First Sergeant Justin Dodson has traveled most of North Carolina in his 14 years with the Highway Patrol. His latest assignment which included a promotion has landed him in the Elkin Patrol Office leading the Patrol's Surry and Yadkin efforts.

Dodson, 36, comes to Elkin by way of Walnut Cove in Stokes County where he was a 1990 graduate of South Stokes High School.

Upon entering the Highway Patrol in 1994 at age 21 he served his first eight years in Greensboro and Guilford County.

In 2002 he was promoted to Line Sergeant and transferred to Roanoke Rapids in the northeast corner of the state. His last tour before landing in Elkin was in Rocky Mount from 2005 until February when he was able to move home and head up the Elkin operations.

When asked his plans for the area, Dodson was adamant about the Patrol's efforts in what he described as, "High Collision Corridors."

As Dodson explained the objectives of the Patrolmen working the roads, he pointed out that, "Our main focus is safety. What people don't realize is when you ride in a vehicle you have a great risk of injury; so we work against not only the drunk drivers and speeders but any and all causes of accidents."

"Day to day we analyze information as to when and where accidents are happening so we can be in place to prevent them," he said.

"At the Patrol we take the loss of life very seriously," Dodson stressed. "Prevention is our main goal, and presence is key"

"If the Patrol can look where accidents are happening," Dodson explained, "and be in those areas, so motorist are aware of our presence, it can lead people to better driving; to be more aware of there surroundings."

Dodson complimented the efforts of the Surry Yadkin Patrol in the realms of prevention of fatal accidents in the area.

"Through June of 2007 there were nine fatalities on the roads of Surry and Yadkin," Dodson said, "but in that same time period this year there have been only four."

"We have troopers that try and focus on DWI's and those that target speeders," Dodson added, "but we all have one ultimate goal of highway safety."

In addition to the efforts the Patrol makes, First Sergeant Dodson also asks that the public to be aware of the increase in motorcycle, scooter and pedestrian traffic.

"With gas prices where they are those modes of transportation are increasing rapidly. At intersections make sure you look for motorcycles and scooters which can be hard to see if you are not looking for them; and when you are making left hand turns."

Dodson recalled a bumper sticker on a scooter he got behind a few weeks ago.

"The sticker said "100 Miles Per Gallon," and with the way things are right now there will only be more of those on the road."