Boats restricted to stop highway flashing

CORNELIUS, N.C., March 12 (UPI) -- North Carolina transportation officials said they are taking steps to prevent female boaters from slowing traffic by flashing their breasts to truck drivers.

The North Carolina Department of Transportation said buoys are being installed in Lake Norman to keep motorists on Interstate 77 from being distracted by boaters in an area famous among truckers for women exposing their breasts to drivers, the Lake Norman News reported Tuesday.

"We've been working with the Lake Norman Marine Commission to install buoys in the lake around the causeway, which state that boats cannot stop and anchor between the buoys and the causeway," said Timothy Kirk, operations engineer for DOT. "This was done to prevent boats close to the causeway from creating opportunities for drivers on I-77 to rubberneck and take their attention away from the roadway."

Officials said they are hoping the anchor restrictions will prevent traffic delays and reduce the risk of crashes from distracted drivers.

"I think it's an excellent solution to the problem," Cornelius Police Chief Bence Hoyle said. "Keeping it enforced takes a lot of time, but [the police department] has jumped on it and helped get the message out there. All in all, a good solution to a persistent and dangerous problem."