Nashville, Tennessee --- The Tennessee Highway Patrol (THP) is cracking down on impaired driving. A special enforcement campaign is underway in counties across the state identified as high-risk areas.

THP’s Impaired Driving Enforcement campaign targets 28 counties across the state found to have the highest average of alcohol related injury and fatal traffic crashes. The counties targeted include Anderson, Bedford, Blount, Bradley, Coffee, Cumberland, Davidson, Dyer, Hamblen, Hamilton, Haywood, Henry, Knox, Lawrence, Madison, Maury, McMinn, Montgomery, Putnam, Rutherford, Sevier, Shelby, Sullivan, Sumner, Tipton, Warren, Washington and Weakley.

“By determining where the problems are the greatest, we’re able to put in place effective enforcement efforts to combat the deadly results of impaired driving,” said Tennessee Department of Safety Commissioner Fred Phillips.

As part of the campaign, Troopers concentrate on DUI and other alcohol related offenses as well as other violations that affect the safety of motorists. Various enforcement measures used in the campaign include sobriety checkpoints, enforcement roadblocks and saturation patrols.

"More than 3,000 hours of overtime will be dedicated to combating impaired driving in these high-risk counties,” said THP Colonel Lynn Pitts. Statistics tell us most of these crashes take place between 9 p.m., Friday and 3 a.m., Sunday, so Troopers will be especially vigilant during this time period."

Since the campaign’s start in October 2003, Troopers have issued 2,769 citations for DUI, speeding, safety belt and various other violations. The Impaired Driving Enforcement campaign will continue through September 2004.