THP Joins Click It or Ticket 2010 to Reduce Traffic Crash Deaths
Friday, May 21, 2010 | 11:08am
THP Warns Motorists Face Stepped Up Enforcement Day and Night this Memorial Weekend
NASHVILLE --- It only takes a few seconds to buckle up, avoid a ticket and possibly save your life. Yet many still fail to take the time. The Tennessee Highway Patrol is joining forces with the Governor’s Highway Safety Office and law enforcement agencies across the state and country for a high visibility Click It or Ticket enforcement campaign, urging all drivers and passengers to buckle up every time, all the time. The initiative runs May 24 through June 6, which includes the Memorial Day holiday weekend.
“Memorial Day marks the beginning of the busy summer holiday travel season and is the perfect time to remind drivers and their passengers, especially in rural areas where seat belt usage is low, that they need to buckle up every time they get in a vehicle,” said Safety Commissioner Dave Mitchell. “Motorists should be prepared for stepped up Click It or Ticket activities that will take place around the clock.”
Preliminary figures show that 989 people were killed on Tennessee roadways in 2009. Of the 820 people killed in passenger vehicle crashes, more than half of them were not wearing seat belts. Of those unrestrained vehicle occupants, 216 were killed during nighttime hours versus 195 during the daytime hours.
“Nighttime drivers and passengers continue to be among those least likely to wear seat belts,” stated THP Colonel Mike Walker. “Consequently, they are also among those most likely to die in motor vehicle crashes. That’s why the Tennessee Highway Patrol is conducting enhanced nighttime enforcement of seat belt laws during the May 24-June 6, 2010, Click It or Ticket campaign.”
In 2009, 388 people in passenger vehicles died in motor vehicle crashes in Tennessee between the nighttime hours of 6 p.m. and 5:59 a.m. According to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA), nearly two-thirds (64%) of those killed in traffic crashes at night nationwide were not wearing their seat belts, compared to less than half (45%) of the passenger vehicle occupants killed during the daytime hours of 6 a.m. to 5:59 p.m. According to NHTSA, when worn correctly, seat belts have been proven to reduce the risk of fatal injury to front-seat passenger car occupants by 45 percent, and by 60 percent in pickup trucks, SUVs and minivans.
“Seat belts are the single most effective piece of safety equipment in a vehicle, but nearly one of out five people still fail to buckle up” added Colonel Walker. “Seat belts clearly save lives. Unfortunately, too many folks still need to be reminded of that, so we will be out in force, day and night, buckling down on those who do not buckle up.”
Sixteen people were killed on Tennessee roadways during the 2009 Memorial Day holiday weekend. That’s up from 13 fatalities in 2008. Last year, alcohol was involved in three of the fatal crashes, and 50 percent of the vehicle occupants killed were not wearing seat belts. During the 78-hour holiday time period, one pedestrian, one bicyclist, and two motorcyclists were killed.
The Click It or Ticket initiative runs through the Memorial Day holiday, and drivers can expect to see plenty of Troopers on the road enforcing seat belt laws and looking for aggressive and impaired drivers. More than 70 checkpoints are scheduled throughout the long holiday weekend in an effort to reduce fatalities and serious injury crashes in the state. The 2010 Memorial Day holiday period begins at 6:00 p.m., Friday May 28, and will end at 11:59 p.m., Monday, May 31, 2009. A list of the times and locations of scheduled checkpoints is provided below. A 2009 Memorial Holiday statistical report is also attached.
May 17-23, 2010, the Tennessee Highway Patrol joins 51 law enforcement agencies in 19 rural Tennessee counties for a high visibility rural road enforcement blitz aimed at low seat belt usage. The counties include: Anderson, Bledsoe, Clay, DeKalb, Fentress, Franklin, Jackson, Jefferson, Grundy, Macon, Marion, Monroe, Morgan, Overton, Pickett, Sequatchie, Smith, Wayne and White. In 2008, 62 percent of Tennessee fatalities occurred in rural areas and 72 percent of pickup truck occupants killed in traffic crashes were not wearing safety restraints. For more information, visit www.NHTSA.gov
The Tennessee Highway Patrol is also teaming up with the Alabama Department of Public Safety and the Mississippi Highway Patrol in a tri-state effort to “Take Back Our Highways,” May 22-31. Tennessee Troopers will take part in targeted patrols of major corridors and high-crash roadways traveled by motorists during the Memorial day holiday period.
In 2010, preliminary statistics indicate 344 people have died on Tennessee roadways, a decline of 12 deaths compared to 358 fatalities at this same time in 2009. During the 2009 Memorial Day holiday, the Department of Safety launched its Traffic Fatality Victims’ Memorial. Nearly one thousand people die each year on Tennessee roadways, and the online memorial is designed to give family members of those killed an opportunity to memorialize and remember their loved ones. For more information regarding the TN Department of Safety Traffic Fatality Victims’ Memorial, please visit our website at http://www.tn.gov/safety/pubsafety/fatalitymemorial.html
The Tennessee Department of Safety’s (www.TN.Gov/safety) mission is 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.
