NASHVILLE --- May is National Youth Traffic Safety Month (NYTSM). NYTSM is a national youth led campaign held in response to data from the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration indicating that over the past decade, seven of the top 10 deadliest days for youth traffic-related deaths historically fall between Memorial Day and Labor Day. National Organizations for Youth Safety (
www.NOYS.org) provides ways for youth to participate in promoting youth traffic safety. The Department of Safety is dedicated to promoting youth traffic safety. Visit
http://state.tn.us/safety/pubsafety/teendriversafety.html to learn more about Teen Driver Safety programs.
The Tennessee Highway Patrol and the Tennessee Department of Transportation (TDOT) will deliver the “Between the Barrels” presentation to 1,900 high school students at Blackman High School in Rutherford County, Thursday, May 7, 2009. 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, Captain Thomas Miller, Lt. Tony Barham and Sgt. Harold Gooding 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: 9:00 a.m., 10:15 a.m., 1 p.m., Thursday, May 7, 2009
WHERE: Blackman High School, Rutherford County
During the 2008-09 academic year, the TDOT “Between the Barrels” program has reached 40-thousand students in more than 70 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 a significant decline in teen fatalities to 113 teenagers (ages 13 to 19) who lost their lives on Tennessee roadways last year. As of April 30, 2009, preliminary statistics indicate 17 teenagers have been killed on Tennessee roadways compared to 33 at this same time a year ago.
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.