Thursday, September 28, 2017
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Arriale Tabson, 615-767-3242
Tennessee Launches Second Statewide Distracted Driving Enforcement Bus Tour in October
TENNESSEE – From Monday, October 9, to Thursday, October 12, the Tennessee Highway Safety Office (THSO) and the Tennessee Highway Patrol (THP) will partner with local law enforcement agencies for Tennessee’s second statewide bus tour to crack down on distracted driving.
The THP will provide two large, black and tan buses marked with THP logos to transport law enforcement as they observe motorists for traffic violations. Officers within the THP bus will communicate to patrol vehicles on the road for execution of enforcement action. Each participating district will conduct approximately two hours of enforcement.
In April 2017, Tennessee’s first bus tour yielded more than 200 traffic citations. Click here to view photos: https://goo.gl/photos/oJeewydQRx6g946Y6. Click here for video: https://youtu.be/qSiX_E8TGBg.
“Distracted driving is a constant battle,” said Vic Donoho, Director of the THSO. “The purpose of the bus tour is to assist law enforcement in targeting drivers who are distracted in any way, shape, or form. This means driving while eating, texting, tweeting, snapchatting, or any other behavior indicating lack of due care. We ask motorists to focus, drive using hands-free technology, and keep both eyes on the road at all times.”
According to the Tennessee Integrated Traffic Analysis Network (TITAN), in 2017, there have been 22,704 motor vehicle crashes statewide where distracted driving was a contributing factor. Eighty-one of those crashes were fatal. This time last year, there were 23,486 crashes statewide where distracted driving was a contributing factor. Of those crashes, 107 were fatal.
“We are always looking for new and effective methods to reduce injuries suffered in motor vehicle crashes,” said THP Colonel Tracy Trott. “The statewide bus tour that our department conducts has proven to be very effective. There is no doubt that it promotes awareness to the importance of wearing your seat belt and not driving distracted.”The THSO and THP encourage all local media to attend the scheduled press briefings and ride-a-long to observe and record the initiative. Details are listed as follows. For more information, please contact the appropriate THP District Public Information Officer, as listed below.
MONDAY, OCTOBER 98:30 AM ET = Fall Branch (Kingsport Welcome Center, I-26, Kingsport, TN 37664)
• Contact: Lt. Rick Garrison, Richard.Garrison@tn.gov
9:00 AM CT = Memphis (THP District 4 Headquarters, 6348 Summer Avenue, Memphis, TN 38134)
• Contact: Sgt. Chris Richardson, Christopher.Richardson@tn.gov
2:00 PM ET = Knoxville (THP District 1 Headquarters, 7601 Kingston Pike, Knoxville, TN 37919)
• Contact: Lt. Don Boshears, Don.Boshears@tn.gov
2:00 PM CT = Jackson (THP District 8 Headquarters, 20 Vann Drive, Jackson, TN 38305)
• Contact: Lt. Brad Wilbanks, Brad.Wilbanks@tn.gov
WEDNESDAY, OCTOBER 11
8:30 AM ET = Chattanooga (THP District 2 Headquarters, 4120 Cummings Hwy, Chattanooga, TN 37419)
• Contact: Lt. John Harmon, John.W.Harmon@tn.gov
9:00 AM CT = Columbia (Columbia Driver Services Center, 1701 Hampshire Pike, Columbia, TN 38401)
• Contact: Lt. Christopher Dye, Christopher.Dye@tn.gov
1:30 PM CT = Cookeville (THP District 6 Headquarters, 1291 S. Walnut Avenue, Cookeville, TN 38501)
• Contact: Sgt. Greg Tramel, Greg.Tramel@tn.gov
9:00 AM CT = Nashville (THP District 3 Headquarters, 1603 Murfreesboro Road, Nashville, TN 37217)
• Contact: Lt. Travis Plotzer, Travis.Plotzer@tn.gov
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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.