TENNESSEE DEPARTMENT OF SAFETY
DRIVER LICENSE & SOBRIETY CHECKPOINTS
DIST. 1 KNOXVILLE Friday, May 28: SOBRIETY CHECKPOINT SEVIER COUNTY VETERANS BLVD @ MIDDLECREEK RD MORNING SOBRIETY CHECKPOINT KNOX COUNTY NORTHSHORE DR @ CONCORD RD EVENING SOBRIETY CHECKPOINT LOUDON COUNTY 411 NORTH OF MONORE CO. LINE EVENING DL CHECKPOINT ANDERSON COUNTY NEW ANDERSON @ TVA EVENING DL CHECKPOINT CAMPBELL COUNTY SR 116 @ LITTLE COVE CREEK EVENING DL CHECKPOINT SEVIER COUNTY GOOSE GAP RD. @ # NEWS ERA RD EVENING DL CHECKPOINT ROANE COUNTY FIST HEIGHTS RD AFTERNOON DL CHECKPOINT UNION COUNTY SHARPS CHAPEL RD @ LEADMINE BEND RD MORNING Saturday, May 29: SOBRIETY CHECKPOINT SEVIER COUNTY SR 338 @ ROBERTS RD EVENING Sunday, May 30: DL CHECKPOINT SEVIER COUNTY SR 339 @ HARRISBURG EVENING Monday, May 31: DL CHECKPOINT LOUDON COUNTY HWY 444 @ CLEAR CREEK BOAT AFTERNOON DL CHECKPOINT SEVIER COUNTY SR 139 @ AMANDA LANE EVENING Tuesday, June 1:
DL CHECKPOINT MONROE COUNTY SR 139 @ AMANDA LANE EVENING
DIST. 2 CHATTANOOGA
Friday, May 28: SOBRIETY CHECKPOINT HAMILTON COUNTY HICKORY VALLEY @ CHRUCH EVENING SOBRIETY CHECKPOINT GRUNDY COUNTY HWY 56 @ SUMMERFIELD RD MORNING DL CHECKPOINT SEQUATCHIE COUNTY HIGHWAY 399 @ FREDONIA RD EVENING DL CHECKPOINT POLK COUNTY US HIGHWAY 411 SOUTH OF BENTON AFTERNOON DL CHECKPOINT MCMINN COUNTY HIGHWAY 68 @ BUEHLA BAPTIST CHURCH AFTERNOON Sunday, May 29: SOBRIETY CHECKPOINT GRUNDY COUNTY HIGHWAY 56 @ CLOUSE HILL RD EVENING SOBRIETY CHECKPOINT MCMINN COUNTY HWY 30 @ DENSO DR EVENING DIST. 3 NASHVILLE Friday, May 28: SOBRIETY CHECKPOINT WILSON COUNTY HWY 109 @ ACADEMY RD EVENING SOBRIETY CHECKPOINT ROBERTSON COUNTY HWY 431 @ MM 4 EVENING SOBRIETY CHECKPOINT STEWART COUNTY FT HENRY RD 1 MILE NORTH OF HWY 79 EVENING DL CHECKPOINT MONTGOMERY COUNTY SR 374 NEAR LAFAYETTE RD MORNING DL CHECKPOINT CHEATHAM COUNTY HWY 12 N & GOSSETT RD MORNING DL CHECKPOINT WILLIAMSON COUNTY HWY 431 @ SR 840 EVENING Saturday, May 29: SOBRIETY CHECKPOINT RUTHERFORD COUNTY HWY 96 EAST @ BRADLEY EVENING Monday, May 31: SOBRIETY CHECKPOINT SUMNER COUNTY HIGHWAY 31 @ HWY 231 MORNING DL CHECKPOINT DICKSON COUNTY YELLOW CREEK RD @ POND SWITCH MORNING DL CHECKPOINT DICKSON COUNTY HWY 250 @ NOSEGAY RD MORNING DIST. 4 MEMPHIS Friday, May 28: SOBRIETY CHECKPOINT SHELBY COUNTY SR 14 SOUTH OF PLEASANT RIDGE EVENING SOBRIETY CHECKPOINT OBION COUNTY SR 213 .5 M NORTH OF MM 4 EVENING
DL CHECKPOINT HARDEMAN COUNTY SR 100 @ MM 5 AFTERNOON DL CHECKPOINT LAUDERDALE COUNTY SR 19 WEST OF HYDE ROAD MORNING DL CHECKPOINT OBION COUNTY SR 431 @ AIRPORT ROAD MORNING
Sunday, May 30:
SOBRIETY CHECKPOINT HARDEMAN COUNTY SR 100 @ MM 5 EVENING
