MEDIA ADVISORY: TDOT & TDOS Partner to Keep Teens “Between the Barrels”
Thursday, November 20, 2008 | 07:13am
NASHVILLE --- The Tennessee Highway Patrol and the Tennessee Department of Transportation (TDOT) will deliver the “Between the Barrels” presentation to 210 high school students at Cheatham County High School, Friday, November 21, 2008. The safe driving program is geared to students who are just learning to drive to reduce the chances of being involved in a dangerous work zone crash.
As part of the presentation, Sgt. Harold Gooding and Trooper Billy Smith will stress teen driver safety and the importance of the Move Over Law to encourage young drivers to move over or slow down when passing emergency vehicles on the roadway.
WHO: TDOT, THP Safety Education
WHAT: “Between the Barrels” Presentation
WHEN: 10:30 a.m., Friday, November 21, 2008
WHERE: Cheatham County High School, Cheatham County
One Cub Circle, Ashland City, Tenn.
This year, the TDOT “Between the Barrels” program has reached 10-thousand students in more than 25 schools with the compelling visual message—“When it comes to driving, there’s no such thing as beginner’s luck.”
According to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA), car crashes are the leading cause of fatalities among teens in the United States. Nationally, teen drivers are a four times greater risk for crashes than older adults and are involved in 15 percent of fatal crashes, but make up 6.7% of the total driving population. In 2007, 166 Tennessee teenagers were killed in motor vehicle crashes. In 2008, preliminary statistics indicate 93 teenagers between the ages of 13 and 19 have lost their lives on Tennessee roadways between January 1, 2008 and November 10, 2008.
The Tennessee Department of Safety’s mission is (www.tennessee.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.