THP Continues to Use Enforcement Campaigns to Improve Safety
Friday, January 09, 2009 | 05:47am
NASHVILLE --- Preliminary figures indicate the number of traffic fatalities on Tennessee roadways declined sharply in 2008, and the Tennessee Department of Safety (TDOS) and the Tennessee Highway Patrol (THP) is dedicated to continuing that trend in 2009.
This year, the Tennessee Highway Patrol will once again participate in several enforcement initiatives aimed at saving lives in Tennessee.
Preliminary figures show that traffic fatalities declined by more than 200 from the previous year, from 1211 in 2007, to 1002 in 2008.
“We are encouraged that our safety messages are hitting home, but we still have a lot of work to do,” said Safety Commissioner Dave Mitchell. “Governor Phil Bredesen has made it clear that safe communities are one of his top priorities, and that includes safer highways. We will only be satisfied when no life is lost on a Tennessee roadway.”
Funding provided by the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) and distributed through the Governor’s Highway’s Safety Office (GHSO) is allowing the Tennessee Highway Patrol to continue its commitment to provide increased enforcement and public awareness and reduce the loss of life and property on Tennessee roadways.
The Alcohol Saturation Patrols (A.S.P.) Enforcement program is aimed at removing impaired drivers from the road. Despite THP’s best efforts, preliminary figures for 2007 reveal that nearly 32 percent of all fatalities were alcohol-related.
The focus of the A.S.P. program will be during holiday periods and other times during the year when traffic volume is greater and the propensity of alcohol-related crashes increases dramatically. All 95 counties will participate in the initiative, and THP will increase its visibility through saturation patrols and by conducting sobriety checkpoints.
“The sad truth is too many people are killed each year because someone makes the decision to drink and drive,” stated THP Colonel Mike Walker. “In 2007, nearly 390 people died in Tennessee in alcohol-related crashes. There is no excuse for that, and State Troopers are dedicated to putting an end to impaired driving.”
Goals of the A.S.P. program include:
· Conducting sobriety checkpoints in each THP District;
· Removing impaired drivers from roadways;
· Reducing alcohol-related fatal crashes and fatalities by five percent.
The Construction Accident Reduction (C.A.R.) program targets drivers who violate traffic laws while traveling through highway construction and work zones when road workers are present.
Tennessee continually receives national recognition for having the best roadways of any state in our country. This is something that we are very proud of. In order to ensure that our roadways remain in top condition, maintenance and construction projects are inevitable.
Goals of the C.A.R. program include:
· Providing assistance to stranded motorists;
· Increasing visibility;
· Aggressively enforcing hazardous moving violations;
· Enforcing safety belt and child passenger restraint laws;
· Reducing the total number of traffic crashes, fatalities and injuries by five percent in work
zones.
Statistics show safety belt usage in Tennessee has improved significantly since the introduction of the Primary Safety Belt Law. According to 2008 data, the safety belt usage rate in Tennessee was 81.5 percent. Despite this increase, 57.8 percent of the total passenger vehicle occupants involved in fatal crashes were not buckled up.
Statistical data also reveals that a disproportionally large number of “under 21” drivers are involved in fatal crashes. Alcohol presence and the lack of safety belt use are also indicated in many of these crashes. For this reason, THP is participating, once again, in the Strike Three Program to target young drivers who fail to wear safety belts and/or drink and drive.
“Young drivers are inexperienced, and many do not fully understand the deadly consequences of driving under the influence,” added Colonel Walker. “Funds for this program will allow additional patrols to be conducted by Troopers who will target areas frequented by young drivers. According to our preliminary data for 2008, I believe this program works. Last year we saw the number of teenagers killed in car crashes drop significantly, from 166 in 2007, to 107 in 2008.”
Goals of the Strike Three Program include:
· Improving safety belt usage by five percent to lessen the severity of crashes;
· Facilitating community meetings involving citizens, local agencies and public officials to discuss
underage drinking, Graduated Driver License laws, safety belt usage and Hazardous Moving
underage drinking, Graduated Driver License laws, safety belt usage and Hazardous Moving
Violations;
· Enforcing the Graduated Driver License Law and alcohol/drug statutes to decrease the number
of alcohol-related crashes;
· Fostering safe driving habits among younger drivers.
“Our partnership with the Tennessee Department of Safety is essential to saving lives in Tennessee,” said Director Kendell Poole, Governor’s Highway Safety Office. “We will continue to support the vital efforts of the Tennessee Highway Patrol.”
In addition to these initiatives, THP will participate in a number of life-saving campaigns, including “Drunk Driving. Over the Limit. Under Arrest,” “Click It or Ticket,” and “Booze It and Lose It.”
Troopers will also conduct several programs targeting commercial vehicles, including Operation Strategic Transportation Observation Prevention (S.T.O.P.) and the Speeding Trucks And Negligent Drivers (S.T.A.N.D.) initiative. The major emphasis of the S.T.A.N.D. program is on commercial drivers who speed, drive recklessly, follow too closely, and change lanes improperly.
Thanks to funding provided through GHSO, nearly 14,000 additional man-hours will be dedicated to these programs, allowing THP to continue its efforts to educate the motoring public in responsible driving. Tennessee may have experienced a significant decline in the number of traffic fatalities last year, but THP’s commitment and desire to further reduce fatalities on our roadways has not diminished.
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.