THP Gears Up for Easter Weekend Enforcement Activities
Thursday, April 21, 2011 | 05:56am
NASHVILLE – In anticipation of a busy travel weekend, the Tennessee Highway Patrol is ramping up its enforcement effort with increased patrols and sobriety checkpoints for the 2011 Easter Holiday period, beginning 12 a.m. Thursday, April 21 and concluding at 11:59 p.m. on Sunday, April 24.
“This weekend marks the unofficial start to the most active travel season in the United States,” said Department of Safety and Homeland Security Commissioner Bill Gibbons. “As the summer months approach, our Highway Patrol will be diligent in promoting safe driving campaigns and keeping Tennessee roads and its travelers safe.”
The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration reports that an estimated 32,788 people died in motor vehicle traffic crashes in 2010, a decline of about three percent from 2009 (33,808 fatalities). Tennessee fatalities increased to 1,033 in 2010, or 4.8 percent from 2009 (986 fatalities). As of April 20, 2011, there have been 216 motor vehicle traffic fatalities, compared to 296 at this time last year.
“Our troopers are committed to holiday enforcements and safe driving campaigns throughout the year,” said THP Colonel Tracy Trott. “While we never want to see any fatalities on Tennessee roadways, we are encouraged by the decline and hope to report a record low number of traffic deaths by the end of the year.”
Just four months into the year, preliminary statistics indicate that 17 motorcyclists have died on Tennessee roadways, a decrease of 14 deaths compared to 31 motorcycle fatalities at this same time a year ago. Also, rural traffic fatalities have decreased by 23.7 percent and unrestrained vehicle occupant fatalities have declined by 25.8 percent.
Ten people were killed in eight crashes on Tennessee roads during the 2010 Easter Holiday weekend. Last year, alcohol was involved in two of the fatal crashes, and 75 percent of vehicle occupants killed were not wearing seat belts.
“We hope people make smart decisions this Easter weekend,” Colonel Trott added. “Don’t drink and drive, wear your seat belts, and pay attention to the road. Our goal is for everyone to reach their destination safely.”
Statistics for the 2010 Easter Holiday period are included with this release along with a list of sobriety and driver license checkpoints scheduled throughout the weekend.
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.
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TENNESSEE DEPARTMENT OF SAFETY
DRIVER LICENSE & SOBRIETY CHECKPOINTS
DRIVER LICENSE & SOBRIETY CHECKPOINTS
DIST. 1 KNOXVILLE Friday, April 22:
Checkpoint County Road/Highway Time of Day DL CHECKPOINT ANDERSON CARROLL HOLLOW @ CARROLL HOLLOW CHURCH MORNING DL CHECKPOINT ANDERSON E. WOLF VALLEY @ WOLF VALLEY CHURCH AFTERNOON DL CHECKPOINT CAMPBELL S. 4TH STREET @ HEMLOCK STREET EVENING DL CHECKPOINT KNOX SCHAAD RD SOUTH OF PLEASANT RIDGE RD MORNING DL CHECKPOINT MONROE STATE ROUTE 72W @ LAKESIDE RD AFTERNOON DL CHECKPOINT MORGAN HWY 62 @ HWY 298 EVENING DL CHECKPOINT SCOTT STATE ROUTE 456 @ BUFFALO RD LATE MORNING
SOBRIETY SEVIER STATE ROUTE 338 @ ROBERTS RD EVENING SOBRIETY SEVIER US 441 LATE EVENING SOBRIETY UNION STATE ROUTE 61E @ TAZEWELL PK EVENING Saturday, April 23:
DL CHECKPOINT CAMPBELL LONG HOLLOW RD @ LONG HOLLOW CHURCH EVENING DL CHECKPOINT KNOX NORRIS FREEWAY @ PEDIGO LATE EVENING Sunday, April 24:
SOBRIETY LOUDON HWY 321 @ CUT THROUGH RD AFTERNOON DIST. 2 CHATTANOOGA
Friday, April 22: Checkpoint County Road/Highway Time of Day
DL CHECKPOINT MEIGS HWY 58 @ TEN MILE GROCERY AFTERNOON SOBRIETY HAMILTON LINDBERG STREET LATE EVENING SOBRIETY SEQUATCHIE US 27 @ CATES STREET LATE EVENING SOBRIETY BRADLEY US 11 SOUTH OF APD 40 LATE EVENING
Saturday, April 23: SOBRIETY COFFEE HWY 41 @ OLD HIGHLAND MOTEL LATE EVENING
DIST. 3 NASHVILLE Friday, April 22:
