Safety and Taxis

Traffic and Safety Studies

Any location which displays a pattern of accidents may be studied for improvements.  The ongoing Safety Improvement Program is conducting studies at over 200 locations. Since 1986, the Program has prevented over 1,000 crashes, 950 injuries and saved over $1.7 million in property damage.  Projects are summarized in the Executive Summary of the 21st Annual Winston-Salem Traffic Safety Improvement Report [pdf/2.4mb/17p]. (This document requires the free Adobe Reader; download it from the Adobe web site.) The report can be viewed on line at the link provided above or in booklet form upon request.

We encourage the public to report safety problems. If you see a safety problem, please call  (336)727-2707 or e-mail Rodd Ring at the Winston-Salem Department of Transportation.

Taxicab Inspections

The Winston-Salem Department of Transportation (WSDOT) is responsible for regulating vehicle-for-hire operations in the city. Vehicles-for-hire are taxicabs, limousines and one-horse carriage companies. The inspection includes the vehicle's drivers' records, owners' records, and insurance. Owners must comply with all requirements of the City Code, Section 78. To report a concern, please call the WSDOT at (336)727-2707 or write an e-mail to Michael Harrison at WSDOT with the time of the incident, the taxicab company's name, the taxicab number, and any other relevant information.

Traffic Calming

Traffic calming is the practice of reducing vehicular speeds and/or volumes in residential neighborhoods through the use of special pavement treatments, curb and gutter placements, movement restrictions, or other roadway design methods.  Winston-Salem, like many cities in North Carolina, realizes that speeding traffic on residential streets is unacceptable and deteriorates the quality of life in our neighborhoods.  The city has informally implemented several different traffic calming treatments over the years. Please visit the Traffic Calming Policy page to view the document.