Mount Airy police are participating in a statewide campaign aimed at encouraging drivers to obey the speed limit.

Operation Slow Down/No Need 2 Speed kicked off Wednesday in Raleigh and will run through Nov. 29 across North Carolina.

Locally during the program, which is now in its third year, officers are increasing their visibility on roadways and taking other steps to prevent injuries and property damage from motor vehicle accidents.

“We’ll do saturation patrols and selective enforcement in the areas we identify as hot spots for traffic accidents,” said Lt. Jim Armbrister of the Mount Airy Police Department’s Community Services Division.

The targeted locations include school zones, bus stops and residential areas, which will receive extra patrols during key periods. Police also will focus on arteries such as U.S. 601, U.S. 52 and Renfro Street, Armbrister said.

“One of our goals is to have a presence in these areas,” he added. “It’s not a ticket-count thing — it’s how many accidents can we avoid?”

A main objective of the campaign is to increase public awareness so motorists control their own behavior and prevent traffic violations and accidents.

Armbrister explained that throughout the Operation Slow Down/No Need 2 Speed period, city police simply will be stepping up activities they engage in normally.

“It’s a daily thing for us,” he said. “It’s a special recognized program, but it’s something our officers do on a daily basis 24 hours a day.”

In addition to Mount Airy Police Department efforts, the N.C. Highway Patrol will be focusing on drivers exceeding posted speed limits on interstates and major four-lane highways during the campaign.