THP District 3 Captain Danny Wilson and Montgomery County Sheriff Norman Lewis join members of the Kentucky State Police to launch the Click It or Ticket Hands Across the Border enforcement effort.

Nashville, Tennessee --- The Governor's Highway Safety Office, in cooperation with the Tennessee Highway Patrol and statewide law enforcement agencies, will lead this year's annual multi-jurisdictional safety education and enforcement effort called Hands Across the Border. Hands Across the Border is designed to bring awareness to this year's national Click It or Ticket mobilization. For the first time, agencies in Kentucky , Virginia , North Carolina , Georgia , Alabama , Mississippi and Missouri will join forces with the Volunteer State in a pledge to actively enforce safety belt laws, increase safety patrols and conduct sobriety checkpoints during the heavily traveled summer months.

"Our goal is to boost the state's 72% safety belt usage rate and reduce fatalities," said Chuck Taylor, Director of the Governor's Highway Safety Office. "Motor vehicle crashes continue to be the leading cause of death for every age, 3 through 33, in the United States . These figures have greater meaning given that nearly all vehicle crashes are preventable."

Preliminary data reports Tennessee marked the four-month summer period of 2004 with 16,996 crashes of which 355 were fatal crashes resulting in 398 deaths. Of these fatalities, 192 were not wearing a safety belt. "We've seen first hand the severe injury and death that often result from major traffic infractions," says Department of Safety Commissioner Fred Phillips. "Because of that, law enforcement officials will show zero tolerance this summer for anyone not buckled up, speeding, or driving impaired." Tennessee Highway Patrol Colonel Lynn Pitts agreed, saying, "We want the traveling public to buckle up and practice safe driving habits - every trip, every time."

Media events will be held throughout Tennessee bringing together troopers, local officers, government agencies and traffic safety advocates across all eight states to formally announce plans to promote strict adherence to all traffic laws. The night prior to each press event, sobriety checkpoints will be conducted along Tennessee's borders in unison with neighboring states.

Hands Across the Border was created in 1991 by safety advocates across the Southeast to bring about awareness of safety belt and aggressive driving concerns. Participating state and local enforcement agencies sponsor education and community outreach events where motorists learn about the dangers of impaired driving and violating the speed limit as well as the importance of obeying all occupant protection laws.

Hands Across the Borders
May 2005
Schedule of Events

The Tennessee Department of Safety's mission is (www.tennessee.gov/safety) to ensure the safety and general welfare of the public. The department encompasses the Tennessee Highway Patrol, Office of Homeland Security and Driver License Services. General areas of responsibility include law enforcement, safety education, motorist services and terrorism prevention.