Monday, May 31:
SOBRIETY CHECKPOINT HAYWOOD COUNTY SR 76 NORTH OF SR 179 EVENING
DIST. 5 FALL BRANCH
Friday, May 28:
SOBRIETY CHECKPOINT CLAIBORNE COUNTY U.S.HWY 25 E @ SR 58 EVENING SOBRIETY CHECKPOINT SULLIVAN COUNTY SR 93 .1 MILE NORTH OF REGIONAL PARK D EVENING DL CHECKPOINT CARTER COUNTY SR 67 NEAR SHOOK BRANCH RECREATION AREA AFTERNOON DL CHECKPOINT COCKE COUNTY DENTON RD @ I-40 EVENING DL CHECKPOINT WASHINGTON COUNTY SR 81 @ MM 8 AFTERNOON
Saturday, May 29: DL CHECKPOINT CARTER COUNTY US HWY 321 .5 M SOUTH MM 3 AFTERNOON DL CHECKPOINT HANCOCK COUNTY SR 31 @ MM 7 EVENING
Monday, May 31:
DL CHECKPOINT COCKE COUNTY U.S. HIGHWAY 25-E @ PICNIC TABLE MORNING DL CHECKPOINT HAWKINS COUNTY SR 66 @ ROCK CUT EVENING DIST. 6 COOKEVILLE Friday, May 28: SOBRIETY CHECKPOINT PUTNAM COUNTY SR 56 @ US 70 EVENING DL CHECKPOINT PUTNAM COUNTY US 70 NORTH @ DRY VALLEY EVENING DL CHECKPOINT SMITH COUNTY SR 53 SOUTH .5 MILE N OF MM 4 AFTERNOON DL CHECKPOINT SMITH COUNTY SR 264 .3 MILE SOUTHOF MM 5 MORNING DL CHECKPOINT JACKSON COUNTY SR 56 @ NORTH BRIDGE AFTERNOON DL CHECKPOINT JACKSON COUNTY SR 53 @ SURGAR CREEK MORNING DL CHECKPOINT MACON COUNTY HWY 52 @ MM 8 EVENING DL CHECKPOINT TROUSDALE COUNTY HWY 25 E @ HALLTOWN RD EVENING Sunday, May 30:
DL CHECKPOINT PICKETT COUNTY CLARK MTN RD @ VIRGIL WALKER RD MORNING
Monday, May 31:
DL CHECKPOINT CUMBERLAND COUNTY HWY 70 @ SHAFFER’S ROCK MORNING DL CHECKPOINT WHITE COUNTY HWY 70 E @ FLAT ROCK RD EVENING DIST. 7 LAWRENCEBURG Monday, May 24: DL CHECKPOINT MARSHALL COUNTY HWY 99 @ 7 MM MORNING Friday, May 28: DL CHECKPOINT LEWIS COUNTY HWY 99 @ 14 MM MORNING DL CHECKPOINT LINCOLN COUNTY HWY 121 @ 0 MM AFTERNOON DL CHECKPOINT MARSHALL COUNTY HWY 99 @ 2.5 MM MORNING DL CHECKPOINT MAURY COUNTY HWY 166 SOUTH
Monday, May 31:
DL CHECKPOINT LINCOLN COUNTY HWY 64 @ 26.5 MM AFTERNOON DL CHECKPOINT LAWRENCE COUNTY HWY 241 @ 6.5 MM EVENING DIST. 8 JACKSON Friday, May 28: SOBRIETY CHECKPOINT HARDIN COUNTY HWY 57 & 128 EVENING DL CHECKPOINT HARDIN COUNTY HWY 57 & 142 EVENING
Saturday, May 29:
SOBRIETY CHECKPOINT MADISON COUNTY HWY 45E @ TURKEY CREEK EVENING
Sunday, May 30
DL CHECKPOINT MADISON COUNTY SR 198 @ MIFFLIN RD AFTERNOON
Monday, May 31:
SOBRIETY CHECKPOINT GIBSON COUNTY US 45 BYPASS TRENTON AFTERNOON SOBRIETY CHECKPOINT WEAKLEY COUNTY SR 54 @ MM 18 AFTERNOON SOBRIETY CHECKPOINT HENDERSON COUNTY SR 200 MM 10 @ CITY LIMITS EVENING
DL CHECKPOINT CARROLL COUNTY SR 423 @ FIELDS SCHOOL RD EVENING DL CHECKPOINT HENRY COUNTY E. ANTIOCH RD. & BULL DURHAM RD EVENING DL CHECKPOINT HENDERSON COUNTY SR 22 MM 18@ CHAROLAIS BOTTOM EVENING