FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Wednesday, November 21, 2018
CONTACT: ARRIALE TABSON
Mobile: 615-767-3242
OPERATION INCOGNITO YIELDS OVER 3,000 CITATIONS STATEWIDE
Fourth Statewide Distracted Driving Enforcement Initiative Saturates Tennessee
TENNESSEE – From Tuesday, November 13, to Friday, November 16, the Tennessee Highway Safety Office (THSO) joined various state and local partners for Operation Incognito (OI). Click here for photos: https://photos.app.goo.gl/thMHSSRuV9ajMChs9. Video footage can be accessed here: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=o7Y82WwiCig.
The OI campaign was developed to evolve Tennessee’s fourth statewide distracted driving enforcement initiative, known as “the bus tour.” OI also promoted National Traffic Incident Response Week, which occurred November 11 – 17. The primary focus of OI was to reduce distracted driving, serious injury traffic crashes, and fatalities. A secondary focus included saturations of high-risk construction and utility maintenance zones to increase awareness.
According to the Tennessee Integrated Traffic Analysis Network, Tennessee experienced over 20,700 traffic crashes related to distracted driving this year.
In April 2018, Tennessee’s third bus tour yielded 1,816 citations. During OI, officers issued
over 3,000 citations statewide.
OI was supported by the following agencies and organizations: Tennessee Department of Safety and Homeland Security, Tennessee Highway Patrol, Tennessee Department of Transportation, Tennessee Department of Tourism, AAA – The Auto Club Group, StateFarm, Erlanger, TriStar Skyline Medical Center, University of Tennessee Medical Center, Vanderbilt University Medical Center, Tennessee Electric Cooperative Association, National Highway Traffic Safety Administration, Federal Highway Administration, Tennessee Department of Commerce and Insurance, Tennessee Motor Vehicle Commission, Tennessee Department of Health, Nissan of Cool Springs, Operation Lifesaver, Walk Bike Nashville, and law enforcement agencies statewide.
For more information, please contact Arriale Tabson at arriale.tabson@tn.gov.
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Note: The total number of citations includes additional violations discovered during the traffic stops.
The Tennessee Highway Safety Office (THSO) is a division of the Tennessee Department of Safety and Homeland Security advocating for traffic safety. The THSO works in tandem with the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) to implement statewide programs addressing occupant protection, impaired driving, speed enforcement, pedestrian and bicycle safety, and crash data collection and analysis. Programs administered by the THSO are 100 percent federally funded. The THSO’s mission is to effectively develop, implement, and evaluate these programs. To learn more, please visit www.tntrafficsafety.org.