Checkpoint County Road/Highway Time of Day DL CHECKPOINT DAVIDSON HOBSON PIKE MORNING DL CHECKPOINT MONTGOMERY OLD HWY 48 @ SOUTHSIDE RD EVENING DL CHECKPOINT ROBERTSON KENNY’S RD @ WASHINGTON RD MORNING DL CHECKPOINT RUTHERFORD HWY 41 @ ROCKY GLAD RD AFTERNOON DL CHECKPOINT SUMNER HWY 25 @ BARRY LANE EVENING DL CHECKPOINT WILLIAMSON US 431 @ STATE ROUTE 840 MORNING
SOBRIETY HUMPHREYS HWY 79 IN MCEWIN CITY LIMITS EVENING SOBRIETY STEWART HWY 149 @ MONTGOMERY CO. LINE EVENING DIST. 4 MEMPHIS
Friday, April 22: Checkpoint County Road/Highway Time of Day
DL CHECKPOINT TIPTON STATE ROUTE 179 E/O MM 3 EVENING Saturday, April 23:
DL CHECKPOINT HAYWOOD US 70 W/O COX LANE MORNING SOBRIETY HAYWOOD STATE ROUTE 54 @ COUNTRY CLUB RD LATE EVENING
DIST. 5 FALL BRANCH Thursday, April 21:
Checkpoint County Road/Highway Time of Day DL CHECKPOINT CLAIBORNE US 25-E @ CANEY VALLEY CHURCH EVENING
Friday, April 22: Checkpoint County Road/Highway Time of Day
DL CHECKPOINT CARTER US 321 @ MM 3 MORNING DL CHECKPOINT COCKE STATE ROUTE 73 @ .1 MILE S OF 25-70 LATE EVENING DL CHECKPOINT GRAINGER OWL HOLE @ BALL FIELD LATE EVENING DL CHECKPOINT WASHINGTON SMITH STREET EVENING Saturday, April 23:
DL CHECKPOINT CLAIBORNE US 25-E @ AMERICAN CHRISTIAN EVENING DL CHECKPOINT GRAINGER STATE ROUTE 375 @ LAKESHORE BAPTIST EVENING DL CHECKPOINT HAWKINS STANLEY VALLEY @ CROUCH’S EVENING DL CHECKPOINT JEFFERSON US 11E NEAR HAMBLEN CO. LINE MORNING Sunday, April 24:
DL CHECKPOINT UNICOI HWY 81 @ SAWMILL AFTERNOON DIST. 6 COOKEVILLE
Friday, April 22: Checkpoint County Road/Highway Time of Day
DL CHECKPOINT WARREN STATE ROUTE 8 .1 MILE N OF 5 MM MORNING SOBRIETY CUMBERLAND HWY 70 E @ SHAFFER’S ROCK EVENING SOBRIETY SMITH STATE ROUTE 25 W .3 MILE E OF 2 MM EVENING SOBRIETY SMITH HWY 70 N .2 MILE W OF 17 MM EVENING SOBRIETY TROUSDALE US 231 @ BRIDGE EVENING
Saturday, April 23: DL CHECKPOINT MACON HWY 261 @ CORINTH CHURCH EVENING
Sunday, April 24: DL CHECKPOINT TROUSDALE OLD LAFAYETTE RD @ BRIDGE EVENING
DIST. 7 LAWRENCEBURG Friday, April 22:
Checkpoint County Road/Highway Time of Day DL CHECKPOINT MAURY TOM HITCH PKWY, SOUTH OF HWY 412 EVENING DL CHECKPOINT MAURY STATE ROUTE 50 @ 28 MM LATE EVENING
Saturday, April 23: DL CHECKPOINT GILES HWY 11 S @ 13 MM LATE EVENING DL CHECKPOINT MARSHALL HWY 50 @ 0 MM EVENING
DIST. 8 JACKSON Friday, April 22:
Checkpoint County Road/Highway Time of Day SOBRIETY MADISON STATE ROUTE 223 @ AIRPORT ENTRANCE EVENING
DL CHECKPOINT GIBSON US 45 BYPASS TRENTON EVENING DL CHECKPOINT WEAKLEY STATE ROUTE 54 @ 3 MM EVENING DL CHECKPOINT CARROLL STATE ROUTE 423 @ FIELDS SCHOOL RD EVENING DL CHECKPOINT HENRY US 79 SOUTH @ STEELE RD EVENING DL CHECKPOINT DECATUR STATE ROUTE 69 @ CUB CREEK EVENING DL CHECKPOINT DECATUR US 412 @ STATE ROUTE 100 EVENING DL CHECKPOINT MCNAIRY HWY 22 & HWY 57 INT. 55F EVENING SOBRIETY MCNAIRY HWY 199 @ CENTER HILL RD LATE EVENING
TENNESSEE DEPARTMENT OF SAFETY
FINAL HOLIDAY REPORT
April 20, 2011
2010 EASTER HOLIDAY
12 AM THURSDAY, APRIL 1 – 11:59 PM SUNDAY, APRIL 4
96-HOUR HOLIDAY PERIOD
- FATAL CRASHES: 8
Three crashes were single vehicle crashes; five were multiple vehicle crashes.
- FATALITIES: 10
Two (20%) of the fatalities occurred in alcohol-related crashes.
Eight of the people killed were vehicle occupants.
Six of the eight (75%) were not wearing safety restraints.
No child passengers requiring child restraint devices were killed.
Two motorcyclists were killed; both were wearing helmets.
FATALITY LOG
|
|
DAY
|
TIME
|
COUNTY
|
HIGHWAY
|
NUMBER
KILLED |
ALCOHOL
RELATED |
|
1.
|
Friday
|
11:00 AM
|
Henry
|
SR076
|
1
|
NO
|
|
2.
|
Friday
|
12:55 PM
|
Perry
|
City
|
1
|
NO
|
|
3.
|
Friday
|
5:05 PM
|
Hardin
|
SR128
|
1
|
NO
|
|
4.
|
Friday
|
7:05 PM
|
Greene
|
SR034
|
3
|
NO
|
|
5.
|
Friday
|
8:55 PM
|
McMinn
|
County
|
1
|
YES
|
|
6.
|
Saturday
|
7:19 PM
|
Montgomery
|
SR112
|
1
|
NO
|
|
7.
|
Sunday
|
3:04 AM
|
Hamilton
|
City
|
1
|
YES
|
|
8.
|
Sunday
|
4:20 PM
|
Greene
|
SR070
|
1
|
NO
|
- The number of fatalities for the 2009 96-hour holiday period was 13.