Tennessee Governor’s Highway Safety Office Works to Save Lives on Rural Roads

Law Enforcement Buckles Down on Rural Motorists Not Buckled Up Through

 

Nashville, TN – In an effort to save lives in Tennessee, the Governor’s Highway Safety Office is working with rural law enforcement agenciesto conduct a special high-visibility Click It or Ticket enforcement campaign this May. The agencies are joining forces with the U.S. Department of Transportation’s National Highway Traffic Safety Administration, and state and local highway safety and law enforcement leaders across Tennessee.

 

Beginning May 17, the special rural roads enforcement campaign, which will take place in addition to the traditional Click It or Ticket enforcement activities during the Memorial Day holiday, will buckle down on all motorists not buckling up, especially in rural areas. Rural law enforcement agencies joining the life saving effort include the Jefferson County Sheriff’s Office, Jefferson City Police Department, Dandridge Police Department, Blount County Sheriff’s Office, Alcoa Police Department, Anderson County Sheriff’s Office, Oak Ridge Police Department, Norris Police Department, Wartburg Police Department, Monroe County Sheriff’s Office, Sweetwater Police Department and Tellico Plains Police Department.  

 

“Seat belts clearly save lives,” said Governor’s Highway Safety Office Director Kendell Poole.  “Unfortunately, too many people in Tennessee, especially in rural areas, are not using these life saving devices.  So this May, we’re committed to doing everything we can to convince drivers that regular seat belt use is the single most effective way to protect people and reduce fatalities in motor vehicle crashes.”

 

The enforcement blitz is in response to recent NHTSA findings that showed fatal crashes in rural areas account for more than half of all traffic fatalities even though only approximately a quarter of the U.S. population lives in rural areas. 

 

In Tennessee during 2008, 62 percent, or nearly two-thirds, of the 776 passenger vehicle occupant deaths occurred in a rural area. Low seat belt use, particularly in pickup trucks, is a serious problem.  In Tennessee, 72 percent of pickup truck occupants killed in a traffic crash were not restrained at the time of the crash. In addition to those drivers and passengers in rural areas, others most at risk of experiencing a fatal crash are teen drivers – particularly young males and young pickup truck drivers and passengers. 

 

“Just remember. No more warnings. No more excuses. No matter who you are or where you are on the road, but especially in Tennessee’s rural areas, if you don’t want to risk a ticket—or more importantly, your life—Click It or Ticket,” reminded Tennessee Highway Patrol Knoxville District Captain Cheryl Sanders.

 

For more information, please visit www.tn.gov/tdot/ClickItorTicket/, www.region4ruralbeltproject.org, or www.NHTSA.gov.

 

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