NASHVILLE--- The Tennessee Highway Patrol (THP) and the Tennessee Department of Transportation (TDOT) will deliver the “Between the Barrels” presentation to 1,800 students at the National Family, Career and Community Leaders of America (FCCLA) Conference, Wednesday, July 15, 2009. The safe driving program, which is geared to students who are just learning to drive to reduce the chances of being involved in a dangerous work zone crash, ties into one of the important issues addressed by FCCLA members—traffic safety.
To honor the efforts of FCCLA members in the area of traffic safety, Tennessee Department of Safety Commissioner Dave Mitchell will address the entire crowd of 5,600 youths on Tuesday, July 14, 2009 at approximately 1:00 p.m. Additionally, Commissioner Mitchell will present one deserving teen with the FACTS: Families Acting for Community Traffic Safety Award.
WHO: TDOT, THP Safety Education
WHAT: “Between the Barrels” Presentation
WHEN: 8:30 a.m., 9:45 a.m., & 11:00 a.m., Wednesday, July 15, 2009
WHERE: Governor’s Ballroom B, Gaylord Opryland Resort & Convention Center
As part of the Between the Barrels presentation, THP Lt. Tony Barham, Lt. Christina Faulkner 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.
During the 2008-09 academic year, the TDOT “Between the Barrels” program has reached more than 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.
The Tennessee Department of Safety’s mission is (www.TN.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.