Billboard campaign drives point of cutting auto emissions

A two-year educational campaign will use billboards in 24 North Carolina counties to encourage drivers to change their habits to cut vehicle emissions.

The billboards will be throughout the Triangle, Triad, Charlotte and Asheville areas, all of which experience problems with air quality tied to emissions, officials said.

"Motor vehicles account for about half of all greenhouse gas emissions in North Carolina and up to 70 percent in urban areas. So, reaching drivers is key to addressing this issue," Transportation Secretary Tony Tata said.

The state Department of Transportation is partnering with the North Carolina Solar Center and the North Carolina Outdoor Advertising Association on the campaign.

The billboards encourage people to take actions such as using alternative fuels, taking public transit or slowing down to conserve fuel.