Transportation (Traffic Safety)

HB 982 would allow North Carolina's Department of Transportation to use automated speed cameras in highway work zones on state-maintained roads to detect speeding violations. The law establishes a $250 civil fine (not a criminal penalty or driver's license points) for speeding detected by these cameras, with the registered vehicle owner responsible for payment unless they provide evidence of another driver's control within 30 days. Warning signs must be posted 1,000 feet in advance, and owners receive mailed notices with violation details, including photos, allowing them to contest the fine through an administrative hearing or court. This pilot program directly affects drivers who speed in designated work zones and vehicle owners, with all fines directed to a new state fund.

HB 112 raises the maximum allowable speed limit on North Carolina's interstate highways and controlled-access roads from 70 mph to 75 mph, as determined by the Department of Transportation after engineering studies. This directly affects drivers traveling on these roads, as the new 75 mph limit replaces the previous 70 mph cap where the DOT deems it safe. The bill also updates related penalties: speeding over 85 mph on roads with a 75 mph limit becomes a Class 3 misdemeanor, and license suspension rules for excessive speeding (e.g., over 85 mph on 75 mph zones) are adjusted accordingly. The changes apply only to offenses occurring on or after December 1, 2025, and do not affect cases before that date.

SB 575 makes failing to yield to a pedestrian when causing serious injury a Class 2 misdemeanor for drivers. It requires North Carolina's driver education programs to add a new pedestrian safety module covering when drivers must yield the right-of-way. The bill also mandates the Division of Motor Vehicles and Department of Public Instruction to study and report by January 1, 2026, on improving pedestrian safety instruction in driver education. These changes directly affect drivers, public school driver education curricula, and state agencies responsible for traffic safety training.