On December 11, 2013, the Town of Cornelius was named an Outstanding Traffic Safe Community for their population at the 2013 North Carolina Traffic Safe Community Awards by the AAA Carolinas Foundation for Traffic Safety. Patrolman Vaughn Griffin accepted the award during a ceremony at the Washington Duke Inn and Golf Club in Durham. In all, 14 total North Carolina locations were honored during the 10th annual awards luncheon hosted by the AAA Carolinas' Foundation for Traffic Safety. This is the 4th time Cornelius has received this recognition.

"The AAA Carolinas Foundation for Traffic Safety continues to tackle the deadly practice of texting while driving, especially among teen drivers, a group who has grown up continuously connected to cell phones and computers," said Angela Vogel Daley, president of AAA Carolinas Traffic Safety Foundation. "AAA Carolinas' goal is to create a culture change among teens concerning texting while driving."

The annual Traffic Safe Community Awards are presented in an effort to recognize those cities and towns offering programs and initiatives that make roads safer in the Carolinas.