Blue lights monitoring Fayetteville red lights

Fayetteville has one of the highest accident rates of any city in North Carolina. Last year, more than 12,000 crashes in the city caused injury or more than $1,000 in damage, and those numbers don't include the hundreds of smaller fender-benders.

Police have launched the Crash Analysis Reduction Strategies program, or CARS, to focus on three intersections each week in marked and unmarked cars.

"The main thing we're seeing is the rear-end accidents, people not paying attention, people trying to rush through a light, not paying attention when someone stops on a yellow and rear-ends," Sgt. Richard Silverest said.

CARS began two weeks ago, and police check crash reports to determine where to ramp up patrols.

Last week, police issued 13 citations to drivers at Skibo Road and Swain Street, 23 citations at Cliffdale and Skibo roads and 51 at Sycamore Dairy and McPherson Church roads.

The three intersections had only one collision among them during the week.

"We've been focusing on people's speed coming up to the intersection, seat belt violations (and), of course, the red-light violations," Silverest said.

Country Club and Murchison roads is one of the intersections targeted this week. Driver Harry Davis said he often sees collisions there.

"People (are) trying to beat the light because there are so many people. It's bumper to bumper," Davis said. "People (are) trying to outrun the light. Just take your time. Go when you're supposed to, and stop when you're supposed to."