NASHVILLE --- The Tennessee Department of Safety is pleased to announce that traffic fatalities dropped significantly over the 2009 Super Bowl weekend. According to preliminary reports, six people were killed this year on Tennessee roadways during the holiday weekend, compared to 14 fatalities in 2008. Statistics for the 2009 Super Bowl weekend reflect the time period from 6:00 p.m., Friday, January 30, to midnight Sunday, February 1.

If preliminary figures hold true, there were eight fewer fatalities during the 2009 Super Bowl weekend. This year, there were five fatal crashes, including one involving a motorcycle. Two of the fatalities were alcohol-related, and four out of the five vehicle occupants killed were not wearing a seat belt.

“The fact that fatalities fell this year is encouraging, but I find it very disturbing that 80 percent of the people killed in vehicle crashes over the weekend were not buckled up,” said Tennessee Highway Patrol Colonel Mike Walker. “It takes less than five seconds to fasten your safety belt, and it is the number one move you can make to protect yourself in case you are involved in a crash.”

TENNESSEE  DEPARTMENT  OF  SAFETY

PRELIMINARY  REPORT

February 02, 2009

2009 SUPER BOWL

6 PM, FRIDAY, JANUARY 30 – 11:59 PM, SUNDAY, FEBRUARY 01

54-HOUR HOLIDAY PERIOD

• FATAL CRASHES:   5                     

2 crashes were  single vehicle crashes;   3 crashes were  multiple vehicle crashes.

• FATALITIES:   6         

Two of the fatalities were alcohol-related.

Five of the people killed were vehicle occupants.

Four were not wearing  safety restraints.

                        No child passengers requiring child restraint devices were killed.

                        One motorcyclist was killed; he was wearing a helmet.

FATALITY  LOG

• The number of fatalities for last year’s 54-hour period was 14.