SMITHFIELD, N.C. — The next time you drive through Johnston County you should feel a little safer on the road.
Tuesday, the county started a new 911 service that can detect where cell phone calls are coming from. It is the first system of its kind in the state.
Emergency crews said that information will save them critical response time.
"Within Interstate 95 and Interstate 40, U.S. 70 and U.S. 301, we get about 50 percent of all our 911 calls from a cell phone," said Jason Barbour, Johnston County 911 director.
Right now, only Sprint PCS phones will work with the service. County leaders hope other carriers will sign up soon.
The program costs about $270,000 and is funded by surcharges on local phone bills.
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