Economy, education helped cut highway fatalities on The Murfreesboro Post

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Economy, education helped cut highway fatalities

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By: Lisa Marchesoni

Posted: Sunday, January 25, 2009 8:30 am

Four E’s – emergency care, education, enforcement and economics – helped reduce the number of people killed in traffic crashes in 2008 in Rutherford County.

Five fewer people died in traffic fatalities in 2008 than the previous year, the Tennessee Highway Patrol reported.

Twenty-nine people lost their lives on Rutherford County roads, including two inexperienced teen drivers, six motorcyclists, two pedestrians and one bicyclist. At least six crashes involved alcohol, and 10 people inside vehicles didn’t wear seat belts.

Despite more traffic in the county, fewer people died the past three years with 36 traffic deaths in 2006 and 34 deaths in 2007. Statewide, preliminary figures showed 1,002 people died in 2008, 20 less than the previous year.

One of the reasons may be quicker emergency care.

Jeanne Yeatman directs LifeFlight helicopter’s air emergency program at Vanderbilt University Medical Center’s trauma center for emergencies in Nashville.

During critical injury crashes, Rutherford County Emergency Medical Services paramedics may request a helicopter be on standby for the patients before they arrive at a scene.

When the request is made, LifeFlight’s crew may immediately consult with emergency room physicians to discuss patient care. LifeFlight’s medical crew must have three years of experience in critical care before joining the staff.

EMS and LifeFlight previously identified several landing zones throughout the county where the helicopter can safely land to pick up and transport patients. Flight time from Middle Tennessee Medical Center’s landing zone to Vanderbilt is 17 minutes, she said.

Once airborne, the crew can treat a patient with similar care to the emergency room and communicate with doctors while en route, thus improving a patient’s chances of survival, she said.

Tennessee Highway Patrol Sgt. Jim Gunn cited economics and enforcement as reasons for the decrease.

“Because of high gas prices, people were driving less,” Gunn noted.

He believes enforcement by law officers in the cities and county and education contributed to fewer fatalities. For example, the Click It or Ticket program encourages drivers to buckle up or they will receive a ticket.

“It’s been proven time and again seat belts save lives,” Gunn said, adding he and other troopers who spot drivers not wearing seat belts will issue traffic tickets.

Troopers and city police participated in the Click It or Ticket campaigns and driver’s license and sobriety checkpoints to get unlicensed and drunk drivers off the highway.

Murfreesboro Police spokesman Kyle Evans, who serves in the department’s Fatal Accident Crash Team, said officers are pleased fewer people died from traffic-related crashes.

Like Gunn, Evans said Murfreesboro Police are trying to educate drivers and enforce the law.

“While any traffic-related death is too many, we have been working to reduce injuries and fatal crashes by taking a multi-directional approach,” Evans said.

From the enforcement standpoint, uniformed police officers issued 14,601 citations for moving violations. Also, the Automated Red-light Enforcement System issued 12,329 citations and 547 warning citations since it began this summer. The Alcohol Countermeasures Team and patrol officers arrested 646 suspects for driving while under the influence of alcohol in 2008.

“Through the use of public awareness campaigns, we have educated the public on the dangers of drinking and driving,” Evans reported. “Through the combination of these efforts, we believe we have made a significant impact on reducing those killed in traffic crashes in 2008.”

Like Murfreesboro Police, Smyrna Police Sgt. Andy Miller said Smyrna’s police participate in strong enforcement and education programs.

Miller, who supervises the traffic division, cited stronger enforcement and participation in statewide campaigns two reasons for reduced traffic deaths.

“We have more visible enforcement,” Miller said. “Also, we have more driver awareness with Click It or Ticket and Booze It or Lose It. I think we’re going a good job getting the message out.”

Officers participate with THP in sobriety checkpoints and saturation patrols with extra manpower, especially on high drinking holidays like the Super Bowl, St. Patrick’s Day and New Year’s Eve.

Even with the high visibility of police, drivers don’t pay attention to speed limits, driving and traffic. They drive while texting or answering e-mails.

“Everybody just needs to worry about what’s in front of them,” Miller said.

Because of several motorcycle fatalities, Smyrna Police stepped up enforcement of motorcyclists last year as well. Officers check helmets to ensure it is certified by the Department of Transportation. Also, motorcyclists must carry a special license, or they will be arrested and the motorcycle will be towed.

“We encourage anyone who wants to know about motorcycles to enroll in a motorcycle safety course and get the license,” Miller said. “We’re huge on that. We’d much rather spend time educating folks than having to penalize them.”

Lisa Marchesoni may be reached at 869-0814 or at lmarchesoni@murfreesboropost.com.

Tagged under FATALITY, TRAFFIC

Member Opinions:

By: JM325 on 1/25/09
I am seeing significantly fewer red light runners at the camera intersections. The non-monitored ones do not seem much different.