Like many other states in the nation, North Carolina has been cracking down on drunk drivers in recent years. In 2013, approximately 33% of North Carolina’s traffic fatalities involved drunk drivers, and many state officials and citizens agree that this number is far too high. In an ongoing effort to try to lower the number of impairment-related deaths and accidents on the road, two new bills have recently been passed in the North Carolina House of Representatives that seek to toughen the state’s drunk driving laws.

Under current North Carolina law, a [...]

Traumatic brain injury (TBI) is a brain dysfunction caused by a mechanical blow or other outside injury to the head or body, often resulting in long-term complications or death. In the US, an average of 1.7 million people suffer from this type of injury every year, and an estimated 52,000 deaths occur. Individuals who survive a TBI may face lifelong disabilities, including impaired thinking, memory, movement, sensation, and emotional function.

BrainLine—a national multimedia project that provides information and resources on TBI—recently released a study on the leading cause of traumatic brain injuries in [...]

As a driver, there are a million things you need to be aware of. While you’re behind the wheel, you need to be watching the road in front of you, behind you, and to the side of you. You need to know all the laws of the road—when to yield, when to merge, and what the different colored lines on the road mean. And off the road, there is even more information to stay on top of—making sure your registration doesn’t run out, keeping your insurance up to date, and so on. But [...]

Spring is in the air in North Carolina, and many residents are welcoming in the warmer weather by taking their bicycles out of storage. As a mode of transportation, bicycling has numerous benefits, from enhancing health to reducing carbon emissions.

But while biking in North Carolina may be eco-friendly and health-conscious, it’s not always entirely safe. Studies have found that North Carolina has the ninth highest bicycle and pedestrian fatality rate in the country. Our roads can be perilous for cyclists, who run a higher risk of being fatally wounded when involved in [...]

The first major mistake is not taking the charge seriously. Many people dismiss shoplifting as a minor charge, assuming they will face minimal consequences if convicted for a misdemeanor crime. However, this is far from the truth—a shoplifting charge poses a serious threat to your personal and financial freedom. If convicted, you could face heavy fines, jail time, and a stain on your permanent record. You could also be sued by the owner of the store for damages in civil court.

The second major mistake that people charged with shoplifting often make is [...]