Safety Department Releases Memorial Weekend Statistics

NASHVILLE, Tenn., — The Tennessee Department of Safety announced Friday that 15 people were killed in traffic crashes in Tennessee during the 78-hour Memorial Day holiday period.  That is down from the 16 deaths during the Memorial Day holiday period in 2006 and 20 deaths in 2005.

Department of Safety Commissioner David Mitchell said, “Rigorous enforcement through sobriety and driver license checkpoints across the state is making an impact on the reduction of fatalities and serious injury crashes in Tennessee.”

During the holiday weekend from Friday, May 25 through Monday May 28, The Tennessee Highway Patrol deployed Troopers to more than 70 checkpoints in 8 THP districts across the state in an effort to reduce fatalities and serious injury crashes in Tennessee.  Only two of the 15 fatalities across the state occurred in alcohol-related crashes.  Four motorcyclists were killed, one ATV driver and one pedestrian were among the fifteen deaths.  In 2006, six of the deaths, or 37.5%, occurred in alcohol-related crashes.

THP Commander Colonel Mike Walker said, “Nationally in 2005, 77 percent of the passenger vehicle occupants in fatal crashes who were buckled up survived the crash.  Seat belt use is the single most effective way to protect you and reduce fatalities in motor vehicle crashes,” Walker added.  “That’s why we stress “Click It or Ticket” to save lives.”  Despite Tennessee’s Primary Seat Belt Usage law, Colonel Walker stressed, “Two-thirds of vehicle occupants who died in Tennessee in 2007 were not restrained.”

During the 2007 Memorial Weekend enforcement period, Troopers made the following arrests and citations:

DUI Arrests                                     61
Speeding Citations                  2,224
Safety Belt Citations                    788
Child Restraint Citations            219
Other Citations                          2,379

The 78-hour, 2007 Memorial Day holiday period began at 6:00pm, Friday May 25, and ended at 11:59, Monday, May 28.

The Tennessee Department of Safety (www.tennessee.gov/safety) is responsible for ensuring the safety and general welfare of the traveling public.  The department’s general areas of responsibility include law enforcement, safety education and motorist services including the issuance of driver licenses.  The department and its highly trained staff of Troopers are responsible for safety on more than 15,000 miles of state and federal highways.