North Carolina Driver’s Licenses Will Look And Sound Different Soon
Except for my very first driver’s license or the one when I turned 21, I never paid much attention. But, North Carolina driver’s licenses will look, feel and sound very…
Except for my very first driver's license or the one when I turned 21, I never paid much attention. But, North Carolina driver's licenses will look, feel and sound very different soon. Yes, I said 'sound.'
What's Different About New North Carolina Driver's Licenses
According to WCNC, the new North Carolina driver's licenses will not only be made of a stronger, heavier material, but they will have more than 50 features to hopefully stop fraud.
The new material for the North Carolina driver's licenses is described as a polycarbonate plastic that will feel stiff and sound metallic when dropped on a table. Some folks I know have fancy credit cards that have that sound, too!
As far as the new look for the licenses, expect the designs to feature the dogwood, a state border outline and state salamander. Who knew? Plus, your license will be laser engraved.
Reports say the new material and features are designed to help detect and prevent fraud when it comes to North Carolina driver's licenses. So, when will the new design be available?
According to WCNC, the NC Department of Motor Vehicles hopes to have the new licenses ready for drivers in June or July. However, there's no rush to replace your current license until it expires.
Also, keep in mind the 'real ID' requirement that kept getting extended goes into effect in 2025. So, you'll need the license with the star for air travel by then. Or, you can use your passport as well.
Pilot Program For Self Serve North Carolina Driver's Licenses
And, earlier this year, NC Department of Motor Vehicles launched a program allowing customers to get temporary paper licenses at self serve kiosks in grocery stores.
In order to cut down on wait times in offices, customers, as part of the pilot program, could go to participating Harris Teeter stores and renew, order a duplicate license, change addresses and apply for voter registration.
The temporary card would be good for 60 days until the permanent one arrives in the mail. The pilot program included three stores including one in Raleigh, one in Fayetteville and one in Charlotte at Riverbend Village on Smith Farm Road.
I remember more than 20 years ago while living in Georgia, the state launched a similar program. We actually walked into a Kroger and renewed our license. And, we received the hard copy from the desk at the store that same day.
So, all in all, anything that can improve the North Carolina driver's licenses process or security, I'm all for! Learn more in the full story from WCNC.
These Are The Most Dangerous Roads In North & South Carolina
Planning a road trip? You may want to avoid certain roads. These are the most dangerous roads in America. EarnSpendLive released a report of the most dangerous roads in each US state and the same interstate took the title in both North and South Carolina. The good news is, it's not one that most Charlotte area residents travel often. The bad news, if you are going farther south or north you very well may end up on it.
These days every road feels more dangerous than it did even just a few years ago. Just on my way into work this morning I saw several drivers blatantly run red lights. But there are still some safe roads out there. But others, if you can it may just be best to completely avoid. This list compiled by EarnSpendLive features the most dangerous roads in the country, based on the average number of fatalities that occur each year. Many of these roads see millions of drivers each year, making fatal crashes inevitable.
Below you will find the most dangerous roads in North and South Carolina as well as some nearby states you may find yourself driving through on your next road trip. Stay safe out there!
Most Dangerous Roads
To view the full country's list go here.
North Carolina I-95
Located in the eastern part of the state Interstate 95 is the most dangerous accounting for the most traffic fatalities. 181.71 miles of the 1,280-mile-long thoroughfare go through North Carolina. An average of 24 deaths occur annually.
South Carolina I-95
It's no surprise that 95 also is the deadliest in South Carolina. An average of 30 people die yearly on the South Carolina section of the interstate.
Georgia State Route 11
Around 14 motorists per year perish on State Route 11 the 376-mile-long highway that stretches across the entire length of the state.
Tennessee I-40
I-40 spans the entirety of the state of Tennesee so it makes sense it would be the most dangerous. But the sheer number of deaths-52 yearly- is shocking.
Virginia US 460
Driving through Virginia? Use caution on US 460 which runs 655 miles from Virginia to Kentucky. Each year there are about 21 deaths on the highway.
Florida US 1
One of the longest stretches of road in the Sunshine State takes travelers from Key West all the way up the eastern coast. US 1 isn't just the deadliest in Florida it's the worst in the entire country with 108 fatal incidents a year.
New York I-87
Northbound 1-87 begins in NYC and extends through much of rural New York. About 19 fatalities occur on the road each year.
West Virginia US-19
US Route 19 stretches 1,438 miles in total from Pennsylvania to Florida. The portion in West Virginia accounts for 11 traffic deaths per year.
