Sharp Decline in Traffic Fatalities Over Thanksgiving Holiday Weekend

Nashville, Tennessee —Preliminary reports indicate five people were killed during the long holiday weekend, compared with 20 fatalities during last year’s Thanksgiving holiday.  Statistics for the 2007 Thanksgiving holiday reflect the time period from 6:00 p.m., Wednesday, November 21, 2007, to midnight Sunday, November, 25, 2007.

If preliminary figures hold true, five would be the fewest number of fatalities ever recorded during a Thanksgiving holiday by the Tennessee Department of Safety.  Prior to the recent holiday, the lowest number of deaths during the same 102-hour time period occurred during the 1983 Thanksgiving holiday when seven people were killed.  The highest number of people killed during a Thanksgiving holiday period happened in 1966.  Thirty-four people were killed in crashes on Tennessee roadways that year.

This year, there were five fatal crashes, two of which were pedestrians.  Four fatalities were in single vehicle crashes; one was a multiple vehicle crash.  Alcohol was involved in two of those crashes.  Of the three motor vehicle occupants killed, none was wearing a seat belt.

Over the long holiday weekend, the Tennessee Highway Patrol conducted more than 70 sobriety and driver license checkpoints across the state.  Fifty-four drivers were arrested for driving under the influence.  Over the four-day holiday weekend, Tennessee State Troopers issued more than 5,300 citations, including 2,795 for hazardous moving violations, 506 for seat belt and child restraint violations and 2,530 for non-moving violations, as part of a stepped-up enforcement campaign.

Beginning Monday, November 19, through Sunday, November 25, the Tennessee Highway Patrol joined Alabama and Mississippi in a joint, tri-state initiative dubbed “Take Back Our Highways.”  The initiative, designed to reduce traffic fatalities, placed all available law enforcement officers on patrol duty during the week. The THP also took part in a coast-to-coast campaign, Operation C.A.R.E., Wednesday, November 21, placing a Trooper every 10 miles the entire length of Interstate 40.

A preliminary holiday statistical report, including the locations of where the fatal crashes occurred over the 2007 Thanksgiving holiday period, accompanies this release. Please note the official traffic fatality count may rise due to delays in reporting and classification of traffic fatalities.