NASHVILLE – The Tennessee Highway Patrol announced today that state troopers will be out in full force during the Fourth of July holiday weekend, cracking down on drunk drivers with an aggressive Drunk Driving, Over the Limit, Under Arrest enforcement blitz.
To make sure motorist are obeying the law, the Tennessee Highway Patrol will conduct sobriety and driver license checkpoints across the state in an effort to reduce fatalities and serious injury crashes in Tennessee.
“It’s obvious to recognize someone who’s had way too much to drink to drive safely. But what about those who have had just a few too many?” Department of Safety Commissioner Dave Mitchell said. “There is never an acceptable amount of alcohol to have consumed to drive safely. Don’t be a threat to yourself and others. If you drink, don’t drive, period.”
The consequences of drinking and driving are serious and real. Not only do you risk killing yourself or someone else, but the trauma and financial costs of a crash or an arrest for driving impaired can be significant. Violators often face jail time, the loss of their driver’s license, higher insurance rates, and dozens of other unanticipated expenses.
“Driving while impaired isn’t worth the tremendous risk. No matter your age, if you’ve had too much holiday spirit, you’d better find a safe and sober ride home or your chances of arrest are high,” stressed THP Commander, Colonel Mike Walker.
During the 2008 July 4 holiday weekend, 11 people died on Tennessee roadways. That’s a fatality rate of one death every seven hours and six minutes. Six of the seven people killed in automobile crashes last year were not wearing seatbelts. Four motorcyclists also died during the July 4th holiday weekend last year. Three of the deaths, or 27 percent, occurred in alcohol-related crashes.
In 2007, national statistics indicate 34 percent of all drivers involved in traffic-related crashes during the July 4th holiday period had a blood alcohol concentration (BAC) of .08 or higher, the legal limit in all states.
“Too many people still fail to understand that alcohol and driving don’t mix. Impaired driving is no accident—nor is it a victimless crime. It’s vitally important that we bring this tragic situation to an end.” said Colonel Walker.
Drunk driving is one of America’s deadliest problems. Nationwide, in 2007, 41,059 people were killed in motor vehicle crashes. There were 12,988 people who were killed in traffic crashes that involved at least one driver or motorcycle rider with a BAC of .08 or higher.
In Tennessee in 2008, 1,043 people were killed in motor vehicle crashes. There were 78 people who were killed in traffic crashes that involved at least one driver or motorcycle rider with a BAC of .08 or higher.
Alcohol plays a big role in motorcycle fatalities too. Forty-one percent of the 2,182 motorcycle riders who were killed in single-vehicle crashes nationwide in 2007 had BAC levels of .08 or higher. In fatal crashes for 2007, a higher percent of motorcycle riders had BAC levels of .08 or higher than any other type of vehicle driver. Ten of the 144 motorcycle riders who were killed in Tennessee in 2008 had BAC levels of .08 or higher.
“In more than 30 years with the Tennessee Highway Patrol, I’ve had to tell a lot of people that a loved one has died in a traffic crash,” said THP Colonel Mike Walker.” “It’s never an easy job, but what makes it tougher is knowing that many deaths could have been prevented if the victims were wearing seat belts.”
Nationally in 2007, 71 percent of the passenger vehicle occupants in fatal crashes who were buckled up survived the crash.
During the 2009 Memorial Day holiday, the Department of Safety launched its Traffic Fatality Victims’ Memorial. More than a thousand people die each year on Tennessee roadways, and this online memorial is designed to give family members of those killed on our highways an opportunity and place to memorialize and remember their loved ones. For more information regarding the TN Department of Safety Traffic Fatality Victims’ Memorial, please visit our website at http://www.tn.gov/safety/pubsafety/fatalitymemorial.html
The 2009 July 4th Holiday period begins at 6:00pm, Thursday, July 2, and will end at 11:59pm, Sunday, July 5. This is a 78-hour holiday period.
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.
TENNESSEE DEPARTMENT OF SAFETY
DRIVER LICENSE & SOBRIETY CHECKPOINTS
DIST. 3 NASHVILLE
Friday, July 3:
DL CHECKPOINT MONTGOMERY COUNTY SR 374 SOUTH OF LAFAYETTE RD EVENING
DL CHECKPOINT SUMNER COUNTY HWY 31W & RED RIVER MORNING
DL CHECKPOINT WILSON COUNTY COLES FERRY PIKE @ FRIENDSHIP EVENING
SCHOOL
SOBRIETY CHECKPOINT CHEATHAM COUNTY SAMS CREEK @ DRY CREEK EVENING
SOBRIETY CHECKPOINT DICKSON COUNTY HWY 46 NEAR I-40 EVENING
SOBRIETY CHECKPOINT HUMPHREYS COUNTY HWY 230 @ COUNTY LINE EVENING
SOBRIETY CHECKPOINT ROBERTSON COUNTY HWY 41 RIDGETOP EVENING
The Tennessee Highway Patrol will conduct saturation patrol on I-65 in Williamson
County.
Saturday, July 4:
SOBRIETY CHECKPOINT SUMNER COUNTY GALLATIN POLICE ASSIST UNK
SOBRIETY CHECKPOINT WILSON COUNTY SR 171 (SOUTH MT. JULIET RD) MORNING
The Tennessee Highway Patrol will conduct saturation patrols on I-40 in Dickson
County, I-24 in Montgomery & Robertson and Rutherford Counties.
Sunday, July 5:
DL CHECKPOINT RUTHERFORD COUNTY I-24 MORNING
The Tennessee Highway Patrol will conduct saturation patrol on I-40 in Dickson
County, I-65 in Robertson County and I-24 in Montgomery County.
DUI Facts:
* Every 40 minutes and nearly 40 times a day, someone in the United States dies in an alcohol impaired traffic crash. (NHTSA)
* Alcohol is a major factor in fatal crashes during the July 4 holiday.
* In 2007, 34 percent of all drivers involved in traffic related crashes nationwide during the Fourth of July holiday period possessed a blood alcohol concentration (BAC) of .08 or higher.
* During the 2007 July 4th holiday period, there were a total of 200 traffic related fatalities nationwide. Out of that number, 44% involved a driver or motorcycle rider with a BAC of .08 or higher.
* The tragedies and costs from drinking and driving impaired do not just end at the potential death, disfigurement, disability and injured caused by impaired driers.
* Driving with a BAC of .08 or higher is illegal in every state. Yet too many people still ignore the law. According to the FBI’s Uniform Crime Report over 1.4 million people were arrested for driving under the influence in 2006.
Celebrate Freedom by plan a safe way home before the festivities begin, so you can be alive to enjoy the next celebration.
* Plan a safe way home before the festivities begin.
* Before drinking, please designate a sober driver and give that person your keys;
* If you’re impaired, use a taxi, call a sober friend or family member, or use public transportation so you are sure to get home safely;
* If you happen to see a drunk driver on the road, don’t hesitate to dial *THP on your mobile phone, which connects you to the nearest dispatcher in your area.
* And remember, Friends Don’t Let Friends Drive Drunk. If you know someone who is about to drive or ride while impaired, take their keys and help them make other arrangements to get to where they are going safely.
For more information, please visit www.StopImpairedDriving.org. |
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