Nashville, Tennessee --- The Tennessee Department of Safety (TDOS) officially opened a new driver license station in Bedford County today. The 1,728 square-foot facility is located at 1304 Railroad Avenue in Shelbyville. This facility enables residents of Bedford County to receive driver license services closer to where they live and work. Operating hours are Monday through Friday from 8:30 a.m. to 5:00 p.m.

"Providing greater access to all driver license services is a top priority of the department," said Interim Safety Commissioner Gerald Nicely. "This new driver license station in Shelbyville will vastly improve our ability to assist our customers by making services more convenient to them."

The center initially opened on February 6th . Since then, it has served about 2,750 people, with an average of 49 customers per day. The increased demand for Department of Safety services in Bedford County prompted the department to open the center. According to 2004 U. S. Census estimates, the county population is more than 41,200. Almost 31,000 of those residents are licensed drivers. Between January and December of 2005, the department processed more than 11,200 transactions for applicants listing Bedford County as their county of residence.

The new facility includes an area where applicants can take written or computerized knowledge tests. This testing room will provide applicants with a quiet location away from the noise of the main waiting area. The facility will also include the Bedford County office of the Tennessee Highway Patrol, as well as the county EMS .

The Department of Safety reminds citizens they can often avoid a trip to a driver license station by visiting the department's Online Services page at http://www.tn.gov/safety/onlineservices.shtml, where many common driver license services can be completed quickly and easily. Online services include renewals, duplicates, reinstatements and change of address requests.

The Tennessee Department of Safety's mission is (www.tn.gov/safety) 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.