.

Out of the fatalities, NCSHP investigated 5 involving motorcycles in 2012 and 8 in 2011. Motorcycle fatalities are down 37.5 percent from last year.

AAA Carolinas will host its annual Great Fall Battery Roundup, a used battery collection and recycling program, as part of Car Care Month in October. It is available to the general public, as well as AAA members.

North Carolina motorists can receive $5 for every auto or marine battery they bring in to any one of 24 AAA Car Care Centers, or 34 Approved Auto Repair shops from October 16 through the 31.

“Improperly disposed batteries do serious harm to our environment,” said David E. Parsons, president and CEO of AAA Carolinas.  “This program is a win-win for everyone including motorists, AAA, battery recycle centers and the environment at large.”

AAA encourages residents to help fight stream and ground pollution and raise awareness by recycling batteries at one of 58 convenient North Carolina locations.