TDOS, THP Launch National Youth Traffic Safety Month in Tennessee
Friday, April 30, 2010 | 03:21am
Prom, Graduation and Summer Are Times for Both Fun & Responsible Driving
NASHVILLE --- The Tennessee Department of Safety joins the Governor’s Highway Safety Office, National Organizations for Youth Safety, U.S. Department of Transportation, National Highway Traffic Safety Administration, Governors Highway Safety Association, and Students Against Destructive Decisions to promote National Youth Traffic Safety Month. To kick off the month, the Tennessee Highway Patrol (THP) encourages students to pledge not to drink and drive or text and drive.
“You can have a good time and do it in a smart way,” said Safety Commissioner Dave Mitchell. “Prom, graduation and the beginning of summer are times to celebrate, but don’t let a good time be the last time; pledge not to drink and drive. Not only is it the law, the consequences can be deadly.”
In 2008, 19 people were killed in Tennessee in 18 fatal crashes involving drivers (age 13-19) who had been drinking. A national survey of 11th and 12th grade students finds 90 percent believe their peers are more likely to drink and drive on prom night, but few think that the behavior carries a high degree of risk. The Department of Safety encourages Tennessee youth to join the campaign and speak up for alcohol and drug free proms.
On Friday, April 30, 2010, Oprah Winfrey and Harpo Studios are taking a stand against another dangerous driving behavior—distracted driving. April 30th is the first national “No Phone Zone Day”, a large-scale effort to honor victims of distracted driving. The “Oprah Winfrey Show” will present a special live episode devoted to ending distracted driving and is asking people to take the “No Phone Zone” pledge and refrain from using cell phones while driving. For more information on “No Phone Zone Day”, and to take the No Phone Zone pledge, visit www.oprah.com/nophonezone.
“Texting or talking on cell phones while driving is dangerous to the driver and all those on the roadway around them,” said THP Colonel Mike Walker. “Teens must understand that texting and talking on the phone while driving is against the law and every time a driver takes his or her eyes or focus off the road, even for just a few seconds, they put their lives and the lives of others in danger.” According to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration, distracted driving kills nearly 6,000 Americans a year.
In Tennessee, TCA 55-50-311 stipulates: “Any driver possessing a learner permit or intermediate driver license is prohibited from operating a motor vehicle on any highway while using a handheld cellular telephone.” The teen driver is subject to a $50 fine and a 90 day delay in eligibility for an intermediate restricted or intermediate unrestricted driver license. TCA 55-8-19 stipulates that texting while driving and reading a text while driving are against the law for all drivers. The driver is subject to a $50 fine. Since January 3, THP Troopers have issued 51 citations for texting while driving.
The Tennessee Highway Patrol is a partner with the Tennessee Department of Transportation in presenting the “Between the Barrels” program to high schools across the state. The safe driving program, which is geared to students who are just learning to drive, aims to reduce the chances of teens being involved in a dangerous crash. In 2009, preliminary statistics indicated 48 teen drivers were killed on Tennessee roadways, compared to 72 teen drivers in 2008.
TDOT and THP will deliver “Between the Barrels” presentations to the following high schools in May:
- Springfield High School, Robertson County, May 10, 9:00 a.m.
- White House Heritage High School, Robertson County, May 12, 8:00 a.m.
THP is also promoting teen driver safety to the following schools in May:
- Reality Island Prom Awareness Simulated Car Crash, Beech High School, Sumner County, May 3, 10 a.m.- Noon
- Cocke County High School Safety event, Cocke County, May 4, 8:30 a.m. EST
- Sullivan South High School Buzz Free Prom , Sullivan County, May 7, 10:00 a.m. EST
- DeKalb West High School, Seatbelt/DUI/Rollover Safety, May 7,
- Mahaffey Middle School Safety Day, Ft. Campbell, May 7, 8 a.m.-2 p.m.
- Driver Awareness Day, Ft. Campbell, May 14, 9 a.m.-3:30 p.m.
According to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration, car crashes are the leading cause of fatalities among teens in the United States. Nationally, teen drivers (ages 13-19) are at a four times greater risk for crashes than older adults and are involved in 15 percent of fatal crashes, but make up 6.7 percent of the total driving population.
Attached is a list of THP saturation patrols scheduled near prom and graduations statewide.
For more information on Teen Driver Safety, visit http://tn.gov/safety/pubsafety/teendriversafety.html.
The Tennessee Department of Safety’s (www.TN.Gov/safety) mission is 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
PROM & GRADUATION SATURATION PATROLS
DIST. 1 KNOXVILLE
Friday, April 30
SATURATION UNION COUNTY HIGH PROM
ROANE COUNTY, OLIVER SPRINGS HIGH SCHOOL
Saturday, May 1
SATURATION KNOX COUNTY, UNION COUNTY & BLOUNT COUNTY
Friday, May 7
SATURATION KNOX & UNION COUNTY
Saturday, May 8
SATURATION ROANE COUNTY
Saturday, May 15
SATURATION LOUDON COUNTY
Monday, May 24
SATURATION BLOUNT COUNTY, MONROE COUNTY, SEVIER COUNTY
Saturday, May 29
SATURATION ANDERSON, CAMPBELL & SCOTT COUNTY
DIST. 2 CHATTANOOGA
Saturday, May 1
SATURATION MARION, SEQUATCHIE, BLEDSOE COUNTY
Saturday, May 8
SATURATION BRADLEY & POLK COUNTY
Saturday, May 15
SATURATION HAMILTON & BRADLEY COUNTY
Friday, May 21
SATURATION MARION, SEQUATCHIE & BLEDSOE COUNTY
Saturday, May 22
SATURATION MCMINN & MEIGS COUNTY
Friday, May 28
SATURATION COFFEE COUNTY
DIST. 3 NASHVILLE
Friday, April 30
SATURATION MONTGOMERY, ROBERTSON & SUMNER COUNTY
Saturday, May 1
SATURATION DAVIDSON & WILSON COUNTY
Friday, May 14
SATURATION RUTHERFORD & WILLIAMSON COUNTY
Saturday, May 15
SATURATION DAVIDSON & WILSON COUNTY
Saturday, May 22
SATURATION DICKSON COUNTY
Friday, May 28
SATURATION MONTGOMERY COUNTY
DIST. 4 MEMPHIS
Friday, April 30
SATURATION HARDEMAN COUNTY
Saturday, May 1
SATURATION HAYWOOD COUNTY
Friday, May 7
SATURATION FAYETTE COUNTY
TIPTON COUNTY
Friday, May 21
SATURATION LAUDERDALE COUNTY
LAKE COUNTY
OBION COUNTY
Saturday, May 21
SATURATION DYER COUNTY
Sunday, May 30
SATURATION DYER COUNTY
DIST. 5 FALL BRANCH
Saturday, May 1
SATURATION UNICOI COUNTY I-26 EVENING
Tuesday, May 18
SATURATION SULLIVAN COUNTY I-26, S.R. 93, AFTERNOON
HWY 11W
Saturday May 15
SATURATION GREENE COUNTY HWY 11E, HWY 70S, EVENING
S.R. 172
Thursday, May 20
SATURATION WASHINGTON COUNTY S.R. 400 EVENING
Friday, May 21
SATURATION HAMBLEN COUNTY S.R. 66 AFTERNOON
Saturday, May 22
SATURATION JEFFERSON COUNTY HWY 25E MORNING
CLAIBORNE COUNTY HWY 25E, S.R. 63 EVENING
Friday, May 28
SATURATION SULLIVAN COUNTY I-81, S.R. 93, EVENING
HWY 11W
DIST. 6 COOKEVILLE
Friday, April 30
SATURATION CLAY & TROUSDALE COUNTY
Saturday, May 1
SATURATION PUTNAM & FENTRESS COUNTY
Saturday, May 8
SATURATION OVERTON COUNTY
Friday, May 21
SATURATION PUTNAM, PICKETT, CUMBERLAND, VAN BUREN,
DEKALB & JACKSON COUNTY
Saturday, May 24
SATURATION PUTNAM & FENTRESS COUNTY
Friday, May 28
SATURATION CANNON & MACON COUNTY
DIST. 7 LAWRENCEBURG
Friday, April 30
SATURATION WAYNE COUNTY
Saturday, May 1
SATURATION GILES COUNTY
MOORE COUNTY
Saturday, May 8
SATURATION HICKMAN COUNTY
Friday, May 21
SATURATION LAWRENCE COUNTY
DIST. 8 JACKSON
Friday, April 30
SATURATION CARROLL COUNTY US 70A
Saturday, May 1
SATURATION HENRY COUNTY US 79
Friday, May 7
SATURATION MADISON COUNTY
Friday, May 14
SATURATION HENDERSON & DECATUR COUNTY
Monday, May 17
SATURATION CHESTER COUNTY HWY 45, 100 & 200
Thursday, May 20
SATURATION CARROLL COUNTY US 70A & 79W
Friday, May 21
SATURATION HENRY COUNTY US 79
DECATUR & BENTON COUNTY
HARDIN & MCNAIRY COUNTY HWY 64, 45 & 128