Tennessee Highway Patrol to Conduct a High-Visibility Enforcement Campaign in Blount County

NASHVILLE --- The Tennessee Highway Patrol’s Knoxville District is set to kick-off a motorcycle enforcement campaign in an area known for dangerous driving. State Troopers assigned to the motorcycle units will saturate U.S. Highway 129, also known as “The Dragon,” to crack down on aggressive and reckless driving and reduce serious injury and fatal crashes.

This traffic safety effort will run from September 13 through September 15. During those dates, there are two events that cause increased traffic on U.S. Highway 129: “Thunder in the Smokies” in Maggie Valley, N.C. and “Fall Rod Run” in Pigeon Forge, Tenn. 

“THP motorcycle units from Knoxville, as well as Chattanooga, Cookeville, and Fall Branch districts will participate in this three-day enforcement effort. It’s important that we utilize all of our resources to deter dangerous activities on ‘The Dragon’ and keep our citizens and visitors safe,” Captain David McGill said. McGill oversees the Knoxville THP District.

As part of the enforcement, State Troopers will target aggressive and reckless driving, speeding, impaired driving, and seat belt safety. They will also hold a sobriety checkpoint on U.S. Highway 129 on Saturday, September 14.

“The Dragon,” which has become a popular attraction for motorcyclists, is an 11-mile stretch of roadway that contains 318 curves. As of September 9, there has been one motorcyclist killed on U.S. Hwy 129 this year.

The THP received grant funding from the Governor’s Highway Safety Office (GHSO) to pay overtime for State Troopers participating in the enforcement.  

The Tennessee Department of Safety and Homeland Security’s (www.TN.Gov/safety) mission is to ensure that our state is a safe, secure place in which to live, work and travel; enforce the law with integrity; and provide customer-focused services professionally and efficiently.

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