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On April 22, the Tennessee Highway Safety Office (THSO) announced results from its 2025 annual roadside observational survey to determine the state’s average seat belt usage rate. The survey, conducted during March, April, and May of last year, returned a statewide usage rate of 91.3%. This represents a decrease of approximately 0.9%. compared to Tennessee’s 2024 survey result of 92.2%; however, the 2025 survey result is above the national average of 90%. Tennessee’s 2025 survey result is its fourth-highest annual seat belt usage rate and marks the seventh consecutive statewide observational survey with a rate exceeding 90%.

On Wednesday, April 1, the Tennessee Highway Safety Office (THSO) and Tennessee Highway Patrol (THP), divisions of the Tennessee Department of Safety and Homeland Security, partnered with Tennessee Department of Transportation (TDOT), local law enforcement, and other traffic safety partners for “Operation Hands Free” to crack down on violators of Tennessee’s Hands-Free Law during National Distracted Driving Awareness Month. To kick off the campaign, the THSO hosted press events in Nashville, Memphis, Chattanooga, and Knoxville followed by distracted driving enforcement bus tours.

From March 26 to March 28, the Tennessee Highway Safety Office (THSO) will partner with the Robertson County Joint Traffic Task Force for “Operation Safe RobCo,” a multi-jurisdictional initiative to reduce traffic fatalities in Robertson County. Participating agencies will increase enforcement of all hazardous traffic violations. Drivers are reminded to obey all traffic laws, signs, and signals to lower the risk of traffic crashes, injuries, or fatalities.

On Friday, February 6, the Tennessee Highway Safety Office (THSO) and the Tennessee Highway Patrol (THP), divisions of the Tennessee Department of Safety and Homeland Security, partnered with the Tennessee Titans, the Tennessee Sheriffs’ Association, and the Tennessee Association of Chiefs of Police for a press event to remind citizens that “Fans Don’t Let Fans Drive Drunk,” ahead of Super Bowl weekend. Additional organizations in attendance included the Tennessee Department of Transportation, the Nashville Department of Transportation, the Mothers Against Drunk Driving (MADD), Alliance Highway Safety, and Choices Matter.

Tennessee recorded a significant decline in traffic fatalities in 2025, with 147 fewer roadway deaths than the previous year, according to year end data released by the Tennessee Department of Safety and Homeland Security. The Tennessee Fatality Analysis Reporting System shows 1,045 traffic fatalities statewide in 2025, down from 1,194 in 2024, a reduction of approximately 14 percent.

From Dec. 1 – 5, the Tennessee Highway Safety Office (THSO) is promoting Older Driver Safety Awareness Week to help reduce traffic crashes, injuries, and fatalities involving older drivers across Tennessee roadways. The THSO is offering safe driving tips to help educate older drivers and their families about the heighten risks as drivers age.

Today, Commissioner Jeff Long of the Tennessee Department of Safety and Homeland Security (TDSOHS) and Tennessee Highway Patrol (THP) Colonel Matt Perry joined multiple law enforcement partners to announce the “Tennessee Safe Thanksgiving Travel Challenge Initiative.”

On Monday, Sept. 29, the Tennessee Highway Safety Office (THSO), a division of the Tennessee Department of Safety and Homeland Security, joined the Tennessee Association of Chiefs of Police (TACP) at Nashville Auto-Diesel College (NADC) for a “Seat Belts Save Lives” event to showcase the THSO’s four new seat belt convincers purchased through THSO grant funds to be utilized for community outreach. The THSO will now have eight seat belt convincers to utilize statewide, expanding opportunities for traffic safety education.

As Child Passenger Safety Week is recognized nationwide this week, the Tennessee Department of Safety and Homeland Security is reminding families that car seats save lives. New crash data from the department shows toddlers under age 4 are 85 percent more likely to die or suffer serious injury in a crash if they are not properly restrained.

On Thursday, August 28, the Tennessee Highway Safety Office (THSO), a division of the Tennessee Department of Safety and Homeland Security (TDOSHS), announced $33.5 million in federal grant funds to be distributed statewide from the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) for the 2025–2026 federal fiscal year.

Today, the Tennessee Highway Safety Office (THSO) announced award recipients from its 37th Annual Tennessee Lifesavers Conference and 21st Annual Law Enforcement Challenge held Aug. 6 – 8, 2025. Agencies and individuals were recognized for excelling in child passenger safety, drug recognition, teen driver safety, traffic enforcement, and more.

Drivers who feel the need for speed better hit the brakes or be ready to see blue lights in their rear-view mirror during Operation Southern Slow Down. From July 14 to July 20, this speed enforcement campaign returns in five southeastern states: Alabama, Florida, Georgia, South Carolina, and Tennessee. To kick off the campaign, the Tennessee Highway Safety Office (THSO), a division of the Tennessee Department of Safety and Homeland Security, held press events in Franklin, Collierville, Chattanooga, Knoxville, and Kingsport to remind drivers to slow down.

During Independence Day weekend, the Tennessee Highway Safety Office (THSO), a division of the Tennessee Department of Safety and Homeland Security, will join Tennessee Highway Patrol and local law enforcement for “Safe on Seventy,” a campaign to increase traffic enforcement across U.S. Highway 70 statewide. U.S. Highway 70 stretches from West to East Tennessee spanning 500 miles across 21 counties, including Davidson County, Dickson, Cheatham, Wilson, Shelby, Fayette, Tipton, DeKalb, Cumberland, Roane, Loudon, Knox, Sevier, Jefferson, and more.

On Thursday, May 29, the Tennessee Highway Safety Office (THSO), a division of the Tennessee Department of Safety and Homeland Security, joined NASCAR driver Ross Chastain for a traffic safety event, reminding attendees to “Use Your Melon” and never drink and drive. This event was exclusive for students at Nashville Auto-Diesel College to help increase traffic safety education and promote safe driving behaviors.

Tennessee Secretary of State Tre Hargett, State Rep. Scott Cepicky, the Tennessee Department of Health, the Tennessee Department of Safety and Homeland Security, and AAA today urged parents and caregivers to utilize the free ‘Baby in the Back’ car hangtag program to help reduce heat-related illnesses and deaths in children during the summer months.