Officials say slow down, stay safe on roads during storms

GREENVILLE, N.C. (WNCT) — Heavy rain showers coming through Greenville over the first few weeks of July have impacted the East with flooding and dangerous road conditions.

So far in July, our total monthly rainfall in Greenville is more than 11.8 inches. Normally, Greenville will only have a little over four inches during these first three weeks. The rain is much needed after a dry June. The total rainfall for the area then was nearly four inches below normal.

North Carolina State Highway Patrol Trooper Rico Stephens said they’ve seen an increase in calls this month. He also said a large majority of those calls could have been avoided if the drivers would have slowed down to take their time to get where they were going.

“If it’s raining outside, or any type of weather, we strongly recommend the public to reduce their speed for several reasons,” he said. “It gives you greater stopping distance, and it reduces the likelihood of you hydroplaning and spinning out of control. We’re really trying to take preventive measures on that, and it goes back to monitoring your speed, the weather, the roadway conditions, and adjusting those accordingly.”

Stephens also wants people to take extra notice if they drive a car that does not automatically turn on its lights, and to be sure you activate them when turning on your windshield-wipers